Music Review: “Adagio Blue” by Peter Xifaras (ft. Justin Chart)
- Bryon Harris
- Jul 31
- 2 min read
From the album Adagio Grooves By Matt Watts for Indie Talk
“Adagio Blue” opens with a cinematic hush. Muted arpeggios and pizzicato cello notes ripple like early morning light through city streets while weeping strings hover with longer, lyrical phrases. It’s a moment of suspended breath before virtuoso saxophonist Justin Chart enters, and when he does, it’s pure magic.
Chart’s saxophone voice is smooth and bluesy with a touch of nostalgia like a sunny stroll through Manhattan’s Upper West Side. His phrasing is both improvisational and refined, dancing conversationally against the classically orchestrated backdrop. There’s an innate elegance to the counterpoint as the strings respond, never overpowering, always in dialogue. As the piece unfolds, a warm viola section emerges, gently expanding the tonal palette while the cello section maintains its plucked, grounding rhythm. Then, about three minutes in, the day awakes. Just as the listener has grown comfortable in the sunny mellow exchange between sax and strings, bassist Max Gerl changes the terrain our ears walk upon. He lays down a syncopated, sophisticated groove that elevates the piece into full-blown jazz momentum. Now in high gear, Chart’s sax takes flight. His technical mastery is jaw-dropping, from intricate runs to sculpted melodic lines delivered with precision and soul. Drummer Scott Jackson joins the conversation with subtle propulsion, while the string section continues to weave in and out, creating dramatic swells and release that build until the last note sounds.
Written, arranged, and produced by Peter Xifaras, “Adagio Blue” exemplifies the broader vision of Adagio Grooves — a genre-defying project where jazz spontaneity meets orchestral sophistication. Featuring the Budapest Symphony, Justin Chart on sax, Max Gerl on bass, and Scott Jackson on drums, this instrumental piece is a masterclass in balance, innovation, and expressive conversation without words.
Listen to “Adagio Blue”: Stream on YouTube
About Peter Xifaras Renowned composer, guitarist, and producer Peter Xifaras has topped the Billboard Classical and Crossover charts and earned accolades including the American Prize in Composition, a TELLY Award, and the Accolade Global Film Humanitarian Award.
His works have aired on SiriusXM for over a decade and continue to break genre boundaries through cinematic, classical, jazz, and contemporary collaborations.
Connect with Peter Xifaras:
🎧 Spotify 🌐 Website
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