Full English

David Rees-Williams made Full English after more than two decades leading his trio, but chose to record it alone, moving between piano and organ. The title is a joke with serious intent: Elgar, Tallis, hymns, folk songs and children’s tunes all become material for improvisation without losing the shapes that make them familiar. Rees-Williams has said that he wants each improvisation to grow directly from its source rather than sound bolted onto it; the solo setting makes that process unusually exposed, with every turn away from the tune and every route back belonging to him.