I can’t remember the last time I was sent a CD in a slip sleeve – really nice, and something which doesn’t happen often these days. As one can tell from the title, this is a tribute album to composer and conductor Bernard Herrmann, who as well as collaborating with Alfred Hitchcock on many of his great movies (Psycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much) also worked on many other classics (Citizen Kane, Fahrenheit 451, Cape Fear and Taxi Driver being just a few examples) , and won an Academy Award in 1941 for his score of The Devil and Daniel Webster. This is the fifth album from saxophonist Marciano and her quartet, which comprises her husband, Alessandro La Corte (piano and keyboards) along with Aldo Vigorito (double bass) and Gaetano Fasano (drums).

Here they have taken the musical themes from Taxi Driver, Marnie, Twisted Nerve, Psycho (yes, the slash scene is there) and Vertigo and have arranged and re-imagined them for their quartet. They have kept much of the melodies yet have then allowed room for improvisation to take the core music into different areas. Unlike some jazz bands which have an almost rotating roster of players, they have a stable line-up which means there is close understanding between all those involved which leads to dynamic and intuitive playing. Marciano’s technique is nothing short of remarkable, with wonderful fluidity, combining dissonance and pure harmony in manner which is inspired. If that weren’t enough, the album finishes with a piece which is not really in keeping with the rest, in that it is an arrangement by Alessandro of the theme of Harry Potter. This is of course by John Williams, and it adds a lightness and gentle touch against the harsher tones which have come previously and is a nice bookend. Definitely one for fans of great sax playing, jazz, film scores, or all three.

Rating: 9/10

Links:
https://www.carlamarciano.com/
https://www.challengerecords.com/