Jazz Articles about Dino Govoni

Dino Govoni: Hiding in Plain Sight

by Jack Bowers
December 5, 2021

Tenor saxophonist Dino Govoni acquits himself well on the curiously-titled Hiding in Plain Sight, his third album for Whaling City Sound, as do his colleagues on this basically bop-leaning, mainly quintet studio date. The qualifier “mainly" is necessary because trumpeter Alex Sipiagin performs on only five of the album's nine tracks. On the others, Govoni is cradled by his capable rhythm section, pianist Henry Hey, bassist Michael Pope and drummer Jeff “Tain" Watts. Each of the numbers ...

Douglas Olsen: 2 Cents

by Jack Bowers
November 21, 2020

What seems at first blush to be a nonet on this splendid new album is actually trumpeter Douglas Olsen's core quartet, amplified on various selections by talented guests who raise the number anywhere from a quintet to an octet. Even though Olsen has been a super-busy free-lancer on the New England jazz scene for more than two decades, 2 Cents is apparently his first recording date as leader of his own group; with that in mind, perhaps Olsen reasoned it ...

Dino Govoni: In The Library

by Glenn Astarita
January 10, 2003

Saxophonist Dino Govoni's wide-ranging jazz vernacular is conveyed rather effectively during this sprightly set. He possesses a broad tone, augmented with fluent lines and a relaxed vibe. With his quartet, the artist explores various harmonic frontiers, amid slight shifts in momentum and medium to torridly swinging tempos

The rhythm section implements a frisky Latin-jazz groove on the title piece. Here, Govoni utilizes the soprano saxophone for a series of lilting motifs, contrasted with a spacious approach. Whereas ...

Dino Govoni: In the Library

by Jack Bowers
December 1, 2002

Young Boston-based saxophonist Dino Govoni, who has appeared as a sideman on a number of recent albums, steps forward to lead a talented quartet on In the Library, an earnest volume of engaging post-bop essays, most of them written by Govoni and his companions. The exceptions are Chick Corea’s melodious “Again and Again” and Suzanna Sifter’s volatile “Lines for Charlie.” Govoni’s supple, aggressive but always well-modulated tenor sax reminds me of another formidable young lion, Eric Alexander -- high praise ...

Dino Govoni: In the Library

by Dan McClenaghan
November 9, 2002

Like a skilled prose writer, saxophonist Dino Govoni gives you a good straight ahead story, a linear narrative, with stylistic asides, subtle and wonderful surprises. The writer's story may beguile you, but it's the occasional odd sentence, the unusual but on-target diction, the deft and vibrant turn of phrasing interspersed thoughout that holds the audience's attention from first page to last. Dino Govoni, on In the Library, his second CD on Whaling City Sound, does just that, musically.His ...

Dino Govoni: Breakin' Out

by Jack Bowers
November 1, 2001

No young lion, tenor saxophonist Dino Govoni has been diligently mastering his craft while working steadily in the Boston–New York area for more than two decades, and the seasoning is evident on his impressive debut album, the well–named Breakin’ Out. Govoni, a blues–based modernist who lists John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Michael Brecker and fellow Bostonians Jerry Bergonzi and George Garzone among his influences, has a warm, masculine sound, plays confidently at every tempo and seldom resorts to screeching or growling ...

Dino Govoni: Breakin' Out

by Dave Nathan
August 1, 2001

Whaling City Sound gathered some talented players, veterans and newcomers, for this take no prisoners hard bop set. This blowing session is reminiscent of those events which regularly took place throughout the 1950's and 1960's led by the likes of Hank Mobley, Kenny Wheeler, Johnny Griffin and others responsible for building the foundation for this hard driving jazz genre. Relatively new on the scene, Dino Govoni on his debut CD ably demonstrates he is well aware of his musical lineage. ...