Delos Diary

The few auditors who can still remember the dulcet blended tones of a first-rate barbershop quartet will surely be thrilled by the sounds made by The Italian Saxophone Quartet on a new Delos CD scheduled to be released this spring.
Saxophones come in various shapes, sizes and sound qualities ranging from soprano to tenor, alto and baritone. When all four versions of the same instrument are heard together, played by top-flight musicians, the sound can be magical… a little like overdosing on a rich caramel sundae. The Italian Saxophone Quartet is just such a group, all performers of a caliber to equal the technical skills and beautiful tone of Federico Mondelci, soprano sax, already familiar to Delos fans from his solo Piazzolla recording with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra (DE 3252).
The other three saxophonists, all with gratifying and mellifluous Italian names, are Marco Gerboni, alto; Mario Marzo, tenor; and Massimo Mazzoni, baritone.
The program of the new CD, recorded live in Verona, ranges from scrupulously clean Scarlatti and Bach to sensuous and heady Jean Françaix, Gershwin, Joplin, Piazzolla, and Nino Rota. And lots more! It's a joyous recording not to be missed (DE 3333).