ReviewsPREMIERE OF HALIM EL DABH`S NEW SAXOPHONE CONCERTO
"Scored for alto saxophone and string orchestra the concerto touches upon egyptian folk sources, dance rhytyms and ruminative gestures. The saxophone is a doleful, charismaitc hero, especially as played with seamless and penetrating beauty by Greg Banaszak."
"A Saxophone Tour De Force"
"From the downbeat of the first number it didn`t take long for Banaszak to live up to his reputation; he played with a brilliance and flair that excited the audience!"
"Mr. Banaszak`s recent concerto CD offers a very appealing range of saxophone repertoire.
Greg Banaszak is a splendid performer with dazzling virtuosity and exceptional control in all registers, and the Polish National Chamber Orchestra is a first rate professional ensemble under the skillful baton of Maestro Jarmolowicz."
"Greg Banaszak`s musicianship and sense of esthetics as well as his love of his instrument and music comes through in every phrase.
Mr. Banaszak does a great service to the saxophone and all of his colleagues with this concerto CD because it makes us all more aware of the strength and beauty of the repertoire."
"What a gorgeous tone!"
"Greg Banaszak is one of a select few "cross-over" musicians that works successfully in both the classical and jazz worlds!"
"Greg Banaszak`s tone throughout his Concerto CD represents a more rich, hybrid style, leaning toward the beefier tone of American players while maintaining a very French, sweet vibrato."
"One of today's leading saxophone virtuosos"
"Banaszak's performances are idiomatic, fluid and sensitive to the individual works' needs"
"American saxophonist Greg Banaszak gives a very "classical" performance with his smooth, round, and fluid tone quality creating the most graceful pianissimos. That brings a warmth and refinement to the central movement of the Dubois Concerto, the quiet running passage toward the close of the movement being a particularly magical moment. Elsewhere Banaszak displays a spectacular technical command of the instrument, his rhythmic security in the mischievous outer movements of the Ibert adding to the tongue-in-cheek humor. He gives a silky account of the Glazunov, and revels in the complexities of the Villa-Lobos. In the cadenzas he demonstrates his full-quota virtuosity, at the same time avoiding any hint of brashness. Indeed throughout the disc Banaszak is intent on elevating the saxophone to a symphonic instrument , avoiding the jazzy tonal quality we so frequently encounter in this repertoire."
"Destined to be great in both Western classical music and African- American music"
"Banaszaks' Saxophone Concerto CD displays secure technique and conscientious musicianship"
"Saxophonist extraordinaire wows audience at Stan Hywet Concert Hall" |