The collaboration between saxophonist Lucas Hopkins and pianist Er-Hsuan Li in Nostos unveils a masterful exploration of contemporary compositions for saxophone and piano. Featuring works crafted for a whole decade by three living composers and recorded at the Grusin Music Hall at the University of Colorado Boulder, this 14-track album was recorded at with Kevin Harbison leading the recording, editing, and mastering, Nostos radiates clarity and emotional depth.
The album opens with Carter Pann’s “Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano: I. This Black Cat,” a vivid and whimsical piece where Hopkins’ saxophone dances over Li’s gentle piano, conjuring a sense of mystery and playfulness. Pann’s inspiration from feline muses and jazz greats like Coltrane and Parker infuses the movement with moments of jazzy exuberance.
Following this introduction is “Three Songs Without Words,” a collection traverses wistful emotions and vivid imagery. The delicate “Reverie” evokes a dreamy introspection, “Soaring” lifts listeners to thrilling heights, and “Consolation” closes the trio with a somber, reflective tone. These pieces harken back to the spirit of 19th-century salon music while exploring a contemporary sensibility.
A standout is “Two Childhood Portraits: II. Sunset” by Aris Antoniades. This movement is a meditation on nostalgia, with the saxophone’s reflective phrases complemented by Li’s shimmering piano. Inspired by the Mediterranean sunset viewed from the Ancient Settlement of Curium, the music captures the tender duality of dusk paired with the wistful recognition of passing time. The harmonies, delicate yet profound, embody the fleeting warmth and enduring impressions of childhood memories.
The title work, Nostos, culminates the album with deeply personal reflections. Particularly moving is “II. Grandmother Maroulla’s Stories,” a tender homage to Antoniades’ great-grandmother. Here, the saxophone and piano weave a lullaby of affectionate warmth. The interplay between Hopkins’ expressive bends and Li’s soft, rippling tones conjures an atmosphere of loving reminiscence, inviting the listener into a space of intimacy and comfort.
Listen to the journey through memory, emotion, and artistry of Nostos on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan