This new disc from Erato brings together the most prominent members of the Bach family – JS, JC, CPE in concerti and WF in a short keyboard piece. Johann Sebastian ran a musical society named Collegium Musicum (which was founded by Telemann!), and often gave concerts at the local Café Zimmermann. I have to say that I rather like the idea of drinking a coffee and listening to a newly-written Bach concerto.

The art is a nice change from the portraits of Bach that so often wind up appearing on the cover of CDs. Flip open the cover here and there’s Rondeau himself relaxing in a forest, looking like he could fit right in with hip folksters like Devendra Banhart or Iron & Wine. That being said, the styling of the performers makes absolutely no difference to the sound, so how does he play? Very well, as it turns out… but with some decidedly odd phrasing in some places.

In the tutti passages everything goes swimmingly. The orchestral playing is powerful and decisive, the harpsichord nicely recorded. However, once Rondeau hits the cadenzas, he injects ritardandos in every few bars. I found this a little affected and,...