THE AMERICAN PIANO DUO, KORY KATSEANES AND THE BYU PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA; Mendelssohn and Cramer Concertos (Tantara Records)*** 1/2

SIR ANDREW DAVIS AND THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA; Stephen Jones, "at the exactest point" (Tantara Records)*** 1/2

THE UTAH SAXOPHONE QUARTET; "Playing Tribute" (Tantara Records)*** 1/2

These three recent releases by Brigham Young University's Tantara Records demonstrate the label's diverse catalog, and the first-rate talent found at BYU's School of Music among its composers, performers and musicologists. These albums are definitely worth having.

For a complete listing of available CDs, log onto www.tantararecords.com.

• THE AMERICAN PIANO DUO (Jeffrey Shumway and Del Parkinson) and the BYU Philharmonic under conductor Kory Katseanes give a first-rate performance of Felix Mendelssohn's early Concerto for Two Pianos in E major. The duo plays wonderfully, with crisp articulation and clear phrasings. Their interpretation is captivating, capturing the work's youthful high spirits and delightful melodicism.

Katseanes and the orchestra match the duo's artistry with their insightful accompaniment. They play with conviction, passion and sincerity.

Both Mendelssohn's original opening movement from 1823, as well as its revised version from 1830, have been recorded. This is also the first time that the complete concerto has been recorded.

Paired with the Mendelssohn is Johann Baptist Cramer's Concerto No. 8 in D minor, op. 70. Shumway is the soloist, and once again he and Katseanes give a superb performance that captures the natural lyricism and charm of the music.

• THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY a few years ago commissioned Stephen Jones to write a work for them. The result of that commission, "at the exactest point," was premiered by the orchestra under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis in January 2004.

Tantara Records has now released it as the classical equivalent of a single. The only work on this CD, the 18-minute piece is a stunningly forceful, expressionistic essay that shows Jones as a masterful orchestrator and craftsman. "At the exactest point" is one of the more dynamic and electrifying works to come from a Utah-based composer.

Davis and the CSO give a magnificent performance that is lustrous, rich and fabulously vibrant.

• "PLAYING TRIBUTE," a double disc featuring the Utah Saxophone Quartet (BYU's Ray Smith and Daron Bradford, along with Dave Feller from Weber State University and studio musician Gaylen Smith), is in a totally different vein.

This is an irresistible album, and if anyone thinks that two CDs' worth of sax-quartet music is overkill, they are quite simply mistaken. The program on this double album is diverse enough to avoid being tedious, and the quality of playing exhibited by this quartet of highly talented musicians takes this music to a higher level.

The first CD is devoted to a couple of transcriptions of classical pieces, as well as original works — the former represented by Bradford's arrangement of Claude Debussy's "La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin" and Marcel Mule's transcription of Isaac Albeniz's "Sevilla;" the latter including works by Gabriel Pierne and Jean Francaix.

The second disc contains popular pieces by George Gershwin and a set of songs arranged by Lennie Niehaus for the old Hollywood Saxophone Quartet.

---

E-mail: ereichel@desnews.com