Search - Mcallister, Mead, Lauba :: Scena: Contemporary Music for Saxophone

Mcallister is just plain awesome

Daniel Graser | Wappingers Falls, New York United States | 07/31/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let me breakdown Mcallister's playing like this. His tone is perfectly round and powerful. His vibrato is perfecty refined and is not overdone. His technique is flawless and consistent. His expression just seems to flow naturally without any effort. he makes these pieces sound easy, and trust me, they're not. I hope to be able to study with this virtuoso in college. Steady Study is an extremely technically oriented piece and can be performed only by those with complete mastery of their instrument. Sax Notes displays the sonic capabiliies of the saxophone with multiphonics and altissimo, Mcallister blends well with the tape sequences. In Freundshaft is a very circular and intricate unaccompanied piece of literature that is slowly gaining popularity with the saxophone crowd. If you are interested in hearing the cutting edge of classical saxophone you must get this cd along with Visions also by Mcallister. Along with Delangle and Harle, Mcallister is bringing the saxophone to new places and I'm loving every minute of it. If you're a saxophonist this cd is a must have."

Amazing new music for saxophone

Z. Marshall | 09/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This disc displays what the saxophone is capable of, and the new works presented are amazing. Being a new music enthusiast, it becomes apparent that these works performed brilliantly by McAllister are further examples of how the saxophone's reputation has grown in recent decades. The saxophone deserves equal recognition alongside all other instruments, and McAllister makes a case for it being considered a composer's instrument-of-choice for the new millennium."

Great CD with interesting program choices

Michael Christensen | Norman, OK | 02/15/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am not too sure how I feel about this recording. Honestly the only track I ever listen to is the Lauba "Steady Study on the Boogie". I am not too fond of the Mead or any of the other works on this CD however. I feel as though some of these pieces were written to be hard. I love Mr McAllister's playing very much and he gives a virtuoso performance each time he plays, but I am not too crazy for this particular recording. I give it 5 stars because I think all of Mr McAllister's CDs should be on all aspiring saxophonist's shelves and I think soon I will have a change in heart about the music on this album. If you are a saxophonist who wants to play as a career, then buy this album. If it is just a hobby, you might not appreciate it as much."