The Saxophone Cartel The World of the Saxophone Cartel
The Saxophone Cartel

The Saxophone Cartel in the news:

What other people say about the Saxophone Cartel:

  • Wonderful group. Original stuff and well played. -- David Liebman, internationally renowned master saxophonist, improviser, composer, and educator; played with Miles Davis, Elvin Jones, Pete La Roca, Ten Wheel Drive; founded and lead Open Sky Trio, Lookout Farm, Quest, Dave Liebman Group; founder of International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ)
  • Brilliant! -- Benedikt Eppelsheim, designer of the tubax, subcontrabass tubax, and soprillo saxophones
  • All-saxophone groups tend to be quartets, but the Saxophone Cartel bumps the standard format up to a sextet, adding detail rather than mere weight to the ensemble sound. They keep at a slant to Jazz orthodoxy: there are nods to classical polyphonic tradition (the gradually swelling procession of “Passacaglia”) and the punchy horn charts of James Brown’s band (“Key of J.B.”), and even the more Jazz-centric pieces feature scrimshaw-intricate arrangements rather than the usual head/solos/head structure...There are several free improvisations, which place the emphasis on spontaneous convergence, as riffs and melodies emerge and are quickly seized on: despite abrasive moments such as the squiggly opening to “Newton’s Nightmare,” the mood is playful rather than confrontational or austere...The imaginative arrangements (mostly Benjamin Himpel’s handiwork) offer a more individual voice than any of the players’ actual solo work, perhaps, but Caught in the Act is still well worth hearing, offering a few new wrinkles on the familiar sax-ensemble format. -- Nate Dorward, © Cadence Magazine 2006 www.cadencebuilding.com ph: 315-287-2852
  • "Saxophone Cartel, a diaphanous sextet brings about classic reed forms of sounds as well as an array of modern jazz stylizations and improvising passages. Caught In The Act expresses a motley and capacious inventive mastery of reed-instruments. Euphonies grade from European jazz shapes to twisted, airy and fancy soundscapes.

    The free nuances, attacks and jazz accent skills of these six young artists are top rate, whiffing and huffing with a natural simplicity and zealous receptivity. Reed impulses lead and drift with every member’s breath. From “David Miller presents” to “Creation” the tracks hook you into its fashion without swamping you. The reticulation can be tonal plus assuasive in a deck of atonal twinkles.

    Soprano saxophonist Ariel Alexander rips through a rather laborious mishmash of free-figures and improvised licks encouraged by frenzied Cashdollar, Eaton, Goldberg, Himpel and Renick’s soaring rhythms. Saxophone Cartel’s appeal is cored within its cooperative blend to inter-cross heterogeneous genres into a peculiar musical aura that bears a manifold amazement.

    Although the band is rooted under a classical polyphonic heritage, they visit contemporary pieces with unique musical configurations. The improvs are accented with impetuous concourses as riffs and new sounds emanate fluently. Caught In The Act is well worth hearing offering a great spotlight to six talented artists with a high level of musicianship. We certainly will hear more about their craft. -- Dr. Ana Isabel Ordonez, jazzreview.com

  • "Saxophone Cartel - "Caught in the Act"
    Die Instrumentierung lässt es bereits erahnen: Hier ist eine Menge Experimentierfreude im Spiel. In der ungewöhnlichen Besetzung eines reinen Saxofon-Sextetts zeigt die amerikanisch-deutsche Formation "The Saxophone Cartel" auf ihrem Debut-Album, wie elegant es klingen kann, wenn das typischste der typischen Jazz-Instrumente einmal aus seinem Genre- und Rollen-Korsett ausbrechen darf.

    Saxophone Cartel - "Caught in the Act"
    Nein, gepflegt-langweiliger Cocktail-Jazz ist das beileibe nicht, was da aus der Stereoanlage tönt, legt man "Caught In The Act", den Erstling des Cartels, ein: Da kreischt das Alt schon mal, während die beiden Tenorsaxofone einen Staccato-Groove aufbauen, das Bariton brummelnd grundiert und das Sopran mit chromatischen Tonfolgen in höchste Lagen noch einen draufsetzt. War gerade ein flotter Dixie im Anmarsch, geht es urplötzlich in schleppenden Blues-Schritten weiter. Klassischer Polyphonie ("Passacaglia") folgen impulsive Kollektiv-Improvisationen ("Ring Shout").

    Frisch und ideenreich lotet die Formation um den 30-jährigen Bonner Tenor- und Baritonspieler Benjamin Himpel in dessen Eigenkompositionen die Schnittmenge von Jazz, Avantgarde und freier Improvisation aus. Ein Tipp nicht nur für Saxofon-Liebhaber. -- Johannes Kloth, review from Jazz Dimensions

  • Live recording of SAXOPHONE CARTEL: LIVE! was selected as one The Ryder Magazine's Top 5 Live Bloomington Music Events of 2006.
  • The Saxophone Cartel is an exciting new saxophone sextet that explores the boundaries of the saxophone repertoire, from completely composed classical pieces, to imaginatively arranged jazz compositions, to almost completely improvised pieces, that utilize all the members of the saxophone family, including the rarely heard bass saxophone. The group's extraordinary and entertaining music goes well beyond strictly classical or jazz boundaries, and the Sax Cartel performs with both precision and colorful and joyous verve, rivaled in the US perhaps only by the World Saxophone Quartet and the ROVA Sax Quartet. -- David Miller, Jazz Fables
  • The Saxophone Cartel is a joy to experience! Their multidimensional music weaves together sublimely tuneful original compositions, free improvisation, and humor. They even resurrect music by the Six Brown Brothers. This ensemble will make you smile. -- Tom Walsh, Assistant Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies, Indiana University
  • Very cool, guys (and girl)! The world needs more people who are willing to break new ground in saxophone ensembles. SATB quartets are great, but the saxophone family can do even more when you bring in a few more players and a few different horns. I look forward to seeing what you do and where you go! -- Jay C. Easton, woodwinds faculty at the University of San Diego, multi-multi-instrumentalist, recording artist
  • I just wanted to say that you all are doing extraordinary work! Being a saxophonist and composer myself, I am inspired by your works!...I will highly suggest your group to the college, as well as some other colleagues of mine... -- Joseph Dorsch, Administrative Assistant & Recording Technician, Lenoir-Rhyne College School of Fine Arts, Hickory, North Carolina
  • We all enjoyed your set and yes to next year if you are all here...You guys are great and so tight it is scary. -- Lee VB, co-organizer of Fourth Street Festival of the Arts and Crafts
  • Thanks again for your performance yesterday - very impressive! I'm glad you're stretching some ears too. -- Monika Herzig, recording artist with The Monika Herzig Acoustic Project and Beeblebrox; Music Theory, Piano, and Music Business at Indiana University
  • Sax Cartel: Best group at Bear's ever. -- Anonymous response to marketing survey conducted at Bear's Place
  • Woooowww! I haven't been so thoroughly entertained, stimulated, tickled, and stretched by a music scene as much as your Feb. 12 concert in a long, long time. -- Beth Schroeder, friend
  • You all are one of the best things to happen to Bloomington in 30 years! The concept, execution, and musicianship were all tremendous. I was dazzled. -- Jerry Nees, Bloomington-area listener and musician
  • I think it is probably the best all around group I have heard from Bloomington. -- Matt Holman, composer, trumpet
  • Thank you for the fun and inspiration! The Sax Cartel was amazing! -- Hakan Toker, pianist, composer and improviser
  • "Young jazz lions" is a pretty overused term, but what do you do when an entire den storms Bear's Place? -- Herald Times, February 12, 2004