Spanning the River [CD-single]

Track Listings

1. Three Sonatas for Saxophone Quartet (Scarlatti)

2. Quartet for Saxophones (Matthews)

3. Histoire du Tango (Piazzolla)

4. Quartet No. 1 in Three Movements (Mintzer)

Editorial Reviews
Fanfare, September/October 1999
"The four performers who make up this quartet are excellent individually and also work together very nicely, producing a pleasing sound and a tight ensemble. Saxophone fans will fina a lot to like here, especially the first-rate musicianship and the interesting repertoire."

American Record Guide, September/October 1999
"Playing, tone productions and sonics on [the disc] are outstanding. There is much that the avid student and teacher of the saxophone can learn from these new items."

Spanning the River [CD-single]

Tracks:

Three Sonatas for Saxophone Quartet (Scarlatti)
Quartet for Saxophones (Matthews)
Histoire du Tango (Piazzolla)
Quartet No. 1 in Three Movements (Mintzer)

Customer Reviews:

Not their best effort..........2003-01-30

Given the experience and positions of the players (Regni is principal saxophone of the NY Philharmonic), I expected a much more polished performance.

The players don't seem to blend well with each other, and the recording seems forward and top-heavy, with the soprano almost screeching at times. Not pleasant, especially when compared to the sound of more refined quartets, such as the New Century S.Q. (try "Standards" for a nicer reading of the Mintzer) and younger quartets like Adelphia (try their recording of the Histoire du Tango for more flair, style, and character if not intonation).

Intonation is a problem on this recording. It might have been okay if the players weren't as seasoned or didn't have big names. But I was disappointed pretty much from the first note at the lack of sensitivity to tone quality, blend and intonation in this group.

This recording is a valiant try, but hopefully in the future ones they pay more attention to the finer points of ensemble playing.

Well-rounded quartet in good first cd.......2000-07-06

The players of this quartet are mostly not saxophone majors. Al Regni on soprano is diverse enough to also play clarinet on solo recordings and broadway shows. David Demsey on alto plays jazz, and is a coordinator of jazz studies and has written books on John Coltrane. David Carroll is a Fulbright scholar and principal bassoonist with the New York Philharmonic. Lino Gomez usually plays bass clarinet in the New Jersey symphony and is a former baritone saxophonist of Saturday Night Live.

The fabulous musicians bring their talents together for a very well done recording of an eclectic selection of music. Their major goal is to represent American saxophone music. While Astor Piazzolla of Histoire du Tango fame is Argentine, he spent a great deal of his life in the states.

Bob Mintzer was a founding member of the quartet, and his quartet featured here is an attempt to blend the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams and Percy Grainger, English folk composers, with the music of Igor Stravinsky and Aaron Copland. The interpretation by the musicians is well done.

While the choice of music is good, the performers admit to having the audience and their entertainment in mind, the recording lacks the fine polish and finesse I have heard in other quartet recordings. Having played the Mintzer and the Piazzolla several times, I do have my own interpretations in mind and am perhaps somewhat biased.

But the performers play well as a group, and for their first cd they did a very good job. They are also active performers in their quartet, and I look forward to hearing their future endeavors, including many newly comissioned pieces from composers like Jim McNeely, Mike Holober and Ted Wiprud.

2 in One
Average customer rating:
2 in One
Sarel River
Manufacturer: Ripe & Ready Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Latin Pop | Latin Music | Styles | Music
Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Latin Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005B59H
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Tracks:

Back Home
Budapest in 95
Song for Gary
Home Alone
Serenity
CM 385
Misery
Two in One
Misery [Alternate Take]
Moving

Average customer rating:

River Watch
Jim Gallant
Manufacturer: Outer Green
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAF2RE
Release Date: 2003-09-30

Average customer rating:

Again

Manufacturer: Steve Digre
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA9TXW
Release Date: 2002-04-30

Average customer rating:

Fabulous!

Spanning the River
American Saxophone Quartet
Manufacturer: Orchard
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000IAFG
Release Date: 1999-02-23

Tracks:

Sonatas for Saxophone Quartet
Quartet for Saxophones
Histoire du Tango
Quartet No. 1 in Three Movements

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous!.......1999-08-12

Having heard a few tracks on the radio, I was eager to have the CD. The members The American Saxophone Quartet, led by Al Regni, blend so very well, with un-erring phrasing and perfect intonation throughout. Beautifully recorded. 5 STARS!

Music Review:

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Seed of Memory

1. Three Sonatas for Saxophone Quartet (Scarlatti)
2. Quartet for Saxophones (Matthews)
3. Histoire du Tango (Piazzolla)
4. Quartet No. 1 in Three Movements (Mintzer)