Up a bit early because of Easter, I offer you a touch of late evening listening.
Quercus are June Tabor (vocals), Iain Ballamy (saxes) and Huw Warren (piano) and this, their only album together so far, lies at the junction of folk, jazz and classical with a slight nod to pop.
The songs and (one) instrumental range in date between the two Elizabethan ages, with lyrics from Shakespeare, Burns and Housman joined by newer verses from Barker, Ballantine, Gordon and Norbet. The arrangements are relaxed but intense, and silence is used to effect. The recording is a live one, and criticism has been made of the "breathiness" from Ballamy's sax when he tries for some low notes; personally I am happy to live with this, given the excellent recording and dynamic range (it's on ECM). The recordings were made in 2006, but the album was not released until 2013.
They have gigs upcoming in Oxford on May 10th and London on May 11th - if you like the music then I strongly suggest that you see them live (http://www.brightfieldproductions.co.uk/tabor.htm). A second CD is promised for May, so it might even be available at the concerts.
Have a listen and see what you think.
Links:
ECM player: http://player.ecmrecords.com/quercus
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