IMAGINARY FOLKSONGS
WORKS FOR SAXOPHONE AND PIANO
LIAS • PRICE • LAITMAN • ISHIKAWA • JOLLEY
Duo HaLo
Duo HaLo, featuring renowned classical musicians Dr. Andrew Harrison (saxophones) and Dr. Jason Lo (piano), presents Imaginary Folksongs, their debut album redefining the saxophone-piano duo. This vibrant collection opens with Stephen Lias’ suite of six rhythmically diverse pieces, blending virtuosity, humour, and melancholy. It continues with Florence Price’s soulful Negro spirituals, Lori Laitman’s poignant Journey reflecting on a slave mother’s plight, Ryota Ishikawa’s rhythmically intricate Rhapsody on Japanese Folksongs, and concludes with Jennifer Jolley’s Lilac Tears, inspired by a legendary Prince guitar solo. Duo HaLo’s expressive performances highlight the saxophone’s vitality and versatility while presenting a fresh repertoire that bridges tradition and innovation. Imaginary Folksongs invites listeners into a richly textured world where cultural heritage and contemporary creativity intertwine.
STEPHEN LIAS (b. 1966) | ||
IMAGINARY FOLKSONGS | 17:51 | |
1 | High in the Andes (soprano) | 1:28 |
2 | PleiadSong of Light (alto) | 3:19 |
3 | Magic Island (alto) | 2:22 |
4 | Titiana’s Bower (soprano) | 2:22 |
5 | Bonnie-Bye (soprano) | 4:26 |
6 | Three Jolley Pigeons, The (alto) | 2:32 |
FLORENCE PRICE (1887-1953) | ||
THREE NEGRO SPIRITUALS | 9:45 | |
7 | Oh Holy Lord | 3:10 |
8 | Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child | 3:49 |
9 | Lord, I Want To Be A Christian | 2:46 |
LORI LAITMAN (b. 1955) | ||
10 | JOURNEY | 5:01 |
RYOTA ISHIKAWA (b. 1983) | ||
11 | RHAPSODY ON JAPANESE FOLKSONGS | 13:41 |
JENNIFER JOLLEY (b. 1981) | ||
12 | LILAC TEARS | 3:14 |
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Acknowledged as one of today’s finest saxophone and piano duos, Duo HaLo has delighted audiences across the United States, showcasing programs with exciting new music from across the globe, but also reimagining works by the great composers of the past. Described by the New York Concert Review as “High Voltage” and “Brimming with Lyricism,” members Andrew Harrison (Saxophones) and Jason Lo (Piano) formed Duo HaLo with the desire to connect the saxophone more deeply to the classical tradition, and their approach has been hailed as “a thrill to hear the saxophone with colors, range, technical virtuosity, and expression in the style of the great composers (Classical Sonoma).”
Duo HaLo has presented hundreds of concerts throughout the United States in prestigious venues and universities, including San Diego State School of Music, University of the Pacific School of Music, the US Navy Saxophone Symposium, the North American Saxophone Alliance, BargeMusic NYC, and the Green Music Center, to name a few. Both Andrew and Jason hold Doctorate of Musical Arts degrees from the USC Thornton School of Music. Andrew is currently the Lecturer of Classical Saxophone at Sonoma State University and Jason is the Keyboard Area Coordinator at the University of La Verne.