Joe Lovano: On This Day... At the Vanguard (2003)

Mark F. Turner

Senior Contributor since 2001

Considering himself a modern day 'Jazz Explorer' Mark continues to discover new and exciting music territories.

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Published: July 25, 2003

Joe Lovano: On This Day... At the Vanguard

Exceptional music and memories have always been at the heart of one today’s top jazz clubs: the Village Vanguard. The Manhattan music venue has been the epicenter of live jazz recordings from legends such as John Coltrane and Bill Evans to contemporaries like Wynton Marsalis and Bruce Barth. This trend continues with On This Day... , which is also Lovano’s third live recording at the club. The mood and music is all about a sense of swing and the atmosphere creates a sense of timelessness from days gone by.

The recording features Lovano’s own nonet of highly accomplished musicians, which recorded the award winning 52nd Street Themes. The spirit of the little big band evokes the true essence of post bop vibe with burners like the rollicking Lovano original “At the Vanguard” and John Coltrane’s atmospheric ballad “After the Rain,” with lush horn arrangements and expressive solos. Lovano’s signature broad-timbred sound is true to form as he plays with empathy and passion on the dreamy “Laura” or shares the spotlight with other band members on the title track, which further illustrates the tightness of the group. On This Day... At the Vanguard documents yet another performance that should continue to create pleasant jazz memories.

Track Listing: 1. At The Vanguard 2. Focus 3. After The Rain 4. Good Bait 5. Laura 6. On This Day 7. My Little Brown Book

Personnel: Joe Lovano- Tenor Saxophone,Steve Slagle: Alto Saxophone, George Garzone: Tenor Saxophone, Ralph Lalama: Tenor Saxophone, Scott Robinson: Baritone Saxophone, Barry Ries: Trumpet,Larry Farrell: Trombone, John Hicks: Piano, Dennis Irwin: Bass, Lewis Nash: Drums

Record Label: Blue Note Records
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream