Euan Stevenson (piano) Konrad Wiszniewski (saxophone)
This award-winning piano-saxophone team’s New Focus: The Classical Connection gives fascinating insights into the relationship between classical music and jazz. In this superb, informal presentation two of the UK’s leading jazz musicians improvise a Bach-style reinvention of a well-known standard and an arrangement of the Duke Ellington Orchestra’s theme tune, “Take the A Train” in the style of a Mozart sonata, among other delights. As well as being a superb pianist, Euan Stevenson is a composer who has premièred works on both sides of the Atlantic and whose recent commissions include an arrangement of the Ukrainian national anthem for renowned violin virtuoso Pinchas Zukerman and the English Chamber Orchestra. He is also the co-composer, arranger and pianist with the multi-award-winning singer, Georgia Cecile. Saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski is one of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra’s star soloists and twice winner of the Best Instrumentalist title at the Scottish Jazz Awards. His improvisations are always potent, soulful and exciting and have led to him being in-demand as a session player across a range of styles including pop, soul, folk and jazz. Away from New Focus and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra he features with the current Jazz FM favourites Mama Terra. In “The Classical Connection ”, Stevenson and Wiszniewski move between styles with consummate ease. You’ll discover why romantic composers like Chopin, Rachmaninov and Duke Ellington all loved the same key. Learn why Miles Davis and Eric Satie were kindred spirits and hear brilliantly performed jazz standards and original compositions from Stevenson and Wiszniewski’s acclaimed New Focus albums for the Whirlwind label.
“They are both musicians with an instinctive desire to communicate. Not only was the verbal explanation kept short and pithy, but the musical points were always very succinctly made. The audience went home royally entertained, and probably a little better educated as well.” – Keith Bruce, The Herald “This was a really terrific evening, very much enjoyed by our Festival audience. It goes without saying that Euan and Konrad are both superb musicians but, in addition to that, the idea of The Classical Connection worked wonderfully well for our mixed audience of those well-versed in the world of jazz and those just looking for a great night out. It was funny yet informative, was presented with great warmth and wit, and showcased breath-taking improvisations whilst remaining accessible to all.” - Damian Thantrey, Lichfield Festival
Air in D Minor (Euan Stevenson)Greenpark (Euan Stevenson)All the Things You Are (Jerome Kern)Take the A Train (Billy Strayhorn)Chelsea Bridge (Billy Strayhorn)Liebestraum No.3 (Franz Liszt) I N T E R V A L Leonard’s Lament (Euan Stevenson)Nice Work if You Can Get It (George Gershwin) They Can’t Take That Away From Me (George Gershwin)Gymnopedie No.1 (Erik Satie)Flamenco Sketches (Miles Davis)Love for Sale (Cole Porter)Flora (Euan Stevenson)
