Brian Dickinson & the Penderecki String Quartet: October Songs

Contemporary jazz meets classical chamber music (with rather mixed results) on October Songs, the 2026 recording by Canadian pianist and composer Brian Dickinson and his trio who share center stage with the Ontario-based Penderecki String Quartet.

There are at least two ways to appraise this meticulously planned and well-meaning partnership. On the one hand, this is lovely music, most of which was skillfully written and all deftly arranged by Dickinson; on the other, the album's jazz component is relatively low-key for the first 36 minutes or so, surrendering its usual place of honor to the quartet and showing only random flashes of its singular artistry and resourcefulness.

The exceptions to that rule are the last two numbers, Dickinson's buoyant "Spring Sprung In" and William Walton's elegant "Touch Her Sweet Lips and Part," performed for the most part by Dickinson's splendid trio and showing how much may have been lost by not placing it in the driver's seat more often. "October Songs," Dickinson's luxurious three-part suite, which serves as the album's centerpiece, is by and large governed by the Penderecki Quartet, as is the graceful opener, "Autumn Glow," even though Dickinson solos handsomely on every one, and tenor Kelly Jefferson weighs in at least twice.

That is not to suggest that the music as presented is anything less than eloquent or pleasing. Dickinson, Jefferson and bassist Jim Vivian are truly special, as are the members of the Penderecki Quartet (Jerry Kaplanek, Jeremy Bell, violins; Christine Vlajk, viola; Katie Schlaikjer, cello), and their performance affords absolutely no cause for complaint. Even though some may agree that it leans more heavily than it should on the chamber music side of the ledger, October Songs is by any measure a very good album, brimming with radiant and charming music. That is no doubt what Dickinson had in mind, and, thumbs up or less, no one can blame him for that.