Jaga Jazzist – Live with Britten Sinfonia

Norwegian beat ensemble Jaga Jazzist returns with a live recording of a concert with the world-famous Britten Sinfonia orchestra, recreating some of their best-loved tracks as classical arrangements. One-Armed Bandit starts as a yearning, melancholy swell of violins, settling into a building crescendo of muted brass and subtle percussion, before culminating in a hypercolour riot of free-jazz patterns and big band flourishes. Kitty Wu becomes gentle, sax-led orchestral funk, recalling the score work of Lalo Schifrin.

The tone is set – these renderings of JJ's jazz and hip-hop-centred recordings as classical pieces undoubtedly work, but sometimes feel a touch clinical and reserved. Although enjoyable, this doesn't feel like an album with lasting appeal – more of a coffee-table-bound novelty for hip-hop heads who've grown up, spawned kids and bought that house in the Cotswolds. The peaks are overwrought and strident in places, some of the reflective moments tend towards blandness. A strangely passionless affair.