Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Oh, the memories! Mrs Reviewer remembers taking part in an inter-school concert that featured "Jonah-Man Jazz" not long after it was written in 1966 (and long before she became Mrs Reviewer). Many years later the two of us used this and another of Michael Hurd's pop cantatas, "Swingin' Samson" (1973) with our church youth group, and a couple of years ago our daughter was in "Rooster Rag" (1975), Hurd's take on the old story of Chanticleer, Pertelote, and the cunning Fox. So this reviewer - and his family - were delighted to find that five of Michael Hurd's pop cantatas have been assembled on one convenient disc. The two not yet mentioned are "Prodigal" (1975) and "Captain Coram's Kids" (1987). Surely no reader of this review needs reminding about the story of the prodigal son but if you do it is in Luke 15. Captain Coram established a "Foundling Hospital" in the 17th century although today we would call it an orphanage. All five cantatas were composed to be performed by junior school children and last between 10 and 20 minutes but with a little imagination can easily be expanded. For the record, "Jonah-Man Jazz" was written before Joseph put on his dreamcoat but I have no idea if Hurd influence Lloyd Webber and Rice. Probably they were responding to the same need: children (and their teachers and parents) wanted something more "with it" for their school productions. In "Jonah-Man Jazz" Hurd's use of pastiche jazz, blues and rock 'n' roll rhythms, memorable tunes and entertaining lyrics proved a winning combination, as they also did in "Swingin' Samson" and its successors. This recording is the first to be supported by the British Music Society Charitable Trust Michael Hurd Bequest, established to further the appreciation of the composer's output, and Ronald Corp's New London Children's Choir together with members of the New London Orchestra do full justice to some memorable pieces.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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