REVIEWS

For 
those 
of 
us 
who 
enjoy 
a 
life long
 love 
affair 
with
the 
saxophone, 
any
opportunity
 to 
indulge 
in
the
 warmth, 
beauty, 
power, 
and 
agility
 produced 
by 
masterful 
saxophonists 
is 
most
 welcome.
 Throughout
 On 
A 
Warm 
Summer’s 
Evenin’, 
Mark 
Watkins, 
Brent 
Jensen, 
Sandon 
Mayhew,
 and
 Jon 
Gudmundson, 
 seamlessly 
harness
 the
musical 
energy
 of 
the
 saxophone 
in 
settings 
ranging 
from 
quartet 
to
 orchestra
 with 
comfort 
and
 elegance.
 On
 this 
CD,
 FOUR
 engages 
listeners 
via 
effortlessly
 skillful
 execution 
of
 concrete 
and
 improvised 
musical 
ideas
that 
produce 
a 
diverse, 
vivid, 
and 
enjoyable 
performance.




Soprano
 saxophonist, 
composer, 
and
 arranger 
Mark
 Watkins
 creates
 frame works 
that 
excite, 
indulge,
 and
 challenge 
the
 musicians 
and 
listeners 
alike. 

Exploring 
a 
wide 
scope
 of 
articulations, 
rhythms, 
and
 melodic 
and 
harmonic 
structures, 
Watkins 
establishes 
and
develops 
a 
driving 
contrapuntal 
conversation between
 and
 within 
the
 quartet 
and 
jazz 
ensemble 
throughout 
With 
Friends 
Like
 These. 
Featuring
 the
 alto 
of 
Brent 
Jensen, 
Of Things 
Hoped 
For
 showcases 
the 
romantic 
nature 
of 
the 
saxophone 
as 
a 
solo
 and 
ensemble 
instrument 
in 
a 
traditional jazz
 setting.
Illustrating 
their 
musical 
diversity ,
Watkins’ 
Felices 
 Para
 Siempre
 takes
 us 
on 
a
clave‐fueled
 ride 
while 
his
 arrangements 
of 
Moment’s
 Notice, 
Chim
Chim
 Cheree, 
and
 his
Sunset
 in 
Sperlonga
showcase 
FOUR’s 
jazz
roots.




Beyond
 their
 diversity 
and
 flawless
 ensemble 
work, 
two 
of 
the 
most
 appealing
 dimensions
 of 
FOUR’s
 offering 
are 
Watkins’
 pen
 and
 the 
virtuosity 
of 
each 
individual.
Watkins’ 
diversified,
 fresh, 
and
engaging
 writing
 results
 in
 new
 discoveries
 with
 every
listen.
As 
individuals,
 all
 FOUR 
deliver
 stirring
 descargas 
on
 Felices,
 Watkins
 swings
 and
 weaves
 improvised
 tapestries
 in
 his
 On
 the
 Other 
Hand
 and
 on
 A
Warm
 Summer’s
 Evenin’,
 Mayhew
 burns
 on
 Moment’s
 Notice
 and
 Jack 
the 
Giant 
Killer,
 Jensen
 charms
 on
 Of
 Things
 Hoped
 For
 and
 Sunset
 in
 Sperlonga,
 and
 Gudmundson
 excites 
with
 contagious
 and
 bluesy 
energy
 on
 Chim
 Chim
 Cheree
 and
 Peas
 in 
a
 Pod.



Supported 
by 
rock‐solid
 jazz
 and
 orchestra
 ensembles,
 On
 a
 Warm
Summer’s 
Evenin’ 
is 
a
celebration
 of
 diverse
musical
 styles 
by
 an
 inventive
 writer
 and
 FOUR
 outstanding
 saxophonists
 who
 are
 as
 equally
 at
 ease
 unselfishly
 serving
 the
 demands
 of
 an
 ensemble
 as
 they
 are
 navigating
 the
 rigors
 of
 solo
 duties.
To
 all
 involved,
 thank
 you
 for
 the 
music
 and
 the
 artistry.
 Godspeed 
FOUR.











Dr.
 Ed
 Calle
 (EdD
–
DHEL)



Two‐time
 Latin 
Grammy
 nominee



Associate 
Professor 
Senio r
of 
Music
 Business
 and
 Production



Miami
 Dade
 College