"Fissures" presents saxophonist Idit Shner and harpist Yumiko Endo Schlaffer in a program of works for this unique combination of instruments that has rarely been represented in recorded form. A wide array of composers and musical expression are represented in the selections - from Rokus de Groot's bass saxophone feature "Cadenza," to Yvonne Desportes' virtuosic "Une fleur sur l’étang," and Dr. Yusef Lateef's light and transparent "Romance." Now based in Eugene, Oregon, Idit Shner is an active performer of both jazz and classical music and has commissioned and recorded new music, performed solo recitals in the US and Israel, and plays regularly with the Oregon Symphony. Ms. Shner appeared in Israel as a featured soloist in 2006 with a symphony orchestra and her most recent solo recital in Israel was broadcast live throughout the country. Currently Ms. Shner serves as Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the University of Oregon. Yumiko Endo Schlaffer has performed at the Imperial Palace for the Empress and Her Royal Family of Japan. She has been featured as a solo artist with several symphonies, including Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Chamber Musicans, Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, and The Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. She has won first prize in two different divisions of the Japan International Harp Competition.

TRACK LISTING:

Une fleur sur l'Ètang (Yvonne Desportes)
1 I. Dédicace
2 II. La nuit
3 III. Le fleur
4 Ofaerufoss (Isabelle Marcoux)
5 Capricho Mediterráneo (Mariangeles Sanchez Benimeli)
6 Elegy (Günther Tautenhahn)
7 Cadenza (Rokus de Groot)
Sonatine: "Hommage à Mozart" (Jean-Louis Petit)
8 I
9 II
10 III
11 Hiraeth (Anne-Marie Mimet)
12 Fissures (Philippe Di Betta)
Romance (Yusef Lateef)
13 I. With love
14 II. Cheerfully
15 III.

MUSICIANS:

IDIT SHNER saxophones
YUMIKO ENDO SCHLAFFER harp

PRODUCTION:

Produced by Jesse Cloninger
Recorded by Erik Herbst at Panhandle House, Denton, TX,
August 17-21, 2009
Additional recording by Billy Barnett at Gung Ho Studio,
Eugene, OR, September 1, 2009
Mixed at Panhandle House, September 7-9, 2009
Mastered by Charlie Pilzer at AirShow Mastering
Cover photography by Adam Judd
Artist photography by Kaylee Reardon
Cover design by John Bishop