Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » The Osland Saxophone Quartet: In the Land of Ephesus

199

The Osland Saxophone Quartet: In the Land of Ephesus

By

Sign in to view read count
The Osland Saxophone Quartet: In the Land of Ephesus
The ongoing journey to horn bliss continues with In the Land of Ephesus by the Osland Saxophone Quartet. With a rich montage of jazz and classical styles, the music is delivered with exceptional quality and passion.

The quartet’s special bond is immediately apparent, revealing a tight unit of musicians which clearly expounds the beauty and art of the saxophone quartet. One common strand of the musical kinship lies in the quartet’s common roots at the University of Kentucky, where Miles and Lisa Osland are both teachers; Joe Carucci and Larry Nelson are alumni.

Miles Osland has recorded and performed in numerous formats ranging from orchestras to smaller ensembles. His academic abilities in terms of arranging are evident, but it’s the group’s masterful skill and handling of the compositions that make the recording a truly enjoyable experience.

The compositions show a diversity of styles and influences, with selections by jazz notables Bob Mintzer, Joe Lovano, Bill Mays, and other composers. The recording begins with Mintzer’s stirring “Saxophone Quartet #2,” which highlights nice horn arrangements and smooth transitions. The title selection, written by Lovano, features the quartet’s sophisticated playing sustained by an infectious percussion rhythm. Other pieces include the complex and extravagant “Concertino” by European composer Marcel Poot, and the Americana “Dooh-Dah Suite” which features homeland classics by songwriter Stephen Foster. The Osland Saxophone Quartet performs each piece with enthusiasm and spirit, delivering this music with superb precision and skill. In the Land of Ephesus has serious sax appeal for fans of jazz, classical, or just plain good music.

Visit the Osland Saxophone Quartet on the web.

Track Listing

1-3. Saxophone Quartet #2 4. In The Land Of Ephesus 5. It Takes Four to Tango 6. Concertino 7. Play Song 8-10. The Doo-Dah Suite 11-16. 1000 Bars Of Blue

Personnel

Miles Osland - flute, soprano and alto saxophones; Lisa Parent Osland - tenor saxophone; Joe Carucci - alto saxophones; Larry Nelson - baritone sax, string bass; Jeremy Long - alto saxophone (tracks 1-3); Jason Tiemann - drums (tracks 1-3); James Campbell - percussion (tracks 4,5)

Album information

Title: In the Land of Ephesus | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Sea Breeze Jazz

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.