The cool counterpoint of Johann Sebastian Bach has tempted jazz musicians ever since Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli and Eddie South put a swing into his D minor Double Concerto.
Since then, it's miraculously survived being transformed into finger-snapping a cappella by the Swingle Singers and played on everything from percussion tubes and wine glasses to the Japanese koto.
The latest tribute to the baroque master is a strings-only affair, featuring Yo-Yo Ma on cello alongside Edgar Meyer on bass and Chris Thile on mandolin, colleagues whom Ma describes as "two special human beings who also happen to be great, versatile, open and curious musicians".
Open and curious listeners will be totally caught up in the irresistible weave of the very first track, an Allegro from a G major trio sonata, originally written for organ. Ma adds his own delicate lustre while Thile's mandolin sounds more than ever like a bonsai harpsichord (this top-class bluegrass musician and member of the Punch Brothers has already recorded a solo Bach album for Nonesuch Records).
There are two complete trio sonatas and one for viola da gamba, with trembling trills and criss-crossing tune trails. However, I suspect that Bach himself would have conscripted a harpsichordist to buff up the last work's rather lean Adagio, adding support to the players' beautiful and intricate ornamentation.
