n Music for Saxophone and Orchestra - Debussy, Glazunov, Ibert, Milhaud, Villa-Lobos, Karamessini

THE saxophone has still not been fully embraced into the classical orchestral repertoire, despite Debussy's foresight to feature this hybrid instrument at the turn of last century while it was still a babe-in-arms.

Indeed, this recording has been put together as a showcase for Kerkezos - one of the best saxophonists of his generation.

This is a long-awaited collection of important and serious orchestral works which require virtuoso performances on each and every piece and span almost 100 years.

Possibly, because of its associations with jazz music, the use of saxophone tempts composers to explore rhythmic alternatives, with plenty of syncopation, particularly noticeable in Ibert's hard-hitting Concertino da Camera for alto sax and 11 instruments, and Milhaud's Samba Brazileira - the final movement in his Scaramouche suite.

But let's start at the beginning with the ethereal chords and tonality typical of Debussy. Again, in his inimitable style, he uses all the characteristics of the instrument to bring out its rich and sonorous qualities, as well as the harsher, percussive tones bringing out the brassy side of the family.

Master composer, Villa-Lobos, launches straight in with an ear-catching phrase, leaving the listener in no doubt at all that a soprano saxophone is leading the dance here.

There are some gorgeous arpeggio-based cadenza passages, well-suited to the saxophone, using the melodic and expressive tones of the instrument which has been described as closest to the human voice.

The piece de resistance for me is the world premiere Song of Dionysus: Concerto for saxophone and orchestra, by award-winning Greek composer, Ekaterini Karamessini

Composed in six weeks between February and March this year, the concerto was written for Theo-dore Kerkezos. The saxophone becomes a symbol of the transfiguration of the god Dionysus between his original form and the Apollonian spirit.

It is clear this young composer has explored every nuance of the instrument, from its capacity to growl, its haunting harmonic register and its ability to cut through a whole orchestra if needs be.

This is an absolute masterpiece and will undoubtedly become a classic in the world of the classically-trained saxophonist. Encore!!!

Naxos DDD8.557063