A bit like buses, you don’t see a saxophone in Newbury for ages and then…

Newbury Spring Festival: Ferio Saxophone Quartet, at Donnington Priory, on Tuesday, May 9. Review by STEPHEN OTTNER

For this reviewer saxophones have become a bit like buses. You don’t see one for ages and then…

This month’s open mic night at ACE Space included a first-rate saxophonist; the following night was the phenomenon that is Jess Gillam at the Spring Festival opening concert and three days later the Ferio Saxophone Quartet.

Of the original 14 members of the saxophone family conceived of by Adolphe Sax only six of these are in widespread use today. The Ferio Quartetwho came armed with the middle of that range, soprano; alto; tenor and baritone were making their return to the Spring Festival after seven years.

The concert started in the baroque period with pieces by Handel and Bach which demonstrated how successfully music of that period can be arranged for an instrument that did not exist at that time. Handel’s Sarabande was particularly moving.

They then moved on to a contemporary of Adolphe Sax, Jean Baptise Singelée. The first two pieces were very much soprano carrying the melody, so it was good to hear the alto and tenor getting their turn to the fore in the third piece.

A pair of contrasting tangos from Thierry Escaich and Astor Piazzolla, from rhythmic to flowing, took us into the 20th century.

The next tune was obviously selected to lead into the interval with a smile. Philip R Buttal’s ‘The Lone Ar-ranger Goes Sax Mad’ was a romp through the William Tell Overture while seamlessly weaving in oh so many familiar tunes.

The second half took us to the US with Gershwin’s An American in Paris and a selection, sensitively played, from Bernstein’s West Side Story. Hugo Reinhard’s piece originally for a string quartet showcased the range of the instruments.

The final piece, Hoe Down by Will Gregory of Goldfrapp fame, left the audience calling for an encore. It’s interesting (to this reviewer at least) to note that with quite a difference in style and programme Jess Gillam also included pieces by Piazzolla and Gregory.

On a very wet night it was a special treat to enjoy an acoustic concert in the intimate setting of Donnington Priory.

As to the “saxophone buses”, the saxophone quartet Guinea Lane will be opening on Friday for Coracle at ACE Space.