Erin Rogers is a Canadian-American experimental composer-saxophonist-performance artist, based in New York and «Dawntreader» is her debut, solo saxophone album. «Dawntreader» features three distinct works, each of which explores and develops a singular idea over time. Rogers plays the soprano and tenor saxophones with extensive use of harmonics, multiphonics, vocalization, dynamics and the inciting of outer resonance. The album was recorded over one day in April 2019.

The first composition «Beacon» for soprano saxophone offers a delicate play of multiphonics that swings between raw tones and almost transparent overtones, but patiently and carefully intensifies into a multilayered textures, with surprising expressive, lyrical qualities. The second composition «Surface Tension» for tenor saxophone and cymbal resonance is a nervous, urgent piece that adds more percussive elements to Rogers’ extended techniques, vocalization and light layer of distortion to Rogers’ rich language, but also flirts with silence and eventually suggests an arresting story.

The last composition «Breaking Waves» for tenor saxophone takes this instrument – as well as the listener – to a wave-breaking journey. The tenor saxophone sounds more like a distorted electric guitar, going through a series of effects and pedals, and Rogers’ restless and punkish tone highlight further this sonic approach.

A new, challenging and inspiring voice.

Eyal Hareuveni

Erin Rogers (ss, ts, cymbal resonance)