The Classics

Jonathan Crayford is a successful concert pianist, multi-instrumentalist, film composer and jazz artist from New Zealand who played in nightclubs at 15 with his father, Terry, a pianist and arranger-composer.

In its own unconventional way, this is a knockout release from the Kiwi label.

There are nine interesting and pleasing works on this disc's 20 tracks, all showing the great affinity that New Zealand-born composer and clarinetist Ken Wilson (1924-2012) had for writing original wind music.

This is Reuben Bradley's fourth jazz album for Rattle and the New Zealand company maintains it is his ``most relaxed and free-spirited'' disc.

The Jade String Quartet was formed in 2003 by principal members of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.