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Title: Nice music . . . weak interpretation
Review: Alex Mitchell made a wonderful selection of American music for saxophone, however I was less than moved by his interpretations. He exhibits weak and choppy phrasing (he takes such long and ill-timed breaths, and so often!). The technical execution is equally poor, with unclean attacks, weak articulation, and way too many flubbed notes (I'm surprised they kept these takes for the CD). All in all, his interpretations lack connection with the music. I hear the notes, but no passion whatsoever. He even lets the piano outshine him at times -- I don't know any saxophonists that would allow that!
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