Bach, Glazunov, Bozza, Maslanka
Bridge, 2021
8/10
Listen to Bach, Glazunov, Bozz, Maslanka
An adventure of exceptional saxophone skill, Dannnel Espinoza (soprano), Matthew Amedio (alto), Michael Sawzin (tenor) and Matthew Evans (baritone) all bring their brass to compositions by J.S. Bach, Alexander Glazunov, Eugéne Bozza and David Maslanka on this incredible chamber affair.
The album opens with the warm and precise interaction between the 4 on Bach’s “Chorale: Durch Adams Fall, BMV 18 (1713/15)”, which isn’t short on exploration either, and this segues into the playful and fluid “Saxophone Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 109”, where the players certainly do justice to Glazunov’s work with no shortage of melody and timelessness.
The back half of the listen leads with the frisky and dreamy “Andante et Scherzo”, which bounces around with much allure and charm as the players handle their instruments with meticulousness, and Maslanka’s “Recitation Book” exits the listen with a stirring, cinematic quality that illuminates the beauty and diversity of the saxophone in the very capable hands present.
An extremely rich and dynamic effort, all 4 members bring a wealth of talent and experience to the equation, and it makes for a delightful listen that will appeal to fans of chamber sounds and who appreciate the many facets of the saxophone.
Travels well with: David Maslanka- The Red Door; Keiko Shichijo- W.A. Mozart