Even in a secular setting, gospel music retains an ability to connect deeply with us all. The inspiration for this piece came from an run­-in with a woman named Agnes – an old housemate of the composer – who had a proclivity towards cleanliness that, alas, did not coincide with the composer’s own. In later years, the composer learned the value of Agnes’ sensible requests, too late, unfortunately, to repay her for her troubles except in song. 

Tom Kelly - soprano sax
Derrick Dymalski - alto sax
Mark Viavattine, Jr. - tenor sax
Joey Rosin - baritone sax

Written & Arranged by Russ Spiegel
Recorded Dec. 5, 2014 at Foster Music Studio, University of Miami
Recording Engineer & Mixer - Russ Spiegel
Special thanks to Phil Doyle for his invaluable help & input.

The Gospel (According to Agnes) - Saxophone Quartet

Russ Spiegel is a commissioned composer and arranger as well as a guitarist, bandleader, writer, producer, and actor. He received his undergraduate degree in philosophy from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, studied music at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, received a Master’s degree in jazz performance from the City College of New York and his doctorate in Jazz Composition at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, where he was a Henry Mancini Institute Fellow. Russ has released several CDs, scored music for film, run workshops and seminars, and has appeared in a number of feature films and television shows as both a musician and actor.