Andreas Mader, Joseph Moog - Walking the Dog [CD]

Format: CD
Catalogue No.:  V8453 
Barcode: 3700187684532
Release Date: 24 May 2024
Genre: Modern Classical

 A surprising and refreshing journey that explores the confines of the repertoire for saxophone and piano, ‘Walking the Dog’ unites two formidable virtuosos of the contemporary classical scene, the Austrian Andreas Mader (saxophones) and the German Joseph Moog (piano).
 ‘Walking the Dog’ is a multifaceted work, an authentic meltingpot, a surprising witness to the richness of the international musical scene at the beginning of the 20th century. One would then encounter styles as diverse as the mambo, the merengue, the habanera, or the samba, or even fusions of these seemingly separate genres.
 This recording is an absolutely thrilling album that arouses both curiosity and senses, a true revelation from this surprising duo: it is impossible to resist Andreas Mader’s voluptuous saxophone interlocked into the golden piano playing of Joseph Moog.
 Andreas Mader and Joseph Moog open their recital with Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ in the inspiring version of the Japanese Jun Nagao. Under their sensitive and incisive fingers, it becomes the spirit of Jazz itself, sparkling and fresh.
 The suite of seven pieces adapted from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet pursues it in a trenchant and caustic way: the saxophone, part soprano part tenor, displays all its colours.
 This programme also pays tribute to France -a well-deserved homage to the country where Adolf Sax fathered such a great family of instruments. Some works are iconic, such as Debussy’s Rhapsody (in a new and impressive version made by the saxophonist) and Milhaud’s Scaramouche, some less known, like the Two Pieces by Lili Boulanger. And we have a genuine rarity, the Five Exotic Dances, a brilliant and exciting suite of miniature compositions from 1961 by Jean Francaix.
 Andreas Mader and Joseph Moog conclude their journey by a return to the origins - New York - by giving us the little Promenade, under the title ‘Walking the Dog’ that Gershwin composed for the film ‘Shall We Dance’ with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (1937).

Tracklisting
George Gershwin 1898-1937
1. Rhapsody In Blue (version for  saxophone and piano: Nagao)

Lili Boulanger 1893-1918
2. - 3. Nocturneet Cortège (version  for saxophone and piano: Mader)

Sergei Prokofiev 1891-1953
4. - 10. Romeo and Juliet, Op.64 - 7  excerpts from the ballet score  (version for saxophone and piano:  Mader, after the Baich-Fletzberger’s  arrangements)

Claude Debussy 1862-1918
11. Rapsodie for saxophone, CD 104  (version for saxophone and piano:  Mader)

Darius Milhaud 1892-1974
12. - 14. Scaramouche, Op.165c.  Suite for saxophone and piano
I. Allegro - II. Modéré - III. Brasileira

Maurice Ravel 1875-1937
15. Vocalise-étude en forme de  Habanera, M. 51 (version for  saxophone and piano: Mader)

Jean Françaix 1912-1997
16. - 20. 5 Danses exotiques
No. 1. Pambiche - No. 2. Baiao - No. 
3. Mambo - No. 4. Sambalenta - No. 
5. Merengue 

George Gershwin 1898-1937
21. Promenade ‘Walking the Dog’  (version for saxophone and piano:  Mader)

More From This Artist: Andreas Mader Joseph Moog