Legato blues David Johnstone plays assorted music for solo cello, reviewed by PATRIC STANDFORD Zeta    JM 03 CD

The British cellist David Johnstone, a product of the Royal Academy of Music in London, now lives in Spain where his music business thrives. His website (www.johnstone-music.com) provides an impressive list of his concert appearances, though without dates, and describes him as cellist and creative musician. Well, that may be so, but the most recent of his (so far) three CDs, a solo recital made with the intention of giving the cello a voice in the popular, non-electronic, repertoire, doesn't do him too many favours.

It is true that his performance of Ten American Cello Etudes by Aaron Minsky demonstrates some very lively technical studies, but like his own arrangements (Joan Baez and the Beatles) and his four compositions, there is little of musical interest beyond the technique.

There are twenty tracks lasting about an hour (though no timings are given), among which is a curious and dreary transcription of a Suite ('I'd rather be in Philadelphia') by Pete Rose, originally written for a solo recorder. The performances are not always flawless, and there is some disturbing background noise. Maybe the best of the tracks is Johnstone's own 'Legato Blues' [listen -- track 20, 3:04-4:02], but it wouldn't get me joining the rush to the music store.

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Record Box is Music & Vision's regular series of shorter CD reviews