DAVID JENNINGS (b.1972): Piano Sonata, Op. 1, 3 Sonatinas, Op. 2, Prelude and Fugue, Op. 6, 3 Lyrical Pieces, Op. 17, Miniature Suite, Op. 18, Harvest Moon Suite, Op. 19.

Description: Jennings' music is refreshingly straightforward and communicative, sometimes plainly neo-Romantic (the Harvest Moon Suite which is inspired by six 19th-century English watercolors; parts of the four-movement, 21-minute sonata, which also has some jazz influences in its second movement) while the short Sonatinas and the Miniature Suite are attractively neo-baroque in intent. As if to prove that he's capable of it, Jennings even offers a twelve-tone Prelude and Fugue, but prospective purchasers need not shrink back in horror since it's only five minutes long. Any lover of tonal modern piano music will find much to enjoy in these 78 minutes. James Willshire (piano).