Michael Pagan
12 Preludes & Fugues
Tapestry Records
www.caprirecords.com
By George W. Harris

Pianist/composer Michael Pagan emphasizes his writing skills here, as he puts together a dozen new pieces designed for a saxophone ensemble, namely the Colorado Saxophone Quartet. Comprised of Pete Lewis/ss-ts, Clare Church/bs, Kurtis Adams/as, Andrew Stonerock/as, and Tom Meyer/ts-ss (don’t bother counting-they trade off), the CSQ delivers deft performances of material that hearkens to Glazunov to Count Basie’s reed section. Swinging pieces like Prelude IV feel quite comfortable with to neo-baroque Fugue IX, while there’s even a bossa nova’d tune in Prelude VI. Nothing sounds stuffy or contrived. Wonderful silky harmonies dominate the landscape here, with various themes and moods fill your mind with aural concepts. Good material!