Vivace Records
The classical music division of K2B2 RECORDS
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Review from American Record Guide Sept-Oct 2011
"The Pairing of Brahms and Webern is a clever one, inviting a discussion of what these seemingly dissimilar composers actually have in common. . . "
In between the headliners are three improvisations for tenor saxophone recorded in 1978 with TASHI Pianist Peter Serkin. Krystall explains that the improvisations originated in a 1977 TASHI tour of the East Coast and that they were inspired by Stravinsky's Three Pieces for Clarinet Solo (1919) and the hunchbacked character Igor in the 1931 Frankenstein film. A year later, Serkin invited Krystall to Cal Arts to record them. Serkin placed a portable cassette recorder on a piano and then opened the dampers on the instrument to create overtones and an echo effect. In II and III Serkin joins in on the keyboard, adding subtle commmentary.
"The performances are spirited . . . The Webern has plenty of post-romantic angst and showcases the ensemble's extremes in dynamics."
"Krystall and the Cooker Quartet play with pleasant timbres, sincere phrasing and color, and good chamber awareness." - HanudeloReview by All Music Guide (allmusic.com)
by V. Vasan
Much has been written about the Second Viennese School, Anton Webern, and the philosophy and techniques behind his works. But what seems to be most important here is the listener's response to the music. Played by Marty Krystall on tenor saxophone with Peter Serkin on piano and Ida Kavafian on violin and Richard Stoltzman on clarinet, here are Webern's Quartet Op. 22 and his Three Improvisations. The quartet is simply two movements, one that is very random and another that has a lot of swing and movement. Much to Krystall's credit, though many of the notes are short, he plays them as legato as possible and does not shortchange them. The Three Improvisations feature just the saxophone and piano in what sound like jazz improvisations. One almost feels that the beginning of the first improvisation is a moody John Coltrane solo, while the second improvisation is a cleaner, more different character, spare and arguably a bit more tonal in the piano. The second half of the album is an entirely different universe, although musicologically speaking, it is not surprising to put Brahms on an album with Webern. Here, Krystall plays the clarinet with theCooker Quartet. Brahms' Quintet in B minor for clarinet and strings is a darker, dense work in which a sense of seriousness pervades the piece. The opening movement is indeed exciting, thickly textured, with smooth, fluid strings and clean cello attacks. Krystall playsBrahms beautifully, with a solid fluidity in his clarinet sound. These musicians clearly have excellent technique; they only tend to run a bit low on energy as the movement progresses, but they resume it toward the end. The violins play in unison with dark passion: this is clearly no cheery, light allegro. The adagio features an interesting clarinet solo in the minor key. The piece concludes with Brahms' famed counterpoint, with a beautiful intertwining of clarinet and violin lines over somber, low strings. The ending is almost funereal, or operatically tragic. It is clear that the musicians enjoyed playing together, as their synchronization is undeniable. Brahms would have been pleased.
Anton Webern: Quartet Op.22
Marty Krystall - tenor saxophone; Peter Serkin - Piano;
Ida Kavafian - violin; Richard Stoltzman - clarinet
Three Improvisations For Tenor Saxophone and Piano
Marty Krystall - tenor saxophone; Peter Serkin - PianoBrahms: Clarinet Quintet Op. 115
Marty Krystall - clarinet, and members of the Cooker Quartet:
Amy Hershberger & Christine Frank - violins; Shawn Mann - viola; Matthew Cooker - cello
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