Jazz Articles about Joe Lovano

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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, ...

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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 ...

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John Abercrombie: Open Land

by Glenn Astarita
December 1, 1999

One of the true treasures of Modern Jazz, guitarist John Abercrombie’s impressive and somewhat legendary recorded legacy continues with Open Land. Here, Abercrombie expands his longtime “organ trio” group consisting of organist Dan Wall and drummer Adam Nussbaum while garnering the rather estimable support of special guests, saxophonist Joe Lovano, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and violinist Mark Feldman.

On Open Land the great guitarist offers the listener a panoramic view via wide-open and expansive compositions that leave plenty of room for ...

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John Abercrombie: Open Land

by David Adler
December 1, 1999

John Abercrombie’s guitar tone has changed a lot over the years. I am particularly fond of his late 70s quartet with Richard Beirach, George Mraz, and Peter Donald. Back then his sound was extremely dark—nearly underwater in fact, with no treble to speak of. Lately it’s developed a lot more flesh and attack. On this new record, Open Land, he gravitates toward a nasal tone more along the lines of John Scofield. “Spring Song," a haunting waltz, and “Gimme Five," ...

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John Abercrombie: Open Land

by C. Andrew Hovan
November 1, 1999

Truth be told, John Abercrombie has always been one of the more neglected players of his generation. He's never done the more commercial types of things that have brought fellow guitarists like Pat Metheny a broader audience base, and yet the irony is that his adventurous style and sound was the forerunner of such current underground favorites as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Bill Frisell, and Ben Monder. Several years ago, however, he chose to work in the context of an organ trio. ...

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Frank Tiberi: Tiberian Mode

by Jack Bowers
August 1, 1999

Better late than never. Although Frank Tiberi’s stature among his fellow musicians approaches legendary, it took a Woody Herman alumnus (John Nugent) with his own record company to appreciate the benefits of bringing the present leader of the Herman Herd into a studio to document his prodigious talents. And while doing so, to invite two of Tiberi’s ardent admirers and former “students,” saxophonists Joe Lovano and George Garzone, to take part in the session. Lovano and Garzone are graduates of ...

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Joe Lovano/Greg Osby: Friendly Fire

by C. Andrew Hovan
July 1, 1999

So here's the basic premise, a revival of the classic “jam session" pitting the saxophones of Joe Lovano and Greg Osby. But before you get the idea that this is one of those cutting contests, such as a duel between Johnny Griffin and Eddie “Lockjaw" Davis, think again. Cleveland, Ohio native Lovano, while acclaimed by both fans and critics alike, has always possessed a style that is accessible, but just slightly off the mainstream path. The same could be said ...