Classical saxophonist Joseph Lulloff and pianist Yu-Lien offer world premiere recordings of works by four prominent, living American composers on New Stories, available via Blue Griffin Recording...

Straddling the line between jazz and classical music, New Stories mixes contemporary modern composers work focussing on saxophone and piano.

The Michigan-based duo opens the album with the title work, Dorothy Chang’s 'New Stories for Alto Saxophone and Piano', followed by David Biedenbender’s 'Detroit Steel' for solo alto saxophone, Stacy Garrop’s 'Wrath' for tenor saxophone and piano, and Carter Pann’s 'Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano'. Three of the works were written expressly for Joseph Lulloff, whilst Garrop’s piece was commissioned by Lulloff as part of a consortium of saxophonists.

Discussing the album, Lulloff says: "These new compositions invite listeners to savor the expansive colours, virtuosity, and eclecticism of modern saxophone performance and unleash the instrument’s artistic potential as a recital instrument in both classical and contemporary music contexts."

As an aside, the opening piano segments on the opening 'Floating Worlds' from 'New Stories' reminded me a lot of the final eerie piano piece of an old Columbo episode.

I'm not normally a fan of jazz-based classical music, but there's a lot of warmth and charm here that's hard to resist.

Track listing:

Dorothy Chang
New Stories for Alto Saxophone and Piano
01. I. Floating Worlds (5:25)
02. II. A Tall Tale Told (4:46)
03. III. Reflection (4:49)
04. IV. Folksong (4:53)

David Biedenbender
05. Detroit Steel (6:39)

Stacy Garrop Wrath
06. I. Menace (6:22)
07. II. Shock (6:23)
08. III. Amok (3:22)

Carter Pann
Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano
09. I. This Black Cat (4:49)
II. Three Songs Without Words
10. 1. Reverie (3:54)
11. 2. Soaring (3:14)
12. 3. Consolation (6:09)
13. III. Cuppa Joe (1:51)
14. IV. Epilogue: Lacrimosa in memory of Joel Hastings (4:39)

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Darren Rea