The D major Clarinet Sonata (1934) is a work of Bax's full maturity, easily recognizable by its distinctive harmonic language, rhythmic sense, and frequently winsome mood--this last which Plane captures perfectly in his free-flowing rendition. The mood turns elegiac for the Folk-Tale, which features beautiful and quite moving writing for cello and piano, masterfully conveyed by Alice Neary and Benjamin Frith. Finally, Bax's 1945 Piano Trio in B-flat proved to be his last chamber work. This is now the composer we know from the symphonies--indeed, the first movement, with its persistent jig-rhythm and fast-slow-fast formal plan has much in common with Bax's Symphony No. 4. It's a marvelous work that relaxes for a languorous middle movement, then perks up again with a stimulating 5/8 finale. The Gould Piano Trio's superlative performance crowns this most enjoyable disc, which includes the added benefit of excellent recorded sound. Bax fans, this one's for you.

--Victor Carr Jr, ClassicsToday.com