“By turns frenetic and soulful, the five pieces on this new release plunge a listener sharply into the world of the Akropolis Reed Quintet, a sharp, sleek ensemble out of the University of Michigan. Four of the pieces were commissioned by the group, and they share a fondness for funky rhythms, angular textures and slightly aggressive rhetoric — all of which might make the disc a little wearying in the aggregate if the music weren’t so shapely and smart. Moreover, the lyrical episodes that are scattered throughout — particularly the slow movements of the title work by Gregory Wanamaker, and John Steinmetz’s concluding ‘Sorrow & Celebration,’ which calls for participation from the audience — are pure gold, shot through with tenderness and grace. Leading off is the startling, ingenious “Jesus Is Coming” by the Dutch composer known as Jacob TV, which builds densely layered textures from taped samples of two small children and a terrifyingly unhinged New York street preacher. It’s a piece you can’t unhear.”
— Joshua Kosman, The San Francisco Chronicle, April 24, 2017
Robert Young is my favorite saxophonist. He can play anything. Especially saxophone. And he can play anything on the saxophone.
Bobby is also a good friend, and an excellent human being. You should buy his debut solo album Hybrid.
Along with definitive recordings of music by David Heinick, Tim Sullivan, Baljinder Sekhon, and Mischa Zupko, Hybrid features a tremendous performance of my …unsettled, unphased… featuring Bobby on tenor saxophone, Tim Sullivan on an extended drum set, bassist John Geggie, and pianist M. Maxwell Howard. I composed this work for Bobby and Tim in 2014.
“The album comes to a close with …unsettled, unphased… by Gregory Wanamaker, a work for tenor saxophone, piano, bass and drum set. Young is again joined by Sullivan on drums, as well as by pianist M. Maxwell Howard and bassist John Geggie. No stranger to the saxophone world, Wanamaker contributes an interesting chamber work that combines Eastern European rhythms with a number of 20th-century harmonic techniques for jazz combo instrumentation. The piece begins in medias res as Young and the ensemble play tight mixed meter grooves that invoke equal parts jazz and Bartók-esque ethnic dance rhythms. This energetic dance section returns frequently in what the composer refers to as a “sonata-rondo hybrid.” In the middle of the work, a floating bass solo is contrasted by the harsh tones of saxophone multiphonic techniques. A vigorous rock-like march decorated with tenor altissimo leads to a final coda version of the dance-groove section. Wanamaker’s …unsettled, unphased… is both a stimulating and fitting conclusion to an album inspired by a melting pot of styles and genres.”
Dr. Christopher Barrick
TheSaxophonist.org
1. DES ONDES ET LES TEMPS
Casey Grev, Tenor Saxophone
2. …UNSETTLED, UNPHASED…
Robert Young, Tenor Saxophone – M. Maxwell Howard, Piano – John Geggie, Double Bass – Tim Sullivan, Drumset & Percussion
3. ELEGY
Akropolis Reed Quintet
Tim Gocklin, Oboe – Kari Landry, Clarinet – Matt Landry, Alto Saxophone – Ryan Reynolds, Bassoon – Andrew Koeppe – Bass Clarinet
4. RAGAHORO BREAKDOWN
Duo Entre-Nous
Jackie Glazier, Clarinet – Don-Paul Kahl, Alto Saxophone
OF LIGHT AND SHADOWS
5. I. Luminant Shadows
6. II. Flickering Beams, Perpetual Wind
Stephen Page, Alto Saxophone – Liz Ames, Piano
7. OUT OF MIND, INTO BODY
John Friedrichs, Bass Clarinet
8. COUNTERPUNCH
Eos Sextet
Sam Detweiler, Soprano Saxophone – Curren Myers, Alto Saxophone – Fangyi Niu, Alto Saxophone – Grace Chen, Tenor Saxophone – Andrew Lammly, Tenor Saxophone – Justin Rollefson, Baritone Saxophone
9. DES ONDES ET LES TEMPS (REMIX)
Casey Grev, Tenor Saxophone
