The Great Polish Songbook of Fredric Chopin is well examined and interpreted by tenor saxist Noah Preminger and guitarist Nate Radley as they lead a quartet of Kim Cass/b and Rob Garcia/dr through ten compositions of the Romantic master.
The front line of Preminger’s warm ember’d tenor and Radley’s silky strings make for rich interplay, while Cass’ bass keeps the pulses drifting forward, creating a lively cadence on “Nocturne Op 27” bopping for the husky tenor on Prelude Op28.” Preminger adds some earthy subtones on “Nocturne “Nocturne Op62” and creates a warm for during “Nocturne Op32” whereas Radley glides along Garcia’s ride cymbal during “Nocturne Op9” and veers through his brushes during “Etude Op25.” The team shows that Chopin new how to swing as the team creates a deep groove on the sizzling “Prelude Op28” and show hints of Impressionism during the hazy “Prelude Op28.” The sign of the genius of this idea is that as soon as you’re done listening, you ask yourself, “why hasn’t anyone thought of this before?” Excellent!