Joseph Murphy, saxophone
Matthew Slotkin, guitar
Duo Montagnard was formed in 2002 and has performed over 100 concerts in 20 states, Canada, Slovenia, and Greece. Festival performances include the Chautauqua Institution, the Hartwick College Summer Music Festival, and the Alexandria Guitar Festival. Programs include compositions by Robert Beaser, Chick Corea, Jacques Ibert, David Kechley, Astor Piazzolla, Maurice Ravel, Terry Riley, Roberto Sierra, Toru Takemitsu, Ralph Towner, and Heitor Villa-Lobos. Recent commissions include pieces by John Anthony Lennon, Andrew Walters, George Daravelis, John Orfe, and Charles Stolte. Recent performances include the World Saxophone Congresses in Ljubljana, Slovenia and Bangkok, Thailand, and tours of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia.
Craig Butterfield, bass
Matthew Slotkin, guitar
Dez Cordas is an unusual duo of double bass and classical guitar that performs an eclectic mix of musical styles from tango to jazz to baroque. Both musicians are classically trained, yet show their diverse musical roots in pieces by Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla, jazz pianist Chick Corea, Hungarian composer Bela Bartok, and their own original compositions. As a chamber duo, Dez Cordas shares melodic material equally, without relegating one member to a permanently accompanying role. Audiences will hear soaring highs and deep lows from both instruments, creating an almost orchestral sound from just two instruments. Dez Cordas has performed in concert halls and at universities throughout the United States, most recently touring through Pennsylvania and New York. Centaur Records released the duo’s first CD, “Dances, Songs, Inventions,” in early 2010. Individually, both Slotkin and Butterfield have appeared in concert in some of the most prestigious venues throughout the world.
