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The College Saxtet
The College Saxtet Plays for Boots
17th December 2008
Since the closure of Chadds earlier this year, their perfume house franchises have been taken over by Boots the Chemist in High Town. This has meant a complete refit to the front of the Boots store which was relaunched with some celebration in October half-term. As the husband of the manager, I had promised a band for the occasion. This had to be small enough not to get in the way of customers and staff and have a varied and light program. Also, being so early in the term, it relied on the musicians being reliable enough to perform on very little rehearsal.
Step up, The College Saxtet.
Saxophones come in various shapes and sizes and in years when we have the right combination we can put together a quartet – soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. We can accommodate more than one instrument in each part; hence the ambiguity of the name. This year we have Jordan Alphonso on alto, Matt Oliver on tenor, Becky Howson on baritone and usually Tom Nichol on soprano (he couldn’t play on this occasion so I filled in). We played a mixed set of light classics (Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, Fauré’s Pavane, Borodin’s Strangers in Paradise and a couple of mediæval dances) and jazzy arrangements of Pink Panther, New York, New York, Crazy Rhythm etc.
Having broken into the corporate entertainment market, The College Saxtet was then asked to play for Hereford BMW at the launch of the new 7 series. Unfortunately, not many people seem interested in buying BMWs at the moment and the event had to be cancelled but at least the contact has been made. The Saxtet also delighted the breaktime crowds on Children in Need day and a couple of these numbers also found their way into the Christmas Concert on 10th December.
You will doubtless hear more of this talented and flexible group throughout the year.