Jazz Articles about Joe Lovano

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Joe Lovano: Flights Of Fancy: Trio Fascination, Edition Two

by Jim Santella
March 1, 2001

With four decidedly different trios, Joe Lovano pushes the mainstream jazz envelope along its meandering course. The tenor saxophonist’s brusque tone stands apart as distinctively as his passion for molding the art form. This is a blue-collar effort from a creative, dues-paying, veteran artist.

Consider the nonstandard combinations the leader employs here. Lovano joins Toots Thielemans and Kenny Werner for four pieces. He teams with Billy Drewes and Joey Baron for three. Three more tracks feature Mark Dresser and Dave ...

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Jim Hall/Joe Lovano: Grand Slam

by Craig Jolley
November 1, 2000

Unlike many all-star groups Grand Slam succeeds--they are more than just a jam band. They play a repertoire (Hall and Lovano tunes) suited to this band. They sound rehearsed, and they interact with each other. There is no sense of “I'll coast while you do your thing, and you get of my way when I'm up."

Sonically Grand Slam recalls the early 60's Sonny Rollins band ( The Bridge ) in which Hall also played, but this band plays more ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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. ...

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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) ...

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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, ...