Saxophobia "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" (Saidera Records) 2003

This saxophone quartet opens its shows by marching onto the stage playing loud and loose, and that carnival entrance sets the stage for their exuberant reworkings of jazz and popular tunes. They reharmonize numbers such as Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" into four layers of funkiness. With their distinct, individual voices, they sound at times like a sultry barbershop quartet or like free-jazz gospel. Their tight interplay, especially on the well-arranged originals, engages the audience with a swirl of rhythm, counterpoint and texturing. You'll never miss the rhythm section.