New York Saxophone Quartet

(U.S.A.)


Dennis Anderson

(saxophone soprano - soprano saxophone)

Ralph Olson

(saxophone alto - alto saxophone)

Ken Hitchkcock

(saxophone ténor - tenor saxophone)

Alva F. Hunt

(saxophone baryton - baritone saxophone)

The New York Saxophone Quartet has been in existence since 1959. This extraordinary ensemble comprises four first-class artists acclaimed for their extensive accomplishments in jazz, recording, theater and orchestral work.

The New York Times praised them as "one of the most fascinating groups on the international scene today". The NYSQ has performed concerts and festivals in the USA, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and Japan, in Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and with both the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and The NY Philharmonic under the direction of Dennis Russell Davies. They have just released their fourth CD entitled "Urbaonlogy", featuring the works of contemporory New York Composers.

Dennis Anderson, a graduate of SUNY Fredonia, returns to the New York Saxophone Quartet playing soprano saxophone, having previously been with the quartet for fifteen years playing alto saxophone. Dennis worked for the last twenty-five years as a freelance musician and teaching professional in New York City. His versatility as a multi-reed specialist has afforded him the opportunity to perform in both classical and contemporary ensembles as well as soloist.

He is the founding member of the Riverside Chamber Trio, which premiered the Piano Trio, composed by Hubert Arnold, in Pesaro, Italy for the 10th World Congress of Saxophones in September '92, Dennis has recorded with Liza Minelli, Bette Midler, Simon Estes, The St. Luke Chamber Ensemble, and Sinead O'Conner. He has performed in concert with Loren Maazel, Zubin Metha, Placido Domingo and Frank Sinatra. His work can also be heard on Sesame Street, 3-2-1 Contact, numerous radio and television commercials, and recordings with the National Jazz Ensemble.

Dennis studied saxophone with David Tofani, Eddie Daniels, Joe Allard and Eugene Rousseau; flute with Harold Bennett; oboe and english horn with Beth Orson and Rob Botte; clarinet with Dr. William Willett and Louis Paul; and improvisation and composition with Michael Longo.

Ralph Olsen, Alto Saxophone, is a native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and was educated at Augustana College. After graduating and teaching school for two years, his desire to play jazz and to extend his musical horizons brought him to NYC.

His exceptional versatility has allowed him to work in many venues. He recently appeared with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and has played with The New Jersey Symphony. Ralph is also a veteran on many TV jingles, film scores, jazz events, and club dates.

For over twenty years he has performed in the pits of many Broadway shows, including "Woman of the Year", "Song and Dance", "Starlight Express", and "Phantom of the Opera". His collaboration enhanced the performances of such artists as Buddy DeFranco, Gerry Mulligan, Buddy Morrow and Buddy Rich, and he appeared as featured soloist with Michael Feinstein on Broadway. In addition, he has accompanied Peggy Lee and Anita O'Day. Touring on the road has taken Ralph to almost every state in the USA, to Europe and the Far East.

Ken Hitchcock, tenor saxophone, moved to NYC in 1974 to enter the Juilliard School and to study saxophone with Joe Allard and flute with Tom Nyfenger. He graduated in 1978 and began a three-year stint of travels with some of the major bandleaders of the time. Buddy Rich, the Gerry Mulligan Jazz Orchestra, Louis Bellson and others, gave Ken ample room to express his great interest in jazz.

He has performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, The New Jersey Symphony and the New York Pops Orchestra. Ken has played and recorded with Liza Minnelli, Maureen McGovern, Diana Ross, Natalie Cole and many other prominent artists. As an active free-lance studio musician, he has recorded many radio and TV commercials and film sound tracks. He played on Grammy Award winning albums with Gerry Mulligan and Machito and from 1978 to the present has established his Broadway Theater credentials in more than thirty shows. Ken is justifiably proud of his former relationship with the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine, and is currently a member of Louis Bellson's quartet and the Manhattan Jazz Orchestra.

He is the former professor of saxophone at Queens College Copland School of Music and is currently teaching saxophone at Mannes and the New School of Music. His four years as a member of the Juilliard Saxophone Quartet and eight years with the Metropolitan Saxophone Quartet has fully prepared him to bring his total professionalism to the NYSQ.

Alva F. Hunt, baritone saxophone, studied music at West Virginia University where he received both BA and Masters degrees. After graduating, he performed with the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra (now the Virginia Symphony) in Norfolk, Virginia. Since moving to New York in 1975, he has worked as a free-lance musician.

Al has played saxophone with many of the orchestras in the New York area, including The New York Philharmonic and The Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. He appears on the recent recording by the New Jersey Symphony of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" with conductor, Zdnek Macal.

He works regularly with composer Steve Reich, and was a featured soloist playing "New York Counterpoint" with his group on a tour of Australia. Al also appears on Steve's recent recording "The Cave". He also worked for three years with the Frank Sinatra Orchestra, and played on his most recently released Duets Album.

As with Ken and Ralph, Al was also a member of the Metropolitan Saxophone Quartet, before coming to the NYSQ. In addition to recordings, and concerts Al is also active on Broadway. Some of the shows Al has played are, "Beauty and the Beast", "Jerome Robbins Broadway", and "Sunday in the Park with George".

Le New York Saxophone Quartet a choisi d'interpréter:
The New York Saxophone Quartet has chosen to perform:
Thelonius Monk (arr. Dan Block)

Monk's Mood/Epistrophy

Bob Mintzer

Quartet in Three Movements

    II. Slowly

Paquito D'Rivera

Wapango

Katherine Hoover

Suite for Saxophones

  1. Going to London
  2. Count Off
Phil Woods

Deer Head Sketches

  1. Bandstand
Billy Strayhorn (arr. Billy Kerr)

Lush Life

avec la participation de:
with the participation of:

* Création / World premiere

Bienvenue
Welcome
Interprètes Performers

Compositeurs
Composers

Programme / Program

Mercredi
5 juillet
Jeudi
6 juillet
Vendredi
7 juillet
Samedi
8 juillet
Dimanche
9 juillet
Wenesday
July 5
Thursday
July 6
Friday
July 7
Saturday
July 8
Sunday
July 9
Webmaster: Bernard Savoie b.savoie@videotron