Oblivion by Benaud Trio

Fusion is such an evocative word. Most immediately it might recall the collision of acoustic jazz with the new electronic instruments of the 1970s and the exciting style it created. But more broadly, fusion describes the unifying creativity that occurs when contrasting musical styles rub against each other. The music on this album embraces both these concepts. It sparks and smoulders with the contact of jazz, classical, and tango music, sometimes feistily, sometimes sensually, sometimes with passionate longing and nostalgia.

The soulfulness of Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez was so irresistible to Chick Corea that he lifted the iconic second movement melody to introduce his most famous tune, 'Spain: Chick replaced the solo cor anglais with a Fender Rhodes electric piano, but in Benaud Trio's version, that statement is carried by the most charismatic of all instruments, the cello. The fast and funky samba that follows has everything there is to love about jazz fusion. This energetic arrangement by Nicholas Buc has all the dancing, sunburn and laughter of a Spanish beachside holiday.

Taking the concept of fusion in an entirely different direction, Jacques Loussier captivated music lovers around the world in the 1970s with his jazz reinventions of classical masterpieces. Australian composer Mark Isaacs has since proved that it can go both ways, reverse engineering his tune 'Closer' from jazz quintet to classical piano trio. The sensibilities and vocabularies of late 20th century smooth jazz coalesce beautifully with those of late 19th century chamber music, sharing both melodic lyricism and warm chromatic harmony. This new classical setting brings a beauty and intimacy to the music and the notated approach allows for scored duets in the string parts that play as if improvised together.

Perhaps the quintessential fusion composer, Astor Piazzolla managed to upset both the classical conservatives and the tango traditionalists with his tango nuevo style. But he won the hearts of music lovers the world over by blending the traditional Argentinian tango with the jazz he experienced in New York and the classical training he received from composers Alberto Ginastera and Nadia Boulanger. The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires are among his best music. While Vivaldi's famous seasonal works are picturesque and evocative, Piazzolla's are a personal and gritty tribute to the porteños (or port people) of his hometown. Each season is characterised with drama and beauty in equal measure. These classic arrangements are by José Bragato, one of Piazzolla's closest musical collaborators. The title track Oblivion has far outgrown its origins as film underscore to become Piazzolla's most loved melody. The slow tempo and swaying milonga rhythm are melancholic but intoxicating, leaving the listener staring nostalgically into nothing... into oblivion.