Soprano Summit
Ravello, 2022
8/10
The always impressive Paul Cohen brings his inimitable sax skills to this diverse chamber experience, where Allison Brewster Franzetti and Lois Anderson contribute piano, and Kathleen Nester’s piccolo is in attendance.
“Feathers And Sax” opens the listen with Cohen’s bright sax alongside swift keys, where a warm spirit resides in the Amanda Harberg composition, and John David Lamb’s “Sonata” follows with Anderson’s graceful keystrokes occasionally getting upbeat and dreamy, as light piccolo adds much to the climate.
Deeper into the listen, the lower register of “Lessons Of The Sky” displays a dynamic chemistry between the players in the fluid execution, while “The Gift Of Life” swirls with a mesmerizing quality in the Jeff Scott piece, where airy piccolo and soulful sax meet in a very pretty fashion. “Serenata” then exits the listen and weaves in and out of gorgeous textures amid the Carlos Franzetti original that truly illustrates the talent present.
Cohen pulls off a stunning performance here, where both sparse and full moments showcase his keen attention to detail and superbly skilled soprano sax, effectively breathing new life into these under appreciated works.
Travels well with: Eight Strings & A Whistle- … and nothing remains. the same…; James Dashow- Synchronies