Award-winning composer James Aikman’s music is ‘accessible and inventive’ (Fanfare magazine), and these three works embrace a colourful tapestry of stylistic influences, including jazz and pop.

The elegantly simple and subtle Ania’s Song is described by the composer as a ‘peaceful isle’ between the supple lines and intricate counterpoint of the Violin Concerto and the Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra with its translucent orchestration and echoes of Alban Berg. Leading American soloists join one of Russia’s finest orchestras for a recording with truly international appeal.

James Aikman is a new voice for the Naxos label, and one which has a proven track record in terms of its ‘plaintively beautiful’ and ‘consciously eclectic’ popular appeal. The addition of star classical saxophonist Taimur Sullivan is another coup for Naxos, while Charles Wetherbee has already appeared on our American Classics series with highly regarded recordings of works by Jonathan Leshnoff. With the St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, this is a world class production with a potent sheen of freshness to commend it.

Charles Wetherbee is a founding member of the Carpe Diem String Quartet, with whom he tours and performs regularly.