PRISM QUARTET LIGHTS UP GBS

CONNECTICUT POST (excerpt)
by Joseph Pronechen
1/28/02

Speaking of extravaganzas, the featured Concerto Grosso, by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer William Bolcom, was just that, and playful, too, thanks to the GBS and the fantastic Prism Saxophone Quartet. These four saxophonists dressed the part. Their black slacks and purple- blue jackets were like a natty Doc Severinson motif that underlined some rather dazzling playing.

The piece was a roller- coaster ride of musical peaks and surprising angles. Sometimes, lazy-hazy-bluesy saxophones made right turns into bustling thoroughfares painted by the full orchestra. Other tunes, mellow harmonies of the saxes floated along dreamily.

The quartet had the orchestra playing follow the leader. Somehow, Prism instigated the orchestra's tipsy-like waltz measures in the third movement, then straightened them out with those bluesy notes.

Bolcom provided a clever be-bop "round-style" opening for the saxes to launch the fourth movement. Then the excitement-packed, foot- tapping, jazzy give-and-take between Prism and GBS took the driving rhythms to a surprising, screeching halt that turned into a sort of early '50s, exceptionally nice dreamy melody that was faintly reminiscent of "Almost Like Being in Love."

This Concerto Grosso's' Connecticut premiere was exhilarating, to say the least. The audience demanded an encore from the quartet and got a dazzling "Get Happy" humdinger.