SUMMER DAYDREAMS

The title of pianist and composer Kevin Kern's third album is an apt one, for the opening notes of "Le Jardin," the first track on Summer Daydreams, would not be out of place accompanying the opening credits of a Merchant-Ivory film. Not that this is a bad thing. Kern's music has a kind of sensitive grace and his arrangements allow plenty of room for violin (Jeremy Cohen), cello (Thalia Moore), Luis Baez (clarinet), and Bob Ward (French horn). Much of the music on Summer Daydreams is in this vein: slow, sweet, and soothing. There are a few more adventurous exceptions, notably "Pan's Return" (the opening of which rather reminds one of the beginning of the movie Braveheart) and "Dance of the Dragonfly," a lilting piano piece that is the most evocative on the recording. --Genevieve Williams