More than just music

London Concertante release one of their most ambitious albums in their 30+ year history. This reflective masterpiece could perhaps best be described as a classical/crossover album, but to call it that would be to deny the album its depth and the quality of the writing and arranging which simply takes it to a higher level.

“Reimagined” is a collection of jazz, classical and folk tunes that have been reworked to create exciting, innovative takes on jazz classics such as ‘Round Midnight’, giving orchestral life to Keith Jarrett’s improvisations and elevating Bosnian folk tunes to epic levels. Alongside a stunning and beautiful (unadulterated) recording of Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 – expertly executed by renowned pianist, Daniel Grimwood – sits an incredible arrangement by the group’s pianist, David Gordon, of Astor Piazzolla’s signature masterpiece, “Adios Nonio”; compositions by David Gordon himself such as “Air” featuring the jazz trumpet legend, Byron Wallen; Gordon’s joyous “Brandy for 4” based on Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 4; and an improved rendition of the slow movement of “Autumn” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, which surely would have met with the Red Priest’s approval.

This is a deep, haunting and beautiful album, which is hard not to get immersed in and find yourself lost in the sonorous richness of the London Concertante strings or inspired by the beautiful soloing of the featured artists.