Album: Simone Dinnerstein/Tift Merritt, Night (Sony)

A genuinely odd collaboration, this, between the classical pianist Dinnerstein and the country singer-songwriter Merritt.

Piano, guitar, voice. Sometimes just piano. Where to start? Perhaps with the credits. Schubert, J S Bach and Purcell mix it with Leonard Cohen, Billie Holiday and Brad Mehldau. Intrigued? It is certainly genteel and heartfelt. McGarrigle fans might welcome it into their parlours. (Though not "Dido's Lament", I suspect.)