Alastair Penman & Jonathon Pease
Saxophone & Piano
[Review extract]
20th
January
2022.
The
Society
presented
two
exceptional
musicians:
Alastair
Penman,
saxophone,
and
Jonathon
Pease,
piano.
Enjoying
musical
equality
in
a
synergistic
combination,
the
duo
gave
an
electrifying
performance.
With
Alastair’s
engaging
introductions
setting
the
scene
for
each
piece,
the
audience
enjoyed
a
refreshing
programme
of
accessible
modern
classical
music
and
arrangements
of
popular pieces; nicely balanced between the virtuosic and gentler moments.
The
concert
opened
decisively
with
Iturralde’s
Pequena
Czarda.
Beginning
with
shades
of
Piazzolla
before
referencing
Czardas,
the
quality
of
both
musicians
was
evident.
Playing
fluidly,
Alastair
explored
the
range
of
his
alto-saxophone
with
ease
as
the
two
captured
and
then
held
the
interest
of
the
audience
for
the
rest
of
the
concert.
Then
Ravel’s
impressionistic
Pièce
en
forme
de
Habanera
-
a
hypnotic
and
beautiful
arrangement
for
saxophone.
No
one
would
be
leaving
at
half-time
and
the
hall
buzzed
with
excitement as the second-half was eagerly anticipated.
Returning
with
what
was
arguably
the
best
and
most
demanding
piece
of
the
concert
for
the
duo,
Scott’s
Three
Letter
Word,
dedicated
to
Swedish
composer
and
pianist
Esbjorn
Svensson,
tragically
killed
in
a
diving
accident
in
2008.
This
was
a
fabulous
and
totally
engaging
performance
containing
exciting
contrasts
of
tempo
and
rhythm,
the
saxophone
playing
against
a
wonderful
sound-backdrop
provided
by
the
piano.
A
profound
moment,
heard
but
not
visible
to
many
of
the
audience,
was
the
repeated
forearm-
clutch
of
bass
notes
on
the
piano
as
Jonathon
pressed
them
with
his
left
forearm,
whilst
continuing
to
play
individual notes with his right-hand – this moment suggested Svensson drowning.
The
simplistic
beauty
of
the
opening
of
Planel’s
Prelude
et
Saltarelle,
moved
into
a
saxophone
cadenza,
ending
with
a
fun
Saltarello.
Next,
two
movements
from
Woods
Sonata
for
Alto
Saxophone
and
Piano
-
:
a
gentle
and
impressionistic
first
movement
gave
way
to
an
increase
in
tempo
in
the
second
movement.
With
alluring
saxophone
and
atmospheric
piano,
the
movement
evolved
into
a
stunning
performance
from
both
saxophone
and
piano
as
it
closed.
Alastair
and
Jonathon
continued
with
a
demanding
Carmen
Fantasy,
Bizet/
arr.
Borne.
Beginning
with
the
familiar
and
steady
rhythmic
Habanera,
the
demands
upon
the
saxophonist
progressively
increased
to
a
fiery
finish.
A
relaxing
encore,
And
Everything
is
Still,
Scott
–
a
beautiful
piece,
closed a superb concert. IM
Alastair Penman & Jonathon Pease
Saxophone
&
Piano
[Review extract]
20th
January
2022.
The
Society
presented
two
exceptional
musicians:
Alastair
Penman,
saxophone,
and
Jonathon
Pease,
piano.
Enjoying
musical
equality
in
a
synergistic
combination,
the
duo
gave
an
electrifying
performance.
With
Alastair’s
engaging
introductions
setting
the
scene
for
each
piece,
the
audience
enjoyed
a
refreshing
programme
of
accessible
modern
classical
music
and
arrangements
of
popular
pieces;
nicely
balanced
between
the
virtuosic
and
gentler
moments.The
concert
opened
decisively
with
Iturralde’s
Pequena
Czarda.
Beginning
with
shades
of
Piazzolla
before
referencing
Czardas,
the
quality
of
both
musicians
was
evident.
Playing
fluidly,
Alastair
explored
the
range
of
his
alto-saxophone
with
ease
as
the
two
captured
and
then
held
the
interest
of
the
audience
for
the
rest
of
the
concert.
Then
Ravel’s
impressionistic
Pièce
en
forme
de
Habanera
-
a
hypnotic
and
beautiful
arrangement
for
saxophone.
No
one
would
be
leaving
at
half-time
and
the
hall
buzzed
with
excitement
as
the
second-
half was eagerly anticipated.
Returning
with
what
was
arguably
the
best
and
most
demanding
piece
of
the
concert
for
the
duo,
Scott’s
Three
Letter
Word,
dedicated
to
Swedish
composer
and
pianist
Esbjorn
Svensson,
tragically
killed
in
a
diving
accident
in
2008.
This
was
a
fabulous
and
totally
engaging
performance
containing
exciting
contrasts
of
tempo
and
rhythm,
the
saxophone
playing
against
a
wonderful
sound-backdrop
provided
by
the
piano.
A
profound
moment,
heard
but
not
visible
to
many
of
the
audience,
was
the
repeated
forearm-clutch
of
bass
notes
on
the
piano
as
Jonathon
pressed
them
with
his
left
forearm,
whilst
continuing
to
play
individual
notes
with
his
right-hand
–
this
moment
suggested
Svensson drowning.
The
simplistic
beauty
of
the
opening
of
Planel’s
Prelude
et
Saltarelle,
moved
into
a
saxophone
cadenza,
ending
with
a
fun
Saltarello.
Next,
two
movements
from
Woods
Sonata
for
Alto
Saxophone
and
Piano
-
:
a
gentle
and
impressionistic
first
movement
gave
way
to
an
increase
in
tempo
in
the
second
movement.
With
alluring
saxophone
and
atmospheric
piano,
the
movement
evolved
into
a
stunning
performance
from
both
saxophone
and
piano
as
it
closed.
Alastair
and
Jonathon
continued
with
a
demanding
Carmen
Fantasy,
Bizet/
arr.
Borne.
Beginning
with
the
familiar
and
steady
rhythmic
Habanera,
the
demands
upon
the
saxophonist
progressively
increased
to
a
fiery
finish.
A
relaxing
encore,
And
Everything
is
Still,
Scott
–
a
beautiful piece, closed a superb concert. IM
