Admittedly, I'm going through a "quartet phase." The sound of four instruments of similar sonority provides an opportunity for a special kind of depth and clarity. I guess that clarity comes from the same lack of distractions you get with a solo instrument, but with greater range and texture. A good quartet of players has a symbiosis that adds an extra ingredient to the mix.
This 1999 recording on the Ars Musici label, a label that has never disappointed me, has a fabulous, rich sound, one that deserves the "full stereo treatment," i.e. played on the big stereo at volume so that I can savor the sound. All pieces are arranged by Klaus Pfister, and they are both a tribute to the music itself and to the sonority of the saxophone.
The performance is nuanced, sensitive, and full of playful energy when called for. The music is well matched, and all of it is new to me. I didn't know what to expect: count me both surprised and delighted.
