Navona Records re-release David Tanner's 1988 album The Eloquent Saxophone. This was Tanner's first album, featuring him as a performer. Since then he's recorded Of Birds and Lemons (2012) and Dashing (2016) for Navona. It includes two unaccompanied pieces and two sax quartets recorded by multi-tracking, as well as a rich variety of works with accompaniment admirably rendered by pianist Marc Widner. The music ranges from Schumann to a stylised blues by Gene DiNovi...

For lovers of the saxophone, Navona Records has a rare treat in store for you with The Eloquent Saxophone. Over the course of these 19 tracks (54 min, 23 sec) David Tanner expertly plays his way through numerous writers compositions taking in music from several genres.

The one thing that comes across clearly is Tanner's love for the music. You can tell this is an artist that is thoroughly enjoying his work, and this comes across as infection listening. The playing is fluid and engaging and at times you could be forgiven for almost mistaking this for a clarinet performance.

It's a wonderfully diverse album that will hold your attention.

7

Darren Rea