A fantastic combination of flourishing classical appeal and atmospheric jazzy intrigue unveils across ADAGIO GROOVES, a new album from composer, producer, and guitarist Peter Xifaras. Out on August 22nd, the 6-track release also features a strikingly talented cast — including Justin Chart on saxophone, Max Gerl on bass, Scott Jackson on drums, and orchestration from Budapest Symphony. Xifaras’ arrangements enamor within a dynamic precision — spanning from lush bass-led engrossment to expanding, colorful orchestral gorgeousness.
“Adagio Blue” opens the album with an enthralling mystique, as late-night saxophone and sporadic swells of strings maneuver with a lavish, cinematic feeling. The first half exudes a sweepingly romantic elegance, before traversing into a brisker invigoration. There, a bustling bass drive and free-flowing saxophone charm combine with riveting qualities, then stopping quickly as the ensuing “Adagio Dream” assembles with a fantasy-like entrancement. Whirring strings and plucky bass movements conjure a beautifully melodic appeal, before another enveloping interplay between brass and bass comes into play. ADAGIO GROOVES kicks into gear with a particularly inviting one-two punch.
Another standout track, “Adagietto” is further exemplary of the album’s eclectic tonal appeal. Budapest Symphony present an initial grandeur with their heartrending strings and sensations of blissfulness, while Chart’s saxophone incorporates thereafter with smooth captivation, as Gerl’s steady bass work and Jackson’s pit-pattering percussion build alongside. The final two tracks — “Adagio Days” and “Adagio Nights” — prove impactful as well, with the former navigating from Xifaras’ initial piano work into memorable flashes of strings and woodwinds. Its nighttime counterpart dazzles as well in its string-forward book-ends and gripping mid-point saxophone work. ADAGIO GROOVES is a thoroughly memorable fusing of classical and jazz from Peter Xifaras.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
