Jay C. Easton

So Low

US $14

OUT OF STOCK

So Low is the first album ever exclusively dedicated to the lowest members of the saxophone family. Baritone and occasionally bass saxophones are heard in symphonic bands and jazz ensembles, and they are indispensable for use in saxophone quartets and saxophone orchestras. But surprisingly, it is still very rare to hear these wonderfully flexible, expressive, and sonorous instruments played in a solo setting.

Even more rarely heard is the giant contrabass saxophone; there are only about 20 known to exist. And this recording is one of the first times the Subcontrabass saxophone has ever been used- so far there are only four subcontras in the world. My hope is that releasing this album will be a step towards changing all this- these instruments deserve to be heard!

Personnel:

• Jay C. Easton- Eb baritone, Bb bass, Eb contrabass, and Bb subcontrabass saxophones
• Loie Flood- piano

Reviews

"This is not only a great demonstration of the low end of the sax family but is also great music. Highly recommended!" -Grant Green, founder of www.contrabass.com

"Without a doubt, this disc is completely fascinating." -R.M. Campbell, Seattle Post-Intelligencer music critic

"Jay C. Easton has done a great service to the saxophone world by breathing life into these wonderful big saxophones. This CD belongs in everyone's collection." -Paul Wagner, Saxophone Journal Magazine

"Your So Low CD is quite remarkable -- unique in fact. The low saxophones are simply astonishing, and beyond that, I am impressed by the overall sensitive playing." -John David Lamb, composer

Track Listing:

WALTER S. HARTLEYDuet for Basses (2002)
two subcontrabass saxophones
1. I. Allegro moderato
2. II. Adagio
3. III. Vivace
ADOLF G. HOFFMAN
4. Serenade Basque (1940)
   baritone saxophone and piano
CARSON P. COOMAN
5. Polpis Dreaming, op. 410 (2002)
   contrabass saxophone and piano
CARL ANTON WIRTH
6. Dark Flows the River (1970)
   baritone saxophone and piano
WALTER S. HARTLEY Sonatina Giacosa (1987)
bass saxophone and piano
7. Allegro molto
8. Allegretto grazioso
9. Quodlibet: Poco vivace, scherzando
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Arranged for saxophone by Jay C. Easton Six Studies in English Folksong (1926)
baritone saxophone and piano
10. I - Adagio… "Lovely on the Water"
11. II - Andante sostenuto… "Spurn Point"
12. III - Larghetto… "Van Dieman's Land"
13. IV - Lento… "She Borrowed Some of Her Mother's Gold"
14. V - Andante tranquillo… "The Lady and the Dragoon"
15. VI - Allegro vivace… "As I Walked Over London Bridge"
IVAN SHEKOV
16. Nocturne (1996)
    bass saxophone and piano
JEAN-BAPTISTE SINGELÉE (1812-1875)
17. Septième solo de concert, op. 93
    baritone saxophone and piano
WALTER S. HARTLEY Romance and Sonorities VIII (1996)
bass saxophone and piano
18. Romance: Adagio
19. Sonorities VIII: Allegro molto
WERNER SCHULZE
20. Austro Polka, op. 5/6 (1984)
    contrabass saxophone and piano