Saxifraga
New Focus, 2025
9/10
On this 2nd album for the New Focus label, the New Thread Quartet flesh out the work of Scott Wollschleger, Amy Beth Kirsten and Victoria Cheah, where attention to multiphonics, tuning and non-pitched sounds is much appreciated.
Wollschleger’s “Without World” opens, and makes great use of Geoffrey Landman’s distinct soprano sax and Kristen McKeon’s precise alto sax for the 16+ minutes of minimal and adventurous ideas.
In the middle, “Avalanche Lily”, by Kirsten, possesses an energetic and colorful climate, as Jonathan Hulting-Cohen’s animated soprano sax is complemented by Erin Rogers’ well timed tenor sax across the 3 chapters of ambience, mystery and squeals.
The last track belongs to Cheah’s “Walk For A Shell”, where a distinct droning and slow gestures of pitch and timbre via Noa Even’s mesmerizing alto sax and Zach Herchen’s strategic bari sax won’t go unnoticed.
A very creative body of work that explores intimacy and inspiration from the natural world, the quartet show much strength in delicate areas, high registers and melodic manipulation like few others could.
Travels well with: Exceptet- Tree Lines; Roberta Michel- Hush