John Adams' Saxophone Concerto

When writing his concerto for saxophone, composer John Adams says he listened to classic jazz albums for inspiration, like Stan Getz's 1961 recording with orchestra and Chalie Parker's "Charlie Parker with Strings." Steve Seel features Adams' Saxophone Concerto this week, as well as works by Judd Greenstein, Aaron Jay Kernis, John Cage, and more.

Steve Seel possesses a broad knowledge of many musical genres, having hosted radio programs ranging from classical to jazz and even avant-garde music at public radio stations around the country. Steve came to Minnesota Public Radio in 1999 to be a part of its nationally-syndicated classical music programming. In 2005, he became one of the founding voices on MPR's eclectic station The Current, and has hosted various time slots from mornings to late nights, and conducted in-depth interviews with pop music luminaries ranging from Brian Eno to David Byrne to Tori Amos. 
 
Steve is an avid reader of political and social commentary as well, and he emcees The Current's popular Policy and a Pint community series, featuring discussions with noted scholars, politicians, community leaders, authors and big thinkers on important issues of the day. Steve is also a basement composer obsessed with all things both minimalist and slow, and might actually be incapable of writing anything that exceeds 75 beats-per-minute.


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Steve Seel

John Adams’ jazz-inflected Saxophone Concerto is featured on this week’s Extra Eclectic, as well as works by Judd Greenstein, Aaron Jay Kernis, and more.


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