Sovereign Saxophone Octet
(8 Saxophones)
The Sovereign Saxophone Octet was formed in late 2002, after two of the founder members had such a good time playing octet music at Richard Ingham’s summer sax course at Knuston Hall that they decided they couldn’t bear to wait until the following August to repeat the experience. The players are drawn from all across the North-West of England, and they have a regular rehearsal venue at Lymm in Cheshire. Their repertoire includes jazz, folksongs, classical and baroque transcriptions, show songs, and original pieces for saxophone octet, many of them composed or arranged by members of the octet.
The players in the octet are:
Helen Southall (soprano saxophone)
Gordon Robson (soprano saxophone)
David Webber (alto saxophone)
Jen Puckey (alto saxophone)
John Bowyer (tenor saxophone)
Mike Dale (tenor saxophone)
Stephen Hutchinson (baritone saxophone)
Dan Stinson (baritone saxophone)
Here is a PDF of the Poster for this Concert (click to VIEW or right click to SAVE). Please feel free to print and display the poster to help publicise this concert.
Programme (announced 10th April)
Gabrieli (arr. Frankton): Canzon Primit Țoni
Lotti (arr. Jolly): Crucifixus
Shostakovich (arr. Robson): Tahiti Trot
Jelly Roll Morton (arr. Webber): Sidewalk Blues
Jelly Roll Morton (arr. Webber): The Pearls
Holst (arr. Halton): St. Paul’s Suite
(4 movements)
I N T E R V A L
Ted Snyder (arr. Webber): The Sheik of Araby
Delibes (arr. Wood): Flower Duet
J.S. Bach (arr. Budgen): Wachet Auf
Jay McShann (arr. Dale): Swingmatism
Neal Hefti (arr. Robson): L’il Darlin’
Cy Coleman: Big Spender
Piazzolla (arr. Robson): Oblivion
Jay Chattaway (arr. Don): Tomcat
Philip Buttall (arr. Wood): The Lone Arranger Goes Sax Mad
Brief Report “on the night”
A really good fun evening enjoyed by an audience of over 40 people. For the first piece the 8 players were arranged as 2 quartets (each with all 4 types of saxophone), but for the rest of the concert they were arranged with the instruments grouped together in pairs. The first 2 pieces were “Church” music which sounded very good in the arrangements used. Next came “Tahiti Trot” which is an arrangement by Shostakovich of “Tea for Two” that was composed in a mere 45 minutes to settle a bet. The next 2 pieces were written by Jelly Roll Morton who claimed to have “invented Jazz”. The first half ended with all 4 movements of Holst’s St Paul’s Suite.
After the interval we were treated to a mix of styles including “Dance Band” as well as Jazz and Classical. Some of the pieces were quite well known having been made famous by Charlie Parker (Swingmatism), Count Basie (L’il Darlin’) and Peggy Lee / Shirley MacLaine / Shirley Bassey ([Hey] Big Spender). They finished with a medley of many famous pieces by Philip Buttall.
Actually, that wasn’t the very end as they played Galt McDermot’s African Waltz as an encore. A great finish to our season of concerts.
 |
 |
For more information about the Sovereign Saxophone Octet visit their own website (in a new window), by clicking HERE.
| Previous Concert | Full Season | Next Season |