Expanding repertoire A Daniel Rubinoff saxophone recital, reviewed by PATRIC STANDFORD Carnival    CCR-030

If you can work up enthusiasm for an hour-long saxophone recital covering a huge range of pieces, few of which were originally written for the instrument, then this could be a rewarding buy. For me, a succession of arrangements, though cleverly made, serves mainly as a vehicle for a performer trying to expand a musically restricted repertoire.

Rubinoff's recital covers a wide range, including the Six Studies in English Folksong by Vaughan Williams, Schumann's Three Romances, Rachmaninov's Vocalise, Elgar's Salut d'Amour and the title track which is the Mussorgsky Picture, but there are some original saxophone pieces that make the disc more technically interesting.

In the East by the American saxophone star Rudy Wideoft demonstrates virtuosity, and two movements from Suite Hebraique by the Canadian Srul Irving Glick (born 1934) which offer opportunity for the more familiarly languid personality of the instrument. An appealing Lullaby is followed by a Lament with Cantorial Chant [listen -- track 3, 0:00-0:54]. There is an Aria by Bozza, Harlem Nocturne by Earle Hagen and Rubinoff's own Tango.

By the end, though, there is a feeling of having been presented with a series of relatively expressionless performances, but one cannot doubt Rubinoff's proficiency, and welcomes the support of a good accompanist in Gloria Saarinen.

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