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American Saxophone Quartet
Few
instruments have a connection to as many varied musical styles as
the saxophone. In the short period since the instrument's invention
just over a century ago,
it has been included in some of the standards of the orchestral and
solo instrument repertoire, it has been the
expressive vehicle for some of the greatest innovators in jazz, and
it has been popularized in numerous rock and pop hits. The
saxophone quartet is one of the few modern-day "consorts" (a
group comprising only instruments of the same family, the string
quartet being the most notable example) which enjoy such advantages
as unity of timbre and articulation. As the saxophone is arguably
the most energy-efficient musical instrument ever designed, a quartet
of these instruments has an enormous dynamic and color range, plus
an unsurpassed technical fluidity.
The American Saxophone Quartet began as an inspiration
of Albert Regni, designed to perform the palette of musical styles
which exists in the unique melting pot
of New York
City's musical scene. The Quartet has performed with the New York
Philharmonic with Music Director Kurt Masur since 1995, both as
soloists
and as a section in works by Gershwin, Ellington and others. As part
of the Philharmonic's 1997 South American Tour, they presented
a Buenos
Aires solo recital which earned a five-star review in La Nacion,
and they have been featured on a Philharmonic Young Peoples' Concert
conducted
by Leonard Slatkin.
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ALBERT REGNI, soprano,
is Principal Saxophone with the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan
Opera, and New York City Ballet Orchestras. He has released two
critically acclaimed solo saxophone recordings, Extended Saxophone (CRI)
and Three Dark Paintings (Open Loop). Well known internationally
for his work on the concert stage and in recording studios, he
has appeared at the music festivals of Marlboro, Aspen, and Edinburgh. |
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DAVID DEMSEY, alto, is
Coordinator of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University in
Wayne, New Jersey. Equally at home on a concert stage or a jazz
bandstand, he has recorded classical and jazz performances on
the Centaur and Golden Crest labels. He has written books on
John Coltrane and composer Alec Wilder, liner notes for Verve
Records, and is Contributing Editor for Saxophone Journal and Jazz
Player magazines. |
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DAVID CARROLL, tenor, is
Associate Principal Bassoon of the New York Philharmonic and
on the faculty of The Juilliard School. He is a winner of the
Geneva International Music Competition, a Fulbright scholar,
and a Koussevitsky Fellow. He is the tenor saxophone soloist
on the New York Philharmonic's 1997 recording of Ravel's Bolero (WEA/Atlantic/Teldec). |
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LINO GOMEZ, baritone, performs
frequently with the New York Philharmonic, American Symphony,
and New York City Ballet Orchestras as well as the New Jersey
Symphony, where he also performs on the bass clarinet. His chamber
music credits include performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Chamber Players at Tanglewood and recordings with the Orpheus
Chamber Orchestra. He is Principal Clarinet for Miss Saigon on
Broadway and a former member of the "Saturday Night Live" Band
on NBC. |
"… for my money, the ASQ is
one of the most enjoyable and versatile chamber groups on today's
music scene."
-- Paquito
D'Rivera
"Astonishing
in this quartet's playing is the supple phrasing, scrupulous legato,
refinement of tonal color and their caring approach to every style.
Excellent… masterly blowing by four saxes."
-- La
Nacion, Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 14, 1997
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