Sarah Ioannides, conductor
James Carter, saxophone

Saxophone Fusion features saxophonist James Carter from his 2019 performance with Symphony Tacoma. Selections include Milhaud’s La Création du Monde, which tells the creation story according to African folk mythology with influences of Harlem Renaissance jazz and a multimedia film with art visuals, from African tribal sculptures to works by Picasso and Gauguin. Puerto Rico native Roberto Sierra’s Caribbean Rhapsody marries classical and Latin jazz influences and

showcases Carter’s virtuosity. It draws on Sierra’s memories of growing up in Puerto Rico and the music he heard on jukeboxes—from the sensuous opening boléro, to the Latin riffs reminiscent of son montuno with alternating reflective and spirited music.

This video production includes excerpts from Symphony Tacoma’s 2019 performance augmented by an all-new video presentation curated Music Director Sarah Ioannides that includes imagery from the concert’s multimedia production along with painting and sketches by Puerto Rican father and daughter Andy and Nico Bueso.