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December 9, 2024
A new collaboration in the Bienen School of Music brings the world of smokey jazz clubs and esteemed concert halls together and gives saxophone students the opportunity to create a new kind of sound.
The approach is unique and stimulating, according to Natalia Warthen, who is earning a master’s in saxophone performance.
“Classical saxophonists working with jazz saxophonists is often a rare event,” said Warthen, a classical saxophonist who is taking part in a new interdisciplinary learning effort between Bienen’s jazz program and saxophone studio.
During fall quarter, students were able to study new saxophone styles under professor of saxophone Taimur Sullivan and director of jazz studies Derrick Gardner.
One of the appreciable differences between classical and jazz saxophone lies in the tone. In classical music, it’s meant to blend seamlessly with the ensemble or orchestra, but with jazz, saxophonists embrace a more flexible and textured tone that ranges from warm and velvety to sharp and piercing.
Musicians are mixing the composed parts of classical with the improvisation of jazz.
“I’ve found myself approaching classical music in a new way,” Warthen said. “It’s interesting to see how we might morph definitions of ‘classical’ music to better fit this new genre.”
A project called “Heritage/Evolution” was the inspiration for the collaboration between the jazz program and saxophone studio. “Heritage/Evolution” was started about a decade ago by Sullivan’s PRISM Quartet. He describes the project as “fusing the saxophone’s cross-cultural heritage to blend jazz, South Indian and Western classical music, Latin American folkloric music and other genres.”
Sullivan says the goal is for classical and jazz saxophone performers to learn techniques from one another. Students in both programs will showcase what they’ve learned on Sunday, Nov. 24 with “Heritage/Evolution: Northwestern” – a first ever concert between the saxophone studio and jazz program.
“I coach the quartet with jazz soloists and Derrick is creating an arrangement for a jazz saxophone section with an ensemble from my studio,” Sullivan explained.
Doctoral student and classical saxophonist Brian Kachur said he’s expanded his skill set as he learns to combine styles.
“I’m a big fan of jazz music, and I love how we are blending the classical and jazz sides of the saxophone. Mixing the composed parts with improvisation from the soloists is tricky but fun.”
The Nov. 24 concert features work from jazz luminaries past and present, including John Coltrane, Miguel Zenón, and Billy Strayhorn (arranged by Derrick Gardner). Tickets are $6 for the general public and $4 for students with valid ID and are available online.
