This is Sam Newsome’s second Art of the Soprano, and here he uses that one instrument do deliver 20 songs that capture the rhythms, sounds and mood of African music. It’s quite an adventure, as he employs various forms of blowing, tonguing and usage of the sax pads to deliver music that resembles drums, flutes, finger piano, didgeridoo and even the soprano sax. He takes you to various parts of the continent, with slithering sounds on “The Snake Charmer of Tangier” as well as making like a shofar on “Ethiopian Jews.” The various themes and motifs vary from 1-3 minutes, just delivering a taste of the smorgasboard of dark continent musings. A fascinating travelogue. Will you listen to it over and over? Depends on the mood you want to create.
Some New Music