Doug Lofstrom is a composer who is currently teaching at Columbia College Chicago. While the two main compositions on Concertino - Concertino For Oboe And Orchestra and Concertino for Harp And Orchestra, both 2011 - are both in the classical vein, it?s the third piece on the disc, ?The Plumed Serpent? (1982), that would most likely interest Cadence readers. In the early 80s Lofstrom was an active jazz bassist in Chigcao and he was in a trio with saxophonist Rich Corpolongo and drummer Paul Wertico. In 1982 he composed ?The Plumed Serpent? for orchestra and jazz quintet. It?s a colorful piece of music that is based on Mexican and Native American folklore with passages of mysterioso harmonies, Mariachi music and actual jazz. Sometimes, these jazz interpolations in classically oriented pieces can be pretty weak but here it rings true and it?s well integrated into the piece. Best moment comes in the second movement when Corpolongo enters with a ripping soprano saxophone solo accompanied by piano/bass/drums and sweeping interjections from the strings. One other notable discographical oddity attached to this release is the early presence of violinist Mark Feldman as the concertmaster.