Valeska Gavotte
Album: The Sword And The Shield/Botanica
Label: Folkwit
Tracks: 9
Website: http://www.valeskagavotte.com

Valeska Gavotte, the alter ego of Kevin Leahy, talks of his ambition to launch his own fourteen to sixteen piece sinfonietta, which whilst on the face of it may seem a little surprising, it becomes less so when you realise that "The Sword And The Shield/Botanica" is an album that really is laid out in two movements.

There is also talk of influences such as the Penguin Café Orchestra, Grappelli and Debussy, but to me this is an album that feels more like a palm court orchestra working closer to a folk medium, though with a greater reference to the choral elements than all of the above and in fact this review is already starting to feel a bit muso, but don't let that put you off.

All I'm doing is providing background and context, just as important in that respect is that the album is released on Folkwit and that alone should tell you there is something about the music of Valeska Gavotte that will take you to a different place and arguably that's what music is all about.

Valeska Gavotte comes from an old fishing town north-east of Boston and is predominantly self-taught, both of which means he grew up outside of the restraints normally imposed on more classical, large group arrangements and that gives a freshness to his music as it allows him to bring in his many different influences and use them to build a bigger whole.

This is an album that is difficult to place, there is something here, for folk fans, jazzers, classical music fans and at the same time its going to sit outside of the comfort zone for all of them. This is an album that, whilst it defies classification, has so much to offer so many, there's a lot to like and very little not to. There are risks to Valeska Gavotte and "The Sword And The Shield/Botanica", but they are definitely well worth taking.

Neil King