New Album 'Soar' from Vandoren Artist, Alastair Penman
Alastair Penman is delighted to release his third album, Soar, which is his first release with pianist Jonathan Pease and the first on his new label, Meadowbank Music. Following on from Electric Dawn (Sospiro Records) and Do You Hear Me? (Sospiro Records), which were praised by critics as “surpassingly beautiful”, “undoubtedly brilliant” and “damn good music”, Soar sees Penman taking a new path alongside duo partner Jonathan Pease.
Soar features much-loved works for saxophone and piano as well as more recent additions to the repertoire, including the title track, Soar, composed by Penman. The repertoire spans over 150 years, yet all of the pieces are brought together by their use of melody and the way they allow the saxophone to sing, soaring over the landscape created by the piano.
Alastair Penman and Jonathan Pease first met in 2007 whilst studying at the University of Cambridge and have since collaborated in many guises. They first performed as a saxophone and piano duo in 2018 and have given countless recitals in the UK and further afield.
Alastair is Professor of Saxophone at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is a City Music Foundation Artist, Park Lane Group Artist, BBC Introducing Artist, Live Music Now Artist and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. Alastair is a performing Artist for Henri Selmer Paris and Vandoren UK.
Jonathan is much in demand as an accompanist and musical director, as well as being a prolific composer. He has worked with groups including Royal Opera House, Garsington Opera, Glyndebourne Youth Opera, Spitalfields Music, Opera Holland Park, Orpheus Sinfonia, Devon Opera and Opera Anywhere. He also conducts the East London Evensong Choir and Aldersbrook Community Choir.
Release website: www.alastairpenman.co.uk/soar
Artist website: www.alastairpenman.co.uk
Track listing:
1. Pequeña Czarda – Pedro Itturalde 6’51
Four Country Dances – Richard Rodney Bennett
2. A New Dance 3’12
3. Lady Day 1’29
4. The Mulberry Garden 2’38
5. Nobody’s Jig 1’55
6. Three Letter Word – Andy Scott 7’19
7. And Everything is Still – Andy Scott 3’01
Prelude et Saltarelle – Robert Planel
8. Prelude 5’22
9. Saltarelle 1’48
10. Soar – Alastair Penman 5’48
11. Lullaby – Paul Mitchell-Davidson 2’22
12. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum – Claude Debussy arr. Jenni Watson 2’23
Light of Sothis – Amy Quate
13. Grace 4’36
14. Passion 2’41
15. Faith 2’22
16. Carnival of Venice – Jules Demersseman arr. Fred Hemke 5’11#
Total Time: 58’58
Alastair Penman – Alto and Soprano Saxophones
Jonathan Pease – Piano
Produced by Alastair Penman
Recorded on 1st June and 2nd September 2022 at Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Engineered by Paul Anders (Tracks 1-5, 7-12, 16)
Engineered by Maisie Pindar and Hannah Millar (Tracks 6, 13-15)
Edited by Roland Heap and Alastair Penman
Mixed and Mastered at Sound Disposition, Soho by Roland Heap
Artwork design by Veselić and Veselić
Cover Image by Danny Marsden, created with Midjourney
