Photo by Bob Lasky
from the left: Ed Calle, Gary Keller, Gary Lindsay, Mike Brignola
"Infectiously joyful arrangements, soulful improvisations, fine musical prowess, and four of the finest saxophone players in the business - the Miami Saxophone Quartet."
Dave Martin - WUCF FM Orlando, FL
What's new:
The Miami Sax Quartet is no longer performing regularly, but we want you to know we have 5 great CD recordings from our 15 years of music making. In order of release: Take Four Giant Steps; Miami Saxophone Quartet Live; Midnight Rumba; Fourtified; and Four of a Kind. All are available at you favorite streaming sites, and can be ordered at CD Baby.com. Questions about the quartet's repertoire and available music can be made to Gary Keller garywkeller@me.com. Also a number of video on our you tube channel. We would like to thank everyone for their past support and keep on listening!
The Miami Saxophone Quartet's fifth CD Four of a Kind hits the airwaves Monday June 24th for our national radio campaign. Recorded live in concert, the album features new compositions and arrangements from Gary Lindsay, including Lost (and Found), Don't Look Back, Prelude-Invention-Suspension, and Sweet Bread along with some newly recorded versions of MSQ classics from previous recordings, including It's a Raggy Waltz and Early Autumn. Ed Calle contributes his unique and funky arrangement of Twinkle Twinkle (must be heard!) Guests on this CD include the usual suspects: Jim Gasior (piano), Chuck Bergeron (bass), John Yarling (drums) and our very special guests Brian Lynch (trumpet) and Svet Stoyanov (marimba and vibraphone) making their MSQ record debuts. Available at www.cdbaby.com (our preferred outlet) and of course, as well as iTunes and most other digital music outlets. Complete Liner Notes
"Saxophone players take note! For you, this is filet mignon. The Miami Saxophone Quartet has been together for some 15 years, and they get into an ensemble groove that also leaves plenty of room to roam the fields of improvisation. This recording represents some of the highlights from two performances at a University of Miami concert hall. The quartet is actually augmented by a superb rhythm section and by trumpet marvel Brian Lynch. The quartet itself is comprised of Gary Keller, soprano, Gary Lindsay, alto, Ed Calle, tenor, and Mike Brignola, baritone. And they’re a brave lot. Why do I say such a thing? Well, how many groups would open their recording with “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”? I can guarantee you’ve never heard it quite like this, and it works to perfection. The other standards on the disc include Duke’s “Sophisticated Lady”; Ralph Burns’ gem from the ‘40s, “Early Autumn”; and the rarely played Dave Brubeck gem, “It’s a Raggy Waltz.” Four originals from Lindsay complete the program. I was particularly drawn to the suite-like “Lost (and Found),” and a breezy burner called “Sweet Bread.” The complex arrangement reminded me of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, and it certainly got my attention. Solid musicianship and upbeat arrangements are the rule of the day. A winner!" George Fendel - Jazz Society of Oregon
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MSQ members Ed Calle, Gary Keller, and Mike Brignola shown here with the late great Natalie Cole. We are honored to have participated in her last recording, Natalie Cole En Español . A beautiful woman and a joy to work with. She has left us a remarkable catalog of music.
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Twinkle Twinkle (recorded live in concert)
Sweet Bread (recorded live in concert)
Iberia Suite: Pamplona (from Midnight Rumba)
Seventh Sign (from Fourtified)
Lost Illusion (recorded live in concert)
Photo Archives:
2012 Universtiy of Louisville residency (photos)
2010 Rochester International Jazz Festival (photos)
Review:
"This saxophone quartet seems to do it all. They shift easily from Latin rhythms to Dave Brubeck-style swing to an original work with a string quartet, all with blazing fingers and the ability for improvisation on this 2008 record. The players — soprano saxophonist Gary Keller, alto saxophonist Gary Lindsay, tenor saxophonist Ed Calle and baritone saxophonist Mike Brignola — are a great team, finding a good balance of instruments in ensemble-heavy works, and they can rip through tough passages impressively in-sync and with quality tone." Anna Reguero, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
MORE MIAMI SAX QUARTET NEWS:
The Miami Sax Quartet's previous CD Fourtified on the Fourtitude record label topped out at #14 on the jazz week charts, and was in the top 50 for the entire 8 week radio promotion, January - March 2009. Read Jack Bower's review in All About Jazz. All MSQ recordings are available at Amazon.com, and by download or stream from your favorite music service, including iTunes and Spotify. For information about the availability of Miami Saxophone Quartet arrangements please contact Gary Lindsay and Ed Calle directly. Only arrangements of original works by Gary and Ed are available.