Jazz Articles about Joe Lovano

Joe Lovano, Jim Hall, George Mraz, Lewis Nash: Grand Slam: Live at the Regattabar

by David Adler
October 1, 2000

At first glance this may seem like a thrown-together all-star session. It’s actually an inspired collaboration between four heavyweights who have all worked together in various projects over the years. The pairing of Jim Hall and Joe Lovano is propitious from the very first notes of Hall’s “Slam," one of the wildest blues heads you’ll ever hear. Hall’s solos on this and several other tracks are processed with a harmonizer, allowing him to articulate his ideas in fourths, fifths, and ...

Furio Di Castri/Joe Lovano Quartet: Unknown Voyage

by Glenn Astarita
July 1, 2000

Recorded in 1988 and originally released on the “A Tempo” label, Unknown Voyage is a worthy reissue featuring the “Furio Di Castri/Joe Lovano Quartet” - brought to us from the folks at “Newtone” records. Although billed as a quartet, the musical format here also comprises a series of duets and piano trio settings. Drummer Paul Motian and saxophonist Joe Lovano were doing quite a bit of recording back in the mid to late 80’s and here connect with some mighty ...

Joe Lovano: 52nd Street Themes

by Jim Santella
June 1, 2000

Although there are only ten artists and three of them share the tenor saxophone chair, Joe Lovano’s latest Blue Note album is a big band affair made possible by gifted arranger Willie “Face" Smith. Compositions by Tadd Dameron and other well-known bebop legends from the 52nd Street era represent lovely mood-setting devices for each soloist. And each member of the band has a chance to solo. It’s Lovano’s distinctive tenor that carries most of the solo responsibility, and he’s inspired. ...

Joe Lovano Nonet: 52nd Street Themes

by David Adler
May 1, 2000

While Joe Lovano has played some decidedly non-mainstream music during his career, this record is a powerful reminder of the tenor giant’s debt to the tradition. Still, the music has that unmistakable Lovano edge. Joined by what is in essence a small big band, Lovano pays tribute to the legendary players and composers of the bebop era, with a concentration on the great Tadd Dameron. Willie “Face" Smith (not to be confused with the famed altoist who died in 1967) ...

Joe Lovano: 52nd Street Themes

by Mark Corroto
May 1, 2000

First a disclaimer: this writer was born a Cleveland Indians and Browns fan. As a jazz listener I've taken much pride in Ohio's native sons and jazz daughters; Art Tatum, Rashaan Roland Kirk, Albert Ayler, Joe Henderson, and Nancy Wilson. While I admit some bias toward the recordings of Cleveland's own Joe Lovano, I hope you will look past it and enjoy this recording.

The tenor saxophone was a natural progression for Lovano, the son of Tony “Big T" Lovano, ...

Joe Lovano: 52nd Street Themes

by Mark Corroto
May 1, 2000

First a disclaimer: this writer was born a Cleveland Indians and Browns fan. As a jazz listener I've taken much pride in Ohio's native sons and jazz daughters; Art Tatum, Rashaan Roland Kirk, Albert Ayler, Joe Henderson, and Nancy Wilson. While I admit some bias toward the recordings of Cleveland's own Joe Lovano, I hope you will look past it and enjoy this recording.

The tenor saxophone was a natural progression for Lovano, the son of Tony “Big T" Lovano, ...

Joe Lovano/Greg Osby: Friendly Fire

by Robert Spencer
December 1, 1999

Friendly Fire is aptly named, for in the grand tradition of two-horn jam sessions dating back to Sonny Rollins' legendary matchup with John Coltrane, “Tenor Madness," Joe Lovano and Greg Osby here meet not to compete, but to collaborate, share, prod, intertwine, and perhaps only occasionally - and gently - squabble. There is fire, and it is friendly. And along the way, courtesy an extraordinary rhythm section powered by the great drummer Idris Muhammad, there is a great deal of ...