For those unaware, a surprising and refreshing journey which explores the confines of the repertoire for saxophone and piano, Walking the Dog unites two formidable virtuosos of the contemporary classical scene, the Austrian Andreas Mader and the German Joseph Moog.

Walking the Dog is a multifaceted work, an authentic melting-pot, a surprising witness to the richness of the international musical scene at the beginning of the 20th century. One would then encounter styles as diverse as the mambo, the merengue, the habanera, or the samba, or even fusions of these seemingly separate genres.

Andreas Mader and Joseph Moog open their recital with Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue in the inspiring version of the Japanese Jun Nagao. Under their sensitive and incisive fingers, it becomes the spirit of Jazz itself, sparkling and fresh.

The Suite of seven pieces adapted from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet pursues it in a trenchant and caustic way: the saxophone, part soprano part tenor, displays all it’s colors.This program also pays tribute to France - a well-deserved homage to the country where Adolf Sax fathered such a great family of instruments.

Some works are iconic, such as Debussy’s Rhapsody (in a new and impressive version by the saxophonist), Milhaud’s Scaramouche, some less known, like the Two Pieces by Lili Boulanger, and we have a genuine rarity, the Five Exotic Dances, a brilliant and exciting suite of miniature compositions from 1961 by Jean Francaix.

Andreas Mader and Joseph Moog conclude their journey by a return to the origins - New York - by giving us the little Promenade, under the title « Walking the Dog », that Gershwin composed for the film Shall We Dance with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

This is an absolutely thrilling album which arouses both curiosity and senses, a true revelation from this surprising duo. It is impossible to resist Andreas Mader’s voluptuous saxophone interlocked into the golden piano playing of Joseph Moog.

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue

Boulanger, L: 2 Pieces for Violin and Piano
No. 1, Nocturne
No. 2, Cortège

Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64
No. 1, Introduction
No. 10, Juliet as a Young Girl
No. 13, Dance of the Knights
No. 19, Balcony Scene
No. 24, Dance of the Five Couples
No. 15a, Mercutio
No. 35b, Romeo Decides to Avenge Mercutio’s Death

Debussy: Rhapsodie for Saxophone, L. 98 Rhapsodie mauresque

Milhaud: Scaramouche, suite for saxophone & piano (or orchestra), Op. 165c
I. Allegro
II. Modéré
III. Brasileira. Mouvement de Samba
Milhaud: Scaramouche, suite for saxophone & piano (or orchestra), Op. 165c
I. Allegro
II. Modéré
III. Brasileira. Mouvement de Samba

Ravel: Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera

Françaix: Cinq danses exotiques
No. 1, Pambiche
No. 2, Baiao
No. 3, Mambo
No. 4, Samba lenta
No. 5, Merengue

Gershwin: Promenade (Walking the Dog)

This expertly curated new recording opens on the quite stellar Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue and then brings us a duo within Boulanger, L: 2 Pieces for Violin and Piano; the achingly ambient No. 1, Nocturne and the sprightly No. 2, Cortège, and then we get seven pieces from Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64; the dainty No. 1, Introduction, the playful No. 10, Juliet as a Young Girl, the sterner fare of No. 13, Dance of the Knights, the free flowing beauty of No. 19, Balcony Scene, and then come the sweeping No. 24, Dance of the Five Couples, the stridently alive No. 15a, Mercutio, and finally the soaring No. 35b, Romeo Decides to Avenge Mercutio’s Death.

Up next is the delicately-hued Debussy: Rhapsodie for Saxophone, L. 98 Rhapsodie mauresque and that is in turn backed seamlessly by the trio within Milhaud: Scaramouche, suite for saxophone & piano (or orchestra), Op. 165c; the excitable Allegro, the rather more pensive Modéré and the frisjy Brasileira. Mouvement de Samba.

Along thereafter is a magnificently-sculpted Ravel: Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera which is followed by a quintet within Françaix: Cinq danses exotiques; the jaunty No. 1, Pambiche, the wistful No.2, Baiao, the puckish No. 3, Mambo, the coltish No. 4, Samba lenta and finally the elvish No. 5, Merengue, the new album closing on a rather delightful Gershwin: Promenade (Walking the Dog).

Official Purchase Link

www.avie-records.com

www.josephmoog.com