‘We’re very lucky,’ alto and soprano saxophonist Sue Mckenzie explained in her introduction to ‘Catching Sunlight’, a collection of pieces by jazz pianist/composer Dave Stapleton. ‘He could just as easily have written these for a string quartet.’ That may be so, but I doubt it would have sounded half as good. Last night the Scottish Saxophone Ensemble (joined by special guests Ingrid Sawyers on piano, Brodie Jarvie on bass and Tom Gordon on drums), treated us to an impressive and diverse programme of music as part of 2013’s ‘Made in Scotland Showcase.’
The set began with ‘Mrs Malcolm’, written by the group’s composer in residence Richard Ingham. Melodies that wouldn’t have sounded out of place on a fiddle or accordion were then bolstered with the baritone sax’s contribution. Mike Brogan should be praised for the clarity of his playing on the instrument. It can be difficult to make notes speak quickly and clearly on the saxophone, particularly in the lower register but, as a true musician should, Brogan made it look easy.
The curse of the contemporary saxophone repertoire is that it often sounds familiar. Whether that be down to echoes of daytime TV theme tunes or the likes of Guru Josh Project, it isn’t ideal. As Mckenzie explained the Afro-Cuban influence of Paquito D’Rivera’s ‘New York Suite’, before diving into three pieces by Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (the first of which, ‘1919’, had to go without its intended recording of Lenin as a voiceover throughout), it became clear that the Ensemble’s choice of programme was to be far from run of the mill.
Contemporary Irish composer Ian Wilson’s ‘So Softly’ gave the group the chance to display the saxophone’s voice like qualities. This piece was sensitively played and the resulting blend of sounds was nothing short of luxurious. One of the concert’s highlights for me was to come next. Will Gregory, of Goldfrapp fame, is also an accomplished saxophonist and composer. His was not the first ‘hoe down’ I have heard at the Fringe, but it was certainly my favourite.
The concert finished how it had begun, with an excellent composition by Richard Ingham, ‘Walking the Cowgate’. ‘This is an old favourite of ours,’ Mckenzie told us, but considering the fervour and polish every piece had been played with across the evening, it seemed the group loved them all.
