Members: Matt London [Artistic director UK], Jenni Watson [planning team UK], Nathan Henshaw [planning team AU], João Pedro Silva [Portugal], Kyle Hutchins [USA], Pilar Montejano [Spain], Alfonso Padilla [Spain], Gilly Blair [UK], Erin Royer [Australia], Michael Jamieson [New Zealand], Nathan Mertens [USA] and Nicki Roman [USA].
Music: Rob Buckland [UK], Maltida Grieve [AU], Nathan James Dearden [UK], Lino Guerreiro [PT], Andy Scott [UK], Jennifer Watson, Erin Royer & Matt London.
Matt London led the third edition of the Tenor Saxophone Collective at the World Saxophone Congress in Zagreb, Croatia. With another stellar lineup of international saxophonists the TSC was delighted to welcome six new members; Kyle Hutchins, Pilar Montejano, Nathan Mertens, Nicki Roman, Michael Jamieson and Alfonso Padilla to the fold.
Programme:
Inertia by Matilda Grieve for 12 tenor saxophones (world premiere)
Less but not Last by Lino Guerreiro for 12 tenor saxophones (world premiere)
7 hours by Erin Royer & Jenni Watson for 2 tenor saxophones (world premiere)
Westland by Andy Scott for solo tenor saxophone | performed by Kyle Hutchins
johannes: canons and transitions by Nathan James Dearden for 4 tenor saxophones (world premiere) | performed by Nathan Mertens, Gilly Blair, Michael Jamieson & João Pedro Silva
The Shaman by Matt London for 12 tenor saxophones
Tenacity by Rob Buckland for 12 tenor saxophones
With the help of Jenni and Nathan; Matt curated a diverse programme of music for Zagreb by composers from the UK, Portugal and Australia. Presenting new compositional voices to the saxophone community was also very important for this programme with world premieres of johannes: canons and transitions by Welsh composer Nathan James Dearden, and Maltida Grieve’s Inertia.
A greater chamber element to the programme was also included for the first time so that fellow saxophonists could take the pieces they enjoyed from the concert away to perform with friends, students and colleagues. This included 7 hours a duo by our own Erin Royer & Jenni, plus Westland a solo work by TSi director Andy Scott.
With a nod to the tradition of saxophonic writing the TSC premiered Less but not Last by a Lino Guerreiro and gave the second performance of Rob Buckland’s Tenacity. Both often used that post minimal approach we think we know, but with a real added depth of subtle and intricate shifting layers of rhythm, line and groove that transforms from within.
Matt brought his love for free improvisation to the programme with the second performance of The Shaman dedicated to and inspired by the music of his favourite saxophonist Paul Dunmall. “I try to create music that has the emotive freedom and intensity of free improvisation – I love its energy, focus and agility. With no time signatures or barlines in-sight the TSC has open hybrid notations and a number of graphics to navigate!”
TSC 2018 Composer Interviews