Patrick Jones, American Artist & Professor of Saxophone, recently released a new CD entitled La Souplesse, with pianist Kristine West Denton. La Souplesse is translated as “flexibility,” and the range of repertoire aptly represents the supple talents of these exquisite collaborators.
Patrick Jones has performed as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician around the world. As a featured soloist he has performed with the Grammy award-winning ensemble Imani Winds, Zagreb Saxophone Quartet, Erie Philharmonic, and Erie Chamber Orchestra. He is an active performer, educator, clinician, and Yamaha Performing Artist. Jones is currently an assistant professor of music at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
Jones is actively involved with commissioning and premiering new works for saxophone. He has presented a number of world premieres with orchestras and small ensembles as a soloist. He just recently premiered two new works for saxophone at the 2015 World Saxophone Congress. The first, Go For Two, is by David Stock, composer, conductor, and Guggenheim fellow. The second was Pandora’s Box by Steve Simpson. Simpson’s works have been performed by ensembles including the Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, the Carolina Pops Orchestra and the world-renowned new music ensemble, Relaché.
Kristine West Denton has performed across the country, in Canada, and Germany as a soloist and collaborative pianist. She was a long-time faculty member at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, where she collaborated often with Patrick Jones. She was a frequent concerto soloist with the Erie Philharmonic at Edinboro University and played keyboards for the Erie Philharmonic, Erie Chamber Orchestra and the Bemus Bay Pops Orchestra.
The new CD features several quintessential saxophone pieces including Guy Lacour’s Hommage a Jacques Ibert, Eugene Bozza’s Aria and Frank Martin’s Ballade. It also includes two pieces arranged by Patrick Jones for saxophone and piano: J.S. Bach’s Overture from Orchestral Suite in B minor with soprano saxophone and Giuseppe Verdi’s Caro Nome from Rigoletto for alto and piano.