Martin Jones (piano) Nimbus NI 5880/2 (3 CDs)***

French composer and pianist Jean Françaix (1912-97) wrote for his own instrument throughout his career with as light a touch as he wrote for everything else. Pleasure was his concern, not profundity – Nicolas Slonimsky branded him a “Parisian hedonist”. The music comes in small movements (just over 100 on these three discs, with an average duration of under two minutes), most of which have descriptive titles.

There's a set of encores for different situations (In case of success; In case of triumph), exotic dances (juxtaposing Malambeando and RocknRoll), and a ballet that cleverly re-works Boccherini. For this featherweight survey of music that can be really delectable in short doses and trying in longer ones, Martin Jones is joined in the two piano pieces by Richard McMahon and the duets by Adrian Farmer. See url.ie/6c45