Freeway – New Music for Saxophone and Piano
Liner Notes   Cat. No. NWCR876     Release Date: 2007-01-01
Dan Goble, saxophone; Jeff Hellmer, piano

While the history of the saxophone now extends back well over 150 years, nevertheless it is still one of the younger instruments in use in classical music. As such, it still has a long way to go in securing a widespread role on the concert platform, and truly exceptional repertoire for the instrument remains somewhat scarce. In contrast, the instrument was so quickly adapted by jazz musicians that it is almost impossible to imagine the music without the sound of the pithy soprano, the lithe alto, the warm-toned tenor and the robust baritone saxophones.

In selecting the compositions for Freeway, saxophonist Dan Goble sought to create a balanced collection of pieces that would accurately reflect his interests and those of his partner, pianist Jeff Hellmer. Both are noted performers and are active in the world of jazz as well as classical new music. Goble selected works which made full use of skills honed in both classical and jazz performance situations.

The first four compositions, according to Goble, are among the very finest recent pieces written for saxophone and piano-he feels, in fact, that the Wuorinen piece is among the "five best works composed for the instrument to date"-while the fifth is a standard from the world of jazz, though ironically composed not by a saxophonist but a trumpeter, the iconic Miles Davis.

For Goble, the Davis selection is the piece that holds the rest of the program together, uniting aspects from all four of the other pieces: "chordal structure, chance, improvisation, intensity, beauty." But the converse also holds true: he sees the sum total of the program as a sort of tribute to the challenges and sheer variety of styles found in Davis’' own career.

This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Liner notes are accessible via the link above.

Dan Goble

Freeway – New Music for Saxophone and Piano

MP3/320 $9.99
FLAC $9.99
WAV $9.99
CD-R $9.99
CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print material or jewel case included.
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
   Liner Notes



Track Listing

Interplay: I. Octaves
Charles Ruggiero
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Interplay: II. Night Song
Charles Ruggiero
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Interplay: III. Departures
Charles Ruggiero
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Divertimento: I.
Charles Wuorinen
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Divertimento: II.
Charles Wuorinen
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Divertimento: III.
Charles Wuorinen
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San Antonio: I. The Summons
John Harbison
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San Antonio: II. Line Dance
John Harbison
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San Antonio: III. Couples' Dance
John Harbison
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4 Wheel Dr.: I. Freeway
Kevin Jay Isaacs
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4 Wheel Dr.: II. Avenue
Kevin Jay Isaacs
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4 Wheel Dr.: III. Boulevard
Kevin Jay Isaacs
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4 Wheel Dr.: IV. Alley
Kevin Jay Isaacs
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Blue In Green
Miles Davis
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