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Wendell Hobbs

Introducing...... The Brandywine Valley Saxophone Quartet Do you enjoy listening to the sultry, sensual sound of the saxophone? Just imagine that feeling multiplied by four, and you will have an idea of what you will experience when you hear the Brandywine Saxophone Quartet. The concept of the saxophone quartet has been around for many years, originating in France in the early 20th century with Marcel Mule. The idea was to duplicate the sound of a string quartet with four saxophonists, soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. Through the years the saxophone quartet concept expanded into the jazz realm with recordings by the Hollywood Saxophone Quartet and the superb arrangements of Lennie Niehaus. The Brandywine Valley Saxophone Quartet is a group led by Saxophonist/Composer Wendell Hobbs. It began in 2012 as a rehearsal group that would meet once a month to read his compositions. The quartet is exclusively a jazz saxophone quartet, featuring the music of the bebop era of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. The group performs original compositions by Wendell and songs from the jazz repertoire by Benny Golson, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, as well as standards from the American Songbook, most notably George Gershwin. Says Wendell, “I write in a linear style and attempt to give every player an interesting line to play. Each composition is like a journey from beginning to end.” The result is a fascinating musical experience for both the listener and the musicians. The quartet is comprised of Wendell playing soprano sax, Vince Lardear playing alto sax, Bob Howell playing tenor sax and David Kee playing baritone sax. Vince played lead alto in the Illinois Jacquet Big band for six years. Wendell toured with the Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Artie Shaw Orchestras. Bob has performed and travelled with Odean Pope’s Saxophone Choir and Richie Cole’s Alto Madness to name just a few. David has been a theatre “pit” musician and woodwind doubler, and toured with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Dave Clark, a saxophonist in West Richland, Washington commented on Wendell’s arranging: “ I recently discovered your charts online and am totally overwhelmed by the quality and cleverness of your work....we already have a large library of jazz charts, but yours are equal to the very best of them, and superior to most. They are also fun to play, with surprises and humor popping up all over the place.....Again, your writing is fabulous. It’s like discovering a musical treasure trove.....” If you haven’t heard this fabulous group, you owe it to yourself to do so.

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