BACK IN 2013 Quercus, the folk-jazz trio of singer June Tabor, above, saxophonist Iain Ballamy, and pianist Huw Warren made quite a splash internationally by winning the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, the German Record Critics’ album of the year prize, a rare accolade indeed for an album that just happened to have been recorded in a Basingstoke concert hall. That beautifully weighted self titled record drew on sources that included Robert Burns, A. E. Housman and Shakespeare and spawned much touring by the trio. Returning to record stores in late-April with the release of Nightfall, again to be issued on ECM Records, there is a Robert Burns connection bubbling up fleetingly as an enduring motif, this time ‘Auld Lang Syne’ acting as highly unusual opener. Bob Dylan classic ‘Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright‘ covered in recent years by Brad Mehldau and Chris Thile is also among the highly eclectic selection shaped by this largely acoustic, atmospheric trio who create such a unique sound all of their own. Concerts coming up include Southampton (8 April: Turner Sims); Oxford (10 May: St John the Evangelist church); and London (11 May: Kings Place).