[CD Comparison] Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Ensemble (J. Mackey)

For this installment of the CD comparison series, we are looking at John Mackey's "Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Ensemble."

Please refer to the first half of the following note for an overview of the CD comparison series.

I will be comparing 5 (plus 1 extra) recordings that I have listened to as of the time of writing this note.

Recommendation: 5 stars

Nobuya Sugawa (S.Sax) & Kazufumi Yamashita / Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra
"Virtuoso Concerto"

◾︎ Performance time
1st movement... 2:10
2nd movement... 5:55
3rd movement... 6:31
4th movement... 4:16
5th movement... 4:56

This is a CD collection of saxophone concertos featuring the combination of Nobuya Sugawa, one of Japan's leading saxophonists, and the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra (hereinafter referred to as TKWO).

Since it was recorded in 2009, it is positioned as a culmination of the period when Sugawa-san served as concertmaster for TKWO (1989–2010), and as such, the entire album is performed with great intensity.

Mackey's soprano saxophone concerto was composed in 2007, so this CD, released in 2009, is a very early recording of the work.

The performance itself is of superb quality. It goes without saying that the accompaniment by TKWO is stable, and soloist Sugawa-san's performance is overflowing with musicality; the soft high register in the third movement is enough to make one fall in love with the sound.

Kohei Ueno (S.Sax) & Koji Ishizaka / Panda Wind Orchestra
"PANDASTIC!!"

◾︎ Performance time
1st movement... 1:59
2nd movement... 5:49
3rd movement... 6:52
4th movement... 4:14
5th movement... 4:46

This is a live recording CD from the 3rd Panda Wind Orchestra concert held on April 5, 2014.

The Panda Wind Orchestra is a wind ensemble formed by Ueno-san, who is both the soloist and concertmaster on this CD, and his classmates from the Tokyo University of the Arts.

Since this CD was recorded in 2014, Ueno-san was only 22 years old at the time! My impression is that the sound is just so sparkling and youthful, as the accompanying members are also his classmates. Looking at the member list, there are quite a few who are currently active in orchestras in Tokyo.

While the previously mentioned performance by Nobuya Sugawa & TKWO leaves an impression of being "infallibly accurate," this one has a wonderful energy and drive unique to a live recording. Above all, Ueno-san's brilliant tone matches the piece perfectly.

The highlight is the 5th movement. The soloist's technique at such an aggressive tempo is astonishing, but the accompaniment that keeps up with it is also incredible.

Recommendation: 4 stars

Vince Gnojek (S.Sax) & Scott Weiss / University of Kansas Wind Ensemble
"Ticheli: Wild Nights! / Etezady: Anahita / Mackey: Soprano Saxophone Concerto"

◾︎ Performance time
1st movement... 1:53
2nd movement... 5:47
3rd movement... 7:28
4th movement... 4:01
5th movement... 5:15

With the recording taking place in May 2008 and the release in April 2009, this is likely the earliest CD to be released containing a recording of all movements of this concerto.

The soloist, Vince Gnojek, is an American saxophonist who was a professor at the University of Kansas School of Music at the time.

The accompaniment is provided by the University of Kansas Wind Ensemble, which is one of the top-tier music universities in the United States. The performance is stable and allows for comfortable listening.

The recording is well-balanced, with no instances of the accompaniment being too loud and burying the soloist, or the soloist being too loud and drowning out the accompaniment.

Timothy E. Roberts (S. Sax) & George Thompson / United States Navy Band
"Command Performance"

◾︎ Performance Duration
1st Movement... 2:08
2nd Movement... 5:50
3rd Movement... 7:27
4th Movement... 4:10
5th Movement... 4:47

This CD was released in August 2011, conducted by Captain George Thompson with accompaniment by the United States Navy Band.

The soloist, Timothy E. Roberts, was a saxophonist who served as principal and soloist for the United States Navy Band at the time.

The composer, Mackey himself, recommends this CD, stating at the time of its release, "The recording is really fantastic, and I think it’s the best one out there right now."

Perhaps because the accompaniment is the United States Navy Band, the backing—centered on the brass section—is exceptionally powerful.
The thick brass sound in the 3rd movement, "Metal," is something that may divide opinion.

Previously, to obtain this CD, one had to receive it from the United States Navy Band at the Midwest Clinic, but it is now available to listen to on subscription music services like Apple Music.

Recommendation Rating: ☆3

Timothy McAllister (S. Sax) & Gary Hill / Arizona State University Wind Symphony
"Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Ensemble"

◾︎ Performance Duration
1st Movement... 2:04
2nd Movement... 5:38
3rd Movement... 7:36
4th Movement... 4:20
5th Movement... 4:41

A CD recorded in May 2009, conducted by Gary Hill with accompaniment by the Arizona State University Wind Symphony. It appears to have been released in December 2012.

The soloist, Timothy McAllister, is a saxophonist who currently serves as a professor at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and is a soloist who excels in contemporary repertoire, having premiered John Adams' "Saxophone Concerto."

The soloist's technique is wonderful and the accompaniment is not bad, but the balance of the recording is hard to describe...
The sounds of the mallet percussion and high-pitched woodwind instruments are emphasized unnaturally, so it is likely to be quite polarizing. Also, the fact that the end of the 1st movement is cut off abruptly without letting the resonance fade out is quite bothersome.

Furthermore, since this CD is an EP, it only contains one track, Mackey's Soprano Saxophone Concerto, so compared to the other CDs mentioned so far, it feels less cost-effective. The performance is not bad, but overall, I think it is a CD that would be a second choice or lower.

(Extra Edition)

Steven C. Page (S. Sax) & Liz Ames (Pf)
"Felt, Metal, Wood"

◾︎ Performance Duration
1st Movement... 2:03
2nd Movement... 5:43
3rd Movement... 7:40
4th Movement... 4:14
5th Movement... 4:29

Introduced as an extra edition is the piano accompaniment version of the Soprano Saxophone Concerto. It is a CD that was just digitally released in June 2024, and I believe it is the only piano accompaniment version released as a CD (although there are other piano accompaniment recordings on YouTube, etc.).

Liz Ames, who provides the piano accompaniment, is a pianist who was heavily involved in creating the piano reduction of Mackey's Soprano Saxophone Concerto. Since it is a reduction of the original wind ensemble accompaniment, the piano score is quite difficult, but as she was involved in the arrangement herself, she plays it with a sense of ease.

The soloist, Stephen C. Page, is an associate professor of saxophone at the University of Texas. As a soloist, he performs a wide range of works, including wind ensemble pieces, chamber music, and arrangements.

Overall, it is a high-quality performance, and the sense of speed in the fifth movement is just as aggressive as the Kohei Ueno & Panda WO version mentioned earlier. It is an aggressive ensemble performance that is only possible because it is a duo of piano and soprano saxophone.

Although it is not the original wind ensemble accompaniment version, it is a quite interesting recording, so I decided to introduce it this time.

In conclusion

This time, I compared CDs of John Mackey's "Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Ensemble."

The piece is mercilessly difficult for both the accompanist and the soloist, but all the CDs introduced here are of high performance quality. Among them, the two albums I introduced with a 5-star recommendation are particularly excellent...!

In recent years, it has also been performed by Miho Sumiya (S.Sax) & Keitaro Harada/Siena WO, and Hirokazu Hayashida (S.Sax) & Norichika Iimori/TKWO, and I would love to see these recordings released on CD as well.

There is a possibility that there are recordings not introduced here that I am unaware of, so if you know of any other CDs or have other recordings you recommend, I would be happy if you could leave a comment!

[Related note]
Please see below for a summary of commentaries on John Mackey's wind ensemble works.

Please see the magazine below for notes on CD comparisons.