Perhaps a better title for this would have been 'Clarinet Marmalade', after a famous jazz piece whose composer's name eludes me. It is a light-hearted affair, with a well-chosen programme, not on any account to be played all at once. Dipped into it is very diverting, for these excellent musicians blend and match their timbres without ever sounding bland. After the engaging opening suite of Hungarian folk-dances (the finale chirping and cheeping winningly) we move to a characteristically inventive Mozart divertimento for basset horns.
Of the three perky Tomasi Divertissements, the ''Rondes'' has an attractive insouciance, while the arrangements of Jobim's Girl from Ipanema is also very entertaining. The Desportes Suite is Ravelian its invention consistently melodic (the ''Sarabande'' is haunting, with a whiff of Ma mere l'oye), while Albinoni's Sonata has a memorable Grave. Robert Stark's Serenade uses the basset horn colouring to good effect, and the arrangement of Gershwin's ''Summertime'' is introduced by the most famous clarinet solo of all—taken from Rhapsody in blue.
Finally, the group let their hair down in the jazzy, but still stylish finale, Muskrat Sousa (combining the 12th Street Rag and South Rampart Street Parade). The immaculate recording is forward but very well balanced. If you like the sound of clarinets this is well worth exploring at mid-price.'