In the world of new music where ‘anything goes’ it is a very special composer who can create a sound and style so individual that it stands out as exceptional; such a composer is David Braid, whose writing is truly ‘art-music’ but has resonances with gentle jazz and other genres which make its appeal almost universal as seen by his recent album on Toccata Classics. The key to his sound is first a choice of awesomely good performers, including the most perfect mezzo-soprano voice of today, owned by Emily Gray; and also to Braid’s use of the gentle and resonant archtop (electric) guitar which is a perfect accompaniment to the vocal tracks and a nicely matched partner for the piano. This new release is certainly one of the most distinctive and beautiful new-music albums of recent times.
