Saxophone quartet: Pure tones gracefully blended

The Ozark Mountain Saxophone Band, from left: Michael Dove, James Goldapp, Jeffrey Collins and Adam Shelton. / Ed Peaco/For the News-Leader

Written by, EdPEACO

The Ozark Mountain Saxophone Band performs all manner of material, from classical to jazz and pop, but the energy of the players and the rich classical tones on their instruments unify the music.

During a 45-minute set Sunday at Artsfest, while dealing with chilled fingers and sound challenges, they showed their versatility in a series of exciting arrangements of pieces by Lennon, McCartney, Scott Joplin, Bach and Rossini, as well as lesser-known composers.

The group will perform Wednesday in Lockwood to kick off the summer concert series at Lockwood United Methodist Church. The quartet is looking into opportunities to play in Springfield in the coming months as well.


Among the highlights of the Artsfest performance were “Fuga y Misterio” by Argentinian tango composer Astor Piazzolla and “Oily Rag” by contemporary British composer Alun Cook. Both pieces had stormy crosscurrents of counterpoint and churning ensemble passages.

In contrast, “Here Comes the Sun” celebrated the song’s graceful simplicity while the piece swelled and ebbed through an engaging arrangement that required something distinctive from each player.

“Sweet Georgia Brown” and Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” grabbed the attention of people sitting, standing and passing by the stage.

Soprano saxophonist Jeffrey Collins of Laclede County, who started the band last September, described some of the aptitudes of the musicians.

• Collins: Firmly dedicated to the classical tradition. “I was born to play Bach.”

• Michael Dove, alto, of Springfield: A well-rounded player whose doctorate in music education fortifies him with knowledge to solve matters of technique and style.

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