American Landscapes
Caryl Florio composer
Everett Gates composer
Percy Grainger composer
Richard Lane composer
Steve Cohen composer
Alec Wilder composer
Elie Siegmeister composer
Paul Cohen alto & soprano saxophones
Allison Brewster Franzetti piano
Oberlin Chamber Orchestra | Peter Jaffe conductor
Saxophonist Paul Cohen’s AMERICAN LANDSCAPES presents three centuries of original American Music for Saxophone, from Caryl Florio’s concerto (1879) for saxophone and orchestra, to 20th and 21st century works (saxophone and piano) by Alec Wilder, Steve Cohen, Percy Grainger, Richard Lane, and Elie Siegmeister. Cohen is joined by pianist Allison Brewster Franzetti and the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra in this Ravello Records release.
Track Listing & Credits
| # | Title | Composer | Performer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Introduction, Theme and Variations | Carl Florio | Paul Cohen, saxophone; Oberlin Chamber Orchestra | Peter Jaffe, conductor | 11:37 |
| 02 | Incantation and Ritual | Everett Gates | Paul Cohen, soprano saxophone | 4:08 |
| 03 | Molly on the Shore | Percy Grainger | Paul Cohen, alto saxophone; Allison Brewster Franzetti, piano | 4:07 |
| 04 | Suite for Alto Saxophone: Prelude | Richard Lane | Paul Cohen, alto saxophone; Allison Brewster Franzetti, piano | 1:11 |
| 05 | Suite for Alto Saxophone: Song | Richard Lane | Paul Cohen, alto saxophone; Allison Brewster Franzetti, piano | 2:25 |
| 06 | Suite for Alto Saxophone: Conversation | Richard Lane | Paul Cohen, alto saxophone; Allison Brewster Franzetti, piano | 0:51 |
| 07 | Suite for Alto Saxophone: Lament | Richard Lane | Paul Cohen, alto saxophone; Allison Brewster Franzetti, piano | 2:29 |
| 08 | Suite for Alto Saxophone: Finale | Richard Lane | Paul Cohen, alto saxophone; Allison Brewster Franzetti, piano | 1:17 |
| 09 | Sonata for Soprano Saxophone: Allegro assai | Steve Cohen | Paul Cohen, soprano saxophone; Allison Brewster Franzetti, piano | 5:01 |
| 10 | Sonata for Soprano Saxophone: Slow Blues | Steve Cohen | Paul Cohen, soprano saxophone; Allison Brewster Franzetti, piano | 5:41 |
| 11 | Sonata for Soprano Saxophone: Allegro giocoso | Steve Cohen | Paul Cohen, soprano saxophone; Allison Brewster Franzetti, piano | 3:59 |
| 12 | Sonata for Alto Saxophone: I. | Alec Wilder | Paul Cohen, alto saxophone; Allison Brewster Franzetti, piano | 2:51 |
| 13 | Sonata for Alto Saxophone: II. | Alec Wilder | Paul Cohen, alto saxophone; Allison Brewster Franzetti, piano | 2:13 |
| 14 | Sonata for Alto Saxophone: III. | Alec Wilder | Paul Cohen, alto saxophone; Allison Brewster Franzetti, piano | 2:43 |
| 15 | Sonata for Alto Saxophone: IV. | Alec Wilder | Paul Cohen, alto saxophone; Allison Brewster Franzetti, piano | 3:07 |
| 16 | Around New York: Spring Fever on a Ferry Boat | Elie Siegmeister | Paul Cohen, alto saxophone; Allison Brewster Franzetti, piano | 1:36 |
| 17 | Around New York: Floor Walker's Day Off | Elie Siegmeister | Paul Cohen, alto saxophone; Allison Brewster Franzetti, piano | 1:58 |
Paul Cohen plays on a Selmer MK VI alto saxophone (#112xxx) and a 1925 Buescher curved soprano, both with a Caravan mouthpiece and D’Addario #3.5 reeds.
Tracks 2, 2-8, 16-17
Recorded June 3–6 at Mason Gross recording studios at Rutgers University in New Brunswick NJ
Recording Engineer Gregory Mueller
Tracks 3, 9-11, 12-15
Recorded April 11–15 at Oktaven Audio in Yonkers NY
Recording Engineer Ryan Streiber
Producer Paul Cohen
Mastering Gregory Mueller
Executive Producer Bob Lord
VP of A&R Brandon MacNeil
A&R Jeff Leroy
VP of Production Jan Košulič
Audio Director Lucas Paquette
VP, Design & Marketing Brett Picknell
Art Director Ryan Harrison
Digital Marketing Manager Brett Iannucci
Artist Information
Paul Cohen
Paul Cohen is a sought-after saxophonist for orchestral and chamber concerts and solo recitals. He has appeared as soloist with the San Francisco Symphony, Richmond Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Charleston Symphony, and the Philharmonia Virtuosi. His many solo orchestra performances include works by Debussy, Creston, Ibert, Glazunov, Martin, Loeffler, Husa, Dahl, Still, Villa-Lobos, Tomasi, and Cowell. He has also performed with a broad range of orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera (NYC), American Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, New Jersey Symphony, Oregon Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Long Island Philharmonic, Group for Contemporary Music, Greenwich Symphony, and New York Solisti.
Allison Brewster Franzetti
The 2014 and 2018 Latin Grammy® Nominee for Best Classical Album and 2008 Grammy® Nominee for Best Instrumental Soloist without Orchestra, pianist Allison Brewster Franzetti has received international acclaim from critics and audiences alike for her stunning virtuosity and musicality, both as a soloist and chamber musician. Her performances include the live Latin Grammy® Awards television broadcast, the Grammy® Awards Classical Music Tribute to Earl Wild and Lang Lang at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the American Classical Music Hall of Fame, the Robert Schumann Festival at the Marcella Sembrich Museum in Lake George NY, the Campeche Festival in Mexico, and at the opening of the VI International Festival of Music at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Peter Jaffe
Peter Jaffe has served as the Stockton Symphony’s dynamic music director since 1995, combining a passion for outreach and education with top-notch musicianship, and fostering sustained artistic growth throughout his tenure. Organizations ranging from the Association of California Symphony Orchestras to the Brubeck Institute and Goodwill Industries have honored Mr. Jaffe with prestigious awards for his innovations in educational programming and for his distinguished cultural contributions throughout the county. His engaging and informative preconcert discussions include his own renditions of symphonic examples at the piano, and he frequently advocates for the Symphony and orchestral music in radio broadcasts, television appearances, and web videos. He is also the host of the local radio program Symphony Mix, promoting orchestral events and broadcasting entertaining and educational programs about symphonic repertoire.