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Guy Barker

The Amadeus Project

Global Mix GM2CD02

Two pieces here, on two CDs: 'dZf' is a 75-minute suite for 14-piece jazz band and narrator originally commissioned for Radio 3's 'Jazz Line-Up', its inspiration a Johnny Staccato-type update, written by Robert Ryan, of the plot of Mozart's last opera, Die Zauberflˆte; 'The Amadeus Suite', commissioned by San Diego's Mainly Mozart Festival, is a set of compositions mainly inspired by characters from Mozart operas.

The former intersperses brief scene-setting excerpts from Ryan's short story (impeccably drawled by actor Michael Brandon) with Barker's entertainingly varied, feisty pieces, featuring both regular bandmembers Ì his own extraordinarily pure-toned but robust, occasionally appropriately rowdy trumpet; Rosario Giuliani's acerbic, tart, agile alto and soprano; Barnaby Dickinson's rousing, multi-textured trombone; Jim Watson's subtly selected keyboard contributions Ì and judiciously chosen guests, chief among them Per 'Texas' Johansson on clarinets, Graeme Blevins on reeds, and Byron Wallen on additional trumpet.

The latter suite again depends heavily on the soloing virtuosity of both Barker and Giuliani, plus Phil Todd on reeds and flute, and the resulting music on both CDs is a lively mix of sweet swing, bustling vigour and characteristically Barkeresque sassy pep, all leavened by occasional tender moments Ì the odd horn chorale or affecting ballad Ì as required either by the fast-moving gangsters/doomed lovers/jazz-lowlife plot of 'dZf' or the portraiture of 'The Amadeus Suite'.

Rich, satisfying music enthusiastically but flawlessly played by a whip-smart ensemble, The Amadeus Project is at once immediately enjoyable and subtly rewarding, revealing new felicities each time it is experienced. Recommended.