Search - Claude Debussy, Gabriel Faure, Modest Mussorgsky :: Romances For Saxophone

Puts the class in classical

T. S. Lord | VT, United States | 03/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It would be disingenuous to say this is a "crossover" CD for Branford Marsalis, popularly known as a jazz artist. But what this achingly beautiful collection does is to melt all stereotypes away. Not only those that have been pinned on jazz artists in general, or Marsalis in particular, but the entire classical genre. As classical music can often be so intimidating and inaccessible to a mainstream audience, Marsalis dares to let his haunting sax breathe new life into all the selections. Trust me. As other reviewers have said, this will do three things: 1) Become one of your top five CD's in your collection, 2) Make you run out and buy other Marsalis CD's, and 3) Awaken or re-awaken you to the classics. Played like this, you can close your eyes and know, just know, it is the soundtrack of your life and all lives worth living."

Fabulous!

03/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This incredible album features Branford Marsalis' moving performances of classical music from the romantic period. I enjoy a variety of musical styles, particularly classical and jazz. I wasn't familiar with any of this music or many of these composers when I bought it 15 years ago. I bought it because I enjoyed Marsalis' Jazz, and thought a classical album from him would be interesting. 15 years later, this remains one of my very favorite CDs in my large collection, and I now love music from composers like Faure, Villa-Lobos, and Satie, which this album introduced me to. And I have never heard these pieces performed better than on this great album."

Only 5 reviews??!!??

Larry Read | Charlotte, NC | 01/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've owned THREE (3) copies of this CD (which is a personal record). I received this album for Christmas in 1987 after shameless hinting to my more than wonderful aunt and uncle in Houston. It was stolen in a break-in three days later. I purchased it again in 1991 only to have it stolen in yet another break-in in 1992. Yikes! I immediately re-purchased it at Jelly's, Pearl Kai, Oahu (great store!) a week later. I've (fortunately) retained the third copy to this day.Back in 1987 this album introduced me to a wide variety of composers and re-aquainted me with some familiar ones. To any high-schooler as I was, or any neophyte, classical music can be daunting. As I was already a Branford fan on the jazz side of the house, "Romances" opened a whole new door for that me. I feel like it's still a great way for us mainstream classical fans to introduce new recruits to our almost esoteric circle.If you don't have it, buy it and share it with any of your friends that might be intellectually astute enough to appreciate it. They'll thank you."