This CD confronts its audience with difficult music. Difficult to play, difficult to listen to. Concerning the interpretation, the four musicians of the Amstel Quartet (including Luxembourger Olivier Sliepen) totally master this aspect of difficulty. Concerning the listener, one has to clarify his spirit, leave normality behind and be prepared for unusual encounters, for sounds that seem to reflect the breath of life itself. It’s the sheer beauty of the material that one has to admire first, before gradually exploring the unknown, and dare to be confronted by an emotional state of mind out of the usual. Whatever, once launched onto this path, you want to know all about it – you break with the force of gravity that attaches you to your chair and through greyish clouds you arrive, seduced, Far Away, Till Midnight in a cloud of cosmic crystals, then you continue your journey through vaskian nebulae: and there, behind the curtain, the start gives you a hand, blue and transparent. Finally you’re dreaming, inside a world of angels, where amazement is renewing itself continuously. The most difficult is the return to earth. There are no drugs involved here. But it is definitely a trip. High floating music!
Volle geoogste klanken uit rijke grond
Een ronduit aanstekelijk expressief en kleurrijk palet
Fine refinement, much lyricism as well as vital rhythm
Hoe authentiek willen we het hebben?
10 out of 10 - Review American Dream
Review American Dream
Amstel Quartet inspires listeners twice in Monastery hall (German)
Maxim Shalygin laat acht saxofoons bruut branden
Vurige saxofoons - Dag in de Branding
Cinema Paradiso at the Mainzer Musiksommer
Amstel Quartet thrills with "Classical Zen"
Review of our concert
Die Rheinlandpfalz about our concert in Landau on September 28th
Wagners Ring in 20 Minuten - genial
Balm for the soul ... La vie en rose even is a revelation
A real Caribbean feast for the ears!
5 out of 5 stars for Sax avec Elan! in Elsevier!
Sax avec Elan! Album of the Week on SinfiniMusic!
En Route review Sax & Elan
Review 'Sax Avec Elan' op Musicframes.nl
Recensie 'Sax avec Elan' in Trouw
Recensie Klassiek Zaken 'Sax Avec Elan'
Recensie NRC 'Sax avec Elan'
Recensie Telegraaf 'Sax avec Elan'
Review Gaudeamus concert[s]
Mit dem Saxophon unterwegs in ungewohnte Klangwelten
Elan & Sax
Concert at Sarnia Concert Association, Canada
Amstel Tracks NOW! review
recensie: ZWART LICHT.. . Leeroy draait door
gecertificeerde zuurstofflessen - certified oxygen cylinders
Alles ist Saxophon
review Amstel Tracks NOW! in Opus Klassiek
review Amstel Tracks NOW! in Mania
LUXEMBURGER WORT - Une mosaïque musicale étincelante
"Amstel Quartet: The best saxophone quartet in the world." (AVRO Radio)
Met vier saxen naar Hengelo (O)?
CD review Amstel Raga (in German) Pizzicato
CD review Amstel Raga (in German)
CD review Amstel Raga (Dutch with translation)
CD review Amstel Raga (Dutch)
Amstel Peijl Review
Review Amstel Peijl album
review in FanfareMag
Review Amstel Peijl CD
Paradox Cliché
Party im "Römerbad"
This is how a saxophone quartet should sounds like
one Brain
CD Feature/ Amstel Quartet: "Amstel Peijl"
Who needs violins, harpischords, organs, and pianos?
ASQ, the Brand! - 1 Gram of Time - Supersonic Award
When the Star Reaches Out for You - Baltica - Supersonic Award
Incredibly beautifully played Prélude, Fugue et Variation
Recommended Recordings - Straight Lines - Amstel Quartet
In Total Admiration of the Amstel Quartet - Amstel Tracks - Excellentia Award
Amstel’s sensitive dynamic control and energetic sense of ensemb