Too sexy for one Pope, “decadent” as far as the Nazis were concerned, and banned as being too capitalist by Stalin, the saxophone has had a tumultuous history since Belgian musician Adolphe Sax invented it in the 1840s. Kansas City, birthplace of the great Charlie Parker, even went so far as to pass a noise abatement bylaw so it could not be played at night in the Roaring Twenties.

Fortunately Sydney Opera House’s Utzon Room comes under no such curfew and it proves the perfect spot for the launch of a George Gershwin album by Nexas, the Sydney-based saxophone quartet founded 22 years ago by Michael Duke (soprano), Andrew Smith (alto), Nathan Henshaw (tenor) and Jay Byrnes. Smith is currently on leave and he is replaced by Nick Russoniello for this concert.

Nexas Saxophone Quartet, Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House.

They are joined by Omega Ensemble’s regular pianist Vatche Jambazian for the highlight of the night, a scintillating performance of Rhapsody in Blue which brings the house down and prompts two cunningly prepared encores – Earl White’s solo piano arrangement of...