Projects
Manhattan Saxophone Quartet was first formed in 2008 as an ambitious and promising studio ensemble at Manhattan School of Music; the foursome’s current membership coalesced in 2010 with the goal of creating a freestanding professional quartet committed to the highest artistic standards of performance of saxophone quartet music, both established and experimental, and to the exposure and introduction of saxophone quartet repertoire to new audiences of all ages. With their various musical passions in classical, jazz, theater, and contemporary music, MSQ embodies a diverse canon spanning nearly 150 years, from early original works by Romantic masters to innovative compositions by 21st century contemporary artists.
Composer David Froom has remarked that MSQ plays "with both precision and passion, and always with terrific musicianship!" and composer David Noon has lauded "I am continually inspired, in truth, by [the] quartet's artistry." MSQ has performed across the northeastern United States at venues including Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater at Symphony Space, Citigroup Center, Yale University, Messiah College, Rutgers University, College of New Jersey, New York University, International Saxophone Symposia, and West Point University for the annual North American Saxophone Alliance regional conference. The quartet has premiered works by Marc-Antonio Consoli, Robert McMahan, David Noon, Jeffrey Nytch, Quinn Collins, J. Mark Stambaugh, and Rex Isenberg, among others.
Manhattan Saxophone Quartet musicians are Jordan Smith, soprano saxophonist; Aaron Patterson, alto saxophonist; Daniel Kochersberger, tenor saxophonist; and Jay Rattman, baritone saxophonist.
This is our recording from June 2012 of Nils Vigeland's "Ebb and Flow." The piece is notated spatially and depicts the composer's recollections of a funeral.
Jay Rattman Quartet
Look for an actual studio album sometime soon!
Solo Concerts
If you have an idea for a suitable venue for a concert of solo improvisations anywhere in the world, please write to me.
Jay Rattman with Strings
Weather Vest
"Weather Vest was made in New York City, a product of over a decade's worth of my friendship with Max Seigel. The group sets out to explore common ground between the worlds of classical chamber music, small group jazz, folk and popular music. In order to become the flexible hybrid that we envisioned, we enlisted the considerable talents of our woodwind brothers, Jay Rattman and Aaron Irwin. As little to no repertoire exists for the combination of soprano and alto saxophones with tenor and bass trombones, we have arranged some of our favorite music, ranging from solo piano and classical guitar pieces to the music of symphony orchestras and big bands. With contributions from all four members, our repertoire reimagines composers in a new approachable way, aligning Shostakovich and Erik Satie with Raymond Scott and Thelonius Monk; Hank Williams with Stravinsky and Morton Feldman; among many others. Creating associations between disparate musical lineages is central to Weather Vest, linking genres, individual composers, and contemplative questions, both past and present."
—Mike Lormand
Zlek
"Bulgar"
Sara Sherman — piano
Rebecca Steinberg — trumpet
Des White — bass
Jay Rattman — clarinet
Zlek grew out of a group that was originally formed as Manhattan School of Music's first ever klezmer ensemble, coached by David Krakauer. When we were trying to name the band, someone suggested calling it whatever "Klezmer" spelled backwards is, at which point someone else shouted, "Zlek!" Close enough. We'll play your next Bar Mitzvah if you're not careful.
Elusive Vienna