A 'Peaceful, Beautiful Attitude'

From Musically Speaking Joe Lovano Brings Trio Tapestry and ‘Peaceful, Beautiful Attitude’ to the Outpost By: Mel Minter On Trio Tapestry, his first recording on ECM as a leader, tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano called on pianist Marilyn Crispell and drummer Carmen Castaldi’“and his own long history with the likes of Paul Motian, Bill Frisell, Gunther Schuller, and Hank Jones, among...

Posted Mar 14th, 2019

Joe Lovano: The Intimate Moment of Now

From SFJAZZ JOE LOVANO: THE INTIMATE MOMENT OF NOW By: Richard Scheinin ‘I’ve had a real blessed life, man, developing myself around some of the masters,’ says Lovano, a Cleveland native who long ago established himself as one of jazz’s most prominent and widely-recorded saxophonists. He has a massive sound, warm and wooly or a bit unruly when he chooses....

Posted Mar 8th, 2019

Joe Lovano Moves on to the Next Chapter

From DownBeat Joe Lovano Moves on to the Next Chapter By: Ted Panken ‘‘It is entirely characteristic of Joe Lovano, who parted ways with Blue Note Records in 2016 after releasing 25 leader or co-led albums in 26 years, that he would use his ECM debut, Trio Tapestry, as an opportunity to introduce a brand-new ensemble. Joined by pianist Marilyn...

Posted Mar 4th, 2019

Sax titan Joe Lovano books 5 combos in 4 nights

From The Mercury News Sax titan Joe Lovano books 5 combos in 4 nights at SFJazz By: Andrew Gilbert If you think of the SFJazz Center as an ecosystem designed to nurture various species of jazz artists, it’s not hard to see why Joe Lovano has thrived in the amenable setting. In his first run as an SFJazz resident artistic...

Posted Feb 24th, 2019

Joe Lovano Keeps on Discovering and Surprising

From PopMatters Joe Lovano Keeps on Discovering and Surprising on ‘Trio Tapestry’ By: Will Layman Joe Lovano keeps on discovering. And surprising. Although he acquired a “tenor titan” reputation over the years and started his career gigging in top-tier organ groups that required a huge sound (with Jack McDuff and Lonnie Smith), Lovano has also developed into one of our...

Posted Feb 19th, 2019

Joe Lovano - 'Trio Tapestry' Review

From JazzTimes Joe Lovano: Trio Tapestry (ECM) By: Thomas Conrad Joe Lovano’s first album as a leader on ECM introduces a new trio. Marilyn Crispell is a pianist from the jazz avant-garde. Her background is unusual for a Lovano collaborator. Carmen Castaldi is a drummer from the Paul Motian school of minimalism. The first track, ‘One Time In,’ opens with...

Posted Feb 6th, 2019

Trio Tapestry

From The Big Takeover Joe Lovano – Trio Tapestry (ECM) By: Michael Toland Veteran saxophone player Joe Lovano is one of the most acclaimed and beloved horn wielders in jazz, and no wonder: with his work with Woody Herman, John Scofield, Dave Douglas, Bill Frisell and Paul Motian and countless others, not to mention his own long series of LPs...

Posted Feb 1st, 2019

Song You Need to Know: Joe Lovano, ‘Rare Beauty’

From Rolling Stone Song You Need to Know: Joe Lovano, ‘Rare Beauty’ By: Hank Shteamer ‘Rare Beauty,’ a standout track from Joe Lovano’s new album Trio Tapestry, starts with a deep, resonant tom-tom rumble from drummer Carmen Castaldi. Lovano’s tenor saxophone and Marilyn Crispell’s piano enter with a snaking, up-and-down line, which Castaldi accompanies and answers. The way the instruments...

Posted Jan 29th, 2019

Album review: Joe Lovano - Trio Tapestry

From RTE Album review: Joe Lovano – Trio Tapestry By: Paddy Kehoe Jazz saxophone legend Joe Lovano returns with Marilyn Crispell on piano and percussionist Carmen Castaldi on Trio Tapestry, a fascinating exercise in improvisation which you may find yourself returning to as it’s very addictive. The album opens with the sound of a gong played by Lovano himself, a...

Posted Jan 25th, 2019

Lovano Debuts Intimate Beauty Of Trio Tapestry

From JazzBuffalo Joe Lovano Debuts Intimate Beauty Of Trio Tapestry By: Tony Zambito The Grammy Award Winning composer, arranger, and jazz saxophonist, Joe Lovano, debuted the first live performance of his new major works with ECM Records, Trio Tapestry, on Sunday, January 27. The concert, held at Albright-Knox Art Gallery as part of the Art of Jazz Series, was the...

Posted Jan 23rd, 2019

JAZZIZ Backstage Pass: Joe Lovano

From JAZZIZ JAZZIZ Backstage Pass: Joe Lovano By: Brian Zimmerman Joe Lovano may be best known for his outstanding tenure at Blue Note Records, which he’s called home since 1991. But he’s also been a vital presence on the German label ECM, founded by renowned producer Manfred Eicher. It’s a relationship that stems back to 1981, when Lovano first appeared...

Posted Jan 17th, 2019

Joe Lovano Unveils New Trio

From WBGO Joe Lovano and Michael Wolff Unveil New Trios, Among Other Highlights in Take Five By: Nate Chinen Joe Lovano, ‘Rare Beauty’ For anyone who has followed the career of saxophonist Joe Lovano, it might be hard to believe he’s never released an album for ECM Records. Yes, he’s a longtime Blue Note artist whose most recent release ‘”...

Posted Jan 14th, 2019

Joe Lovano’s Debut as a Leader on ECM

From QWEST TV Joe Lovano’s Debut as a Leader on ECM Records By: Dan Ouellette There’s no keeping Joe Lovano idle on the recording front. After nearly three decades as the preeminent star on Blue Note Records, the tenor saxophonist has found a new home at ECM Records as a leader with Trio Tapestry, a sensitively lyrical interplay with pianist...

Posted Jan 2nd, 2019

Joe Lovano's Guide to ECM

From JAZZIZ Joe Lovano’s Guide to ECM: Five Essential Albums By: Brian Zimmerman Taken at a glance, saxophonist Joe Lovano’s career is most often associated with the straightahead label Blue Note, under which he recorded numerous groundbreaking albums such as 1994’s Rush Hour and 2009’s Folk Art. But his discography also includes prominent gems on other labels, including Germany’s ECM....

Posted Dec 19th, 2018

Best Jazz Albums of 2018

From JAZZIZ Year in Review: The Best Jazz Albums of 2018 By: Brian Zimmerman When it came to album releases, 2018 was anything but business as usual. This year saw a slew of new releases that continued to expand the borders of jazz to its ever-increasing margins. These albums crossed genres, pushed envelopes and in some cases, rewrote history. Joe...

Posted Dec 10th, 2018

Chicago Tribune: Best Jazz Recordings of 2018

From The Chicago Tribune Best jazz recordings of 2018: Virelles, Harris and Owens make charismatic sounds By: Howard Reich Congratulations to Joe Lovano for making The Chicago Tribune’s list of Best Jazz Recordings of 2018 for his band Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Sound Prints! Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas’ Sound Prints: ‘Scandal’ (Greenleaf Music). What happens when two of...

Posted Dec 6th, 2018

20 Best Jazz Albums of 2018

From Rolling Stone 20 Best Jazz Albums of 2018 By: Hank Shteamer Congratulations to Joshua Redman, Joe Lovano, and The Bad Plus for making Rolling Stone’s top 20 list this year! 1. The Bad Plus, Never Stop II During their initial 17-year run, the Bad Plus built up a reputation as one of the most tight-knit groups in contemporary jazz,...

Posted Dec 4th, 2018

Best Jazz Albums of 2018

From Slate Magazine The Best Jazz Albums of 2018 By: Fred Kaplan It’s been a lousy year for most things, a very good year for jazz. Pianists have grabbed a particularly bright spotlight, but trumpeters, saxophonists, bassists, and singers have shined too. And musicians of all ages, from 29 (the singer Cécile McLorin Salvant) to 80 (the saxophonist Charles Lloyd)...

Posted Dec 3rd, 2018

PopMatters: Best Jazz of 2018

From PopMatters The Best Jazz of 2018 By: Justin Cober-Lake and Will Layman Congratulations to IMN Artists Dave Holland and Joe Lovano for their placement on PopMatter’s list of “Best Instrumental Modern Jazz.” Dave Holland ‘” Uncharted Territories These days it’s easy to forget that bassist Dave Holland ‘” who has been part of the music’s tasteful but adventurous mainstream...

Posted Dec 2nd, 2018

The Guardian: Best Jazz of 2018

From The Guardian The best jazz of 2018: new heights scaled and legends revisited By: John Fordham In almost any year of its century-and-counting existence, the coolly cliffhanging art of jazz stays fascinating to its hardcore devotees, and in some years reaches an intrigued new crowd beyond. That happened in 2018, as a diverse and mostly young UK new wave...

Posted Dec 1st, 2018

Chicago Tribune: Best Jazz Recordings of 2018

From The Chicago Tribune Best jazz recordings of 2018: Virelles, Harris and Owens make charismatic sounds By: Howard Reich Congratulations to Joe Lovano for making The Chicago Tribune’s list of Best Jazz Recordings of 2018 for his band Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Sound Prints! Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas’ Sound Prints: ‘Scandal’ (Greenleaf Music). What happens when two of...

Posted Nov 30th, 2018

WBGO: Joe Lovano Toasts Ben Webster

From WBGO Joe Lovano Toasts Ben Webster, and Vocalist Emma Frank Visits ‘Ocean Av,’ on The Checkout By: Simon Rentner Today’s show unfolds in two parts. First Joe Lovano shares his appreciation of fellow tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, whom he first learning about his while growing up in Cleveland, OH. (Lovano expressed his appreciation many years later with an original...

Posted Aug 20th, 2018

Stepping Up with Sound Prints

From Jazzwise Magazine Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas step up with Sound Prints at the Village Vanguard By: Michael Jackson […] Lovano and Douglas dramatically commenced their set on the tight stage in the wedge shaped corner of this tiny, hallowed venue, with contrapuntal, antiphonal, unaccompanied horns. The two leaders alternated original compositions with settings of Wayne Shorter classics (a...

Posted Jun 22nd, 2018

Moment's Notice: 'Scandal'

From Point of Departure Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Sound Prints: Scandal By: Troy Collins Scandal marks the first time trumpeter Dave Douglas and saxophonist Joe Lovano have recorded a full studio album together as co-leaders. The two crossed paths occasionally for nearly twenty years before forming a group: Douglas was a guest on Lovano’s 2001 Blue Note release, Flights...

Posted Jun 13th, 2018

Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas - Scandal

From RTE Ireland Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas – Scandal Formed under the influence of sax legend Wayne Shorter, the Lovano/Douglas-led Sound Prints Quintet make their album Scandal sparkle and glint with bright edges and silver linings. The Mingus-like Dream State kicks off proceedings a bright, jaunty excursion, led by catchy, quirky interplay between Lovano and Douglas on trumpet while...

Posted May 21st, 2018

'Scandal' - London Jazz News

From London Jazz News CD REVIEW: Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Sound Prints – Scandal By: Mike Collins […] This may be a studio album, but has the feel of a live performance. Douglas’ trumpet and Lovano’s saxophone chase each other, weaving in and out across every track. Their debut had two Shorter originals penned especially for them. This set...

Posted May 16th, 2018

An Estimable Pairing

From Twin Cities Pioneer Press Lovano and Scofield are an estimable pairing on sax and guitar By: Dan Emerson Scofield’s and Lovano’s familiarity with each other’s playing styles makes them very compatible collaborators who can cover a wide range of music ‘” from delicate ballads to sheets of sound to polyrhythmic funk ‘” and take them to new places. Funky...

Posted Apr 25th, 2018

Joe Lovano's 'Liquid Phrasing'

From The Irish Times Joe Lovano: ‘A lot of the music today is computer driven ‘” a numbers racket’ By: Cormac Larkin ‘I was really fortunate’, says Lovano firmly. ‘My Dad grew up in that generation, the same age as Coltrane and Miles. He heard Charlie Parker play, he heard Lester Young live in the room, he jammed with Coltrane!’...

Posted Apr 23rd, 2018

Sharing the Blessings, Man

From Isthmus ‘Sharing the blessings, man” – Joe Lovano riffs on the sounds of sax By: Michael Muckian As a kid growing up in 1950s Cleveland, Joe Lovano was surrounded by jazz. His father Tony ‘” aka ‘Big T’ ‘” was a barber by day and a tenor sax player by night, and the family household was often filled with...

Posted Apr 18th, 2018

Review: 'Scandal'

From DownBeat Magazine Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas’ Sound Prints – Scandal Four Stars […] Both in sound and improvisational approaches, the two offer fascinating contrasting and complementary sensibilities. Lovano’s cobalt-blue tone on tenor saxophone paired with Douglas’ crimson-tinged trumpet flares create startling timbres when they play in unison or intertwine improvisational lines. Its the latter on which they engage...

Posted Apr 18th, 2018

'Scandal' - Jazz Album of the Month

From The Guardian Jazz album of the month review ‘” Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas Sound Prints: Scandal By: John Fordham A beacon of group unity and flexibility with a smouldering title track. The Sound Prints quintet, co-led by saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas, can surely book its place on the 2018 albums of the year lists thanks...

Posted Apr 13th, 2018

Legendary Saxophonist Joe Lovano Visits Lawrence

From The Lawrentian Legendary saxophonist Joe Lovano Visits Lawrence By: Carl Johnson Last Friday, I rushed into the chapel along with practically every jazz musician at Lawrence and many other people from Appleton to see legendary saxophonist Joe Lovano. What really struck me about [Lovano’s] playing, though, was his sound. It was that perfect sax tone, that rich tenor sound...

Posted Feb 20th, 2018

Joe Lovano: the "Ever Classic"

From The Pace Report The Pace Report: “The Ever Classic, Mr. Joe Lovano” The Joe Lovano Interview The Pace Report: “The Ever Classic, Mr. Joe Lovano” The Joe Lovano Interview from Brian Pace on Vimeo. This year marks the end his historic run on the famed Blue Note Records in which he’s recorded over 20 recordings in 25 years with...

Posted Dec 20th, 2017

Joe Lovano On Fire at Pancevo Jazz Fest

From Jazzwise Magazine Joe Lovano, Ambrose Akinmusire and China Moses power-up at Pančevo Jazz Fest By: Tim Dickeson There is an imposing bridge that takes you over the river from the bustling capital to the flatlands that lie beyond and reach as far as the Hungarian border to the north. Civic pride is hugely important here and the town punches...

Posted Nov 28th, 2017

Lovano in London: Feisty Bop, Heartfelt Ballads

From Financial Times Joe Lovano Classic Quartet, Ronnie Scott’s ‘” feisty bop, heartfelt ballads By: Mike Hobart The American saxophonist was on imperious form for this gutsy two-set gig. American saxophonist Joe Lovano closed this gutsy two-set gig with an up-tempo swinger and a reminder that he first played at Ronnie Scott’s in 1977 with the Woody Herman Orchestra. He...

Posted Nov 13th, 2017

Joe Lovano Leads Chile Jazz Festival

From La Tercera Joe Lovano leads the third Chile Jazz Festival By: Rodrigo Gonzalez A festival takes the post of another already disappeared, of fleeting life and reflection of the activities of a radio related to the syncopated rhythm. At least that is one of the possible interpretations of the current Chile Jazz Festival, which will bring the country for...

Posted Sep 28th, 2017

Joe Lovano Podcast

From Greenleaf Music ANFTD #41: Joe Lovano Joe Lovano talks about his long-time home and session pad in the loft at 23rd Street and 6th Avenue in New York. He also talks about Hank Jones, Paul Motian, and improvisation, and about the spiritual aspect and the spirits in his music. Great thoughts from a great musician. To listen to the...

Posted Apr 4th, 2017

Huff Post Grammy Preview: The Actual Best Albums Of 2016

From The Huffington Post Grammy Preview: The Actual Best Albums Of 2016 By: Michael Giltz Hey, I know exactly why people do best of the year lists: to force themselves to knuckle down and watch that final movie they missed, read that acclaimed nonfiction book, check out that cool new TV show (See you in a few months Legion. Promise!)...

Posted Feb 10th, 2017

Valdés/Lovano review – intricate contemporary jazz meets sensual Cuban dance music

From The Guardian Valdés/Lovano review ‘” intricate contemporary jazz meets sensual Cuban dance music Ronnie Scott’s, London Joe Lovano and Chucho Valdés teamed up to find dazzling invention and lyricism in a seamless set By: John Fordham American saxophonist Joe Lovano’s roots in his homeland’s classic jazz go deep, but he’s been taking his masterful technique on longer trips lately...

Posted Oct 25th, 2016

NYT Playlist: Joe Lovano's Classic Quartet

From The New York Times The Playlist By: Jon Pareles, Jon Caramanica and Nate Chinen Joe Lovano Quartet, ‘Kids Are Pretty People’ The saxophonist Joe Lovano has played the Newport Jazz Festival many times, but only once with the luminous pianist Hank Jones, who died in 2010 at 91. “Classic! Live at Newport,” released the same weekend as this year’s...

Posted Sep 6th, 2016

Newport Jazz Festival Gets New Vision With Christian McBride

From Billboard By Associated Press Newport Jazz Festival Gets New Vision With Christian McBride Christian McBride is no stranger to the main stage at the Newport Jazz Festival and this year he’ll again be up there in a trio with pianist Chick Corea and drummer Brian Blade. But he’ll also be turning his attention to a new role backstage as...

Posted Jul 25th, 2016

Joe Lovano, Running the Show With Sweeping Sax

from nytimes.com Joe Lovano, Running the Show With Sweeping Sax By: Ben Ratliff The jazz saxophonist Joe Lovano has a beautiful sound: dark tone, big projection, sweeping phrases, bright and flexible logic. But he’s also one of the great connectors in the history of New York jazz over the last few generations, just through his role as a bandleader. Nearly...

Posted Jul 14th, 2016

JOE LOVANO: A TENOR FOR ALL SEASONS!

from coastaljazz.ca JOE LOVANO: A TENOR FOR ALL SEASONS! It’s an old jazz nerd trivia question – which jazz musician did the greatest number of recordings for the venerable Blue Note Record label? Historically the evidence has pointed to the great guitarist Grant Green who participated in hundreds of sessions as a session mainstay and recorded over twenty records as...

Posted Jun 23rd, 2016

JOE LOVANO SET TO RELEASE HIS 25th BLUE NOTE ALBUM ON JULY 29 “CLASSIC! LIVE AT...

JOE LOVANO SET TO RELEASE HIS 25th BLUE NOTE ALBUM ON JULY 29 ‘CLASSIC! LIVE AT NEWPORT’ ‘” RECORDED AT THE FESTIVAL IN 2005 FEATURING HANK JONES, GEORGE MRAZ & LEWIS NASH On July 29, Joe Lovano will add the 25th album to his remarkable Blue Note catalog with the release of Classic! Live At Newport, which the Grammy-winning saxophonist...

Posted Jun 7th, 2016

Jazz Police Review Joe Lovano: The Spirit of John Coltrane

from jazzpolice.com Joe Lovano: The Spirit of John Coltrane in the Appel Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 5/13/16 Just in case you need to know this, it takes all of 20 minutes to get from Jazz Standard to JALC at Columbus Circle, with one train and a little walking. This is critical to know if your visits to Manhattan tend...

Posted May 25th, 2016

Joe Lovano transcends Coltrane's "spiritual side"

From The New York Times By Nate Chinen Review: In the Sanctuary of ‘The Spiritual Side of Coltrane’ Because a famous subset of John Coltrane’s music addressed religion, it’s reasonable to regard spirituality as a discrete area of interest for him: a room he chose to enter, apart from the rest of the house. ‘The Spiritual Side of Coltrane,’ at...

Posted May 16th, 2016

In the Sanctuary of ‘The Spiritual Side of Coltrane’

from nytimes.com Review: In the Sanctuary of ‘The Spiritual Side of Coltrane’ By: Nate Chinen Because a famous subset of John Coltrane’s music addressed religion, it’s reasonable to regard spirituality as a discrete area of interest for him: a room he chose to enter, apart from the rest of the house. ‘The Spiritual Side of Coltrane,’ at the Appel Room...

Posted May 16th, 2016

Joe Lovano Nominated for JJA Award

from jjajazzawards.org The JJA recently announced their nominees for the 2016 JJA Jazz Awards. Joe Lovano has been nominated for *Tenor Saxophonist Of The Year” alongside Charles Lloyd and Chris Potter. To see the full list click here

Posted May 5th, 2016

London Jazz News Features Joe Lovano Quartet at the Bergamo Jazz Festival

From londonjazznews.com FESTIVAL REPORT: Bergamo Jazz Festival 2016 By Andy Hamilton “Subsequent festival main events were at the historic Teatro Donizetti, in similar “teatro all-italiano” style though larger. First of these was the Joe Lovano Quartet. Lovano was born in Cleveland in 1952, to a Sicilian father. His set was very Coltrane-ish, featuring probably the best band I’ve heard him...

Posted Mar 28th, 2016

Written In Music Features Joe Lovano at the Jazz Maastricht Festival

From writteninmusic.com JAZZ MAASTRICHT VERKLEINT OPZET MET 3 TOPACTS JAZZ MAASTRICHT REDUCES SET-UP WITH THREE TOP ACTS By Wouter Schenk “Na Shai Maestro is het de beurt aan de ervaren meester Joe Lovano met zijn Classic Quartet. Begeleid door de jonge Lawrence Fields op piano, Peter Slavov op bas en Lamy Istrefi jr. op drums. Energieke uptime nummers met heel...

Posted Mar 22nd, 2016

Sound Prints on Boston Globe's Best Jazz Albums of 2015 List

from bostonglobe.com The best jazz albums of 2015 Jon Garelick ‘Live at Monterey Jazz Festival’ Saxophonist Lovano and trumpeter Douglas were ostensibly ‘inspired by’ the music of Wayne Shorter. But this is a showcase for the writing of the two leaders, and a great band (with pianist Lawrence Fields, bassist Linda Oh, and drummer Joey Baron), playing with a spontaneous,...

Posted Dec 14th, 2015

The Best Jazz Albums of 2015

From The Boston Globe The Best Jazz Albums of 2015 By: Jon Garelick VIJAY IYER TRIO ‘Break Stuff’ Working with bassist Stephan Crump and drummer Marcus Gilmore, pianist-composer (and MacArthur ‘genius’ and Harvard prof) Iyer has fully incorporated electronica and hip-hop into the jazz vocabulary. Despite the album’s odd, layered meters, you couldn’t ask for a more swinging version of...

Posted Dec 14th, 2015

"NYU Steinhardt Interview Series" Interviews Joe Lovano

From youtube.com Conversations with John Scofield and Joe Lovano Interview by Dr. David Schroeder NYU Steinhardt Interview Series at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York: Dr. David Schroeder interviews faculty members and jazz giants John Scofield and Joe Lovano. To watch the whole interview click here

Posted Nov 5th, 2015

The New York Times Reviews ScoLo

From nytimes.com Review: John Scofield Reunion Looks to a Familiar Past By Nate Chinen “Mr. Scofield composed a book of new tunes for ‘Past Present,’ in a style that rings familiar without courting nostalgia. During Wednesday’s first set, the title track landed with the force and clarity of a manifesto, often setting up Mr. Scofield and Mr. Lovano for hair-trigger...

Posted Oct 15th, 2015

Joe Lovano and Dave Holland on Piano Jazz

From NPR Joe Lovano and Dave Holland on Piano Jazz Saxophonist Joe Lovano and bassist Dave Holland first recorded together in 1992 on the album From The Soul. Lovano toured with the Woody Herman Thundering Herd in the 1970s and went on to join the John Scofield Quartet. Holland was part of the London jazz scene of the late ’60s...

Posted Oct 2nd, 2015

NPR Music Features John Scofield's New Album, "Past Present"

From NPR Music Songs We Love: John Scofield, ‘Mr. Puffy’ Much of the music on Past Present is informed by what John Scofield was going through at home. His son Evan had been battling cancer for two years before passing away in 2013. He stayed with his parents while undergoing chemotherapy. That’s when John wrote many of the songs that...

Posted Sep 21st, 2015

New York Times Reviews Classic Quartet at Charlie Parker Jazz Festival

from newyorktimes.com Review: Charlie Parker Jazz Festival Subtly Recalls Its Inspiration By: Nate Chinen The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival comes by its name with a blissfully casual reverence. The festival, whose 22nd edition ran over the weekend, involves free outdoor concerts in Harlem and the East Village, neighborhoods where Parker, the pioneering alto saxophonist and bebop lodestar, once lived. It...

Posted Aug 28th, 2015

Downbeat Features Joe Lovano

From DownBeat Lovano Salutes Icons at Birdland By Phillip Lutz “Sometime in the past decade’“around the time that Joe Lovano formed his quintet Us Five’“fans began to realize that the tenor saxophonist’s narrative gift was so compelling that the particular vehicles through which he told his stories on any given night would take a back seat to the spectacle of...

Posted Aug 24th, 2015

Joe Lovano at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival

From Jazz Police Joe Lovano, Oliver Lake, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Dr. Lonnie Smith at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival “Grammy-winning saxophonist and composer Joe Lovano stands alone at the vanguard of large and small group jazz. In 2015 alone, two major ensembles will be on display: Joe Lovano’s Village Rhythms Band ‘” a natural extension of the tenor giant’s evolving body...

Posted Aug 20th, 2015

En Concierto: 39 Festival de Jazz de Getxo

‘El saxofonista Joe Lovano visita nuestro pais con bastante regularidad y, aunque a estas alturas de su carrera no cuenta (ni tiene por que) nada nuevo, lo que cuenta, lo sigue contando muy bien. En Getxo se presento con su denominado cuarteto, que no es sino el quinteto Sound Prints que colidera con Dave Douglas, pero sin Dave Douglas, es...

Posted Jul 3rd, 2015

Joe Lovano in Melbourne: "it's not the notes, it's the spirit"

_ The Sydney Morning Herald_ By Jessica Nicholas Melbourne International Jazz Festival review: Joe Lovano shows true spirit of soul At his festival conversation session last Friday, Joe Lovano talked about his preference for the “how” rather than the “what” in jazz. In other words, it’s not the notes played that count so much as the spirit and intent behind...

Posted Jun 8th, 2015

Jocks and Nerds: Joe Lovano Feature

From Jocks and Nerds Joe Lovano By: Edward Moore Following his recent gig with his new group the Village Rhythms Band at Ronnie Scott’s, as well as the release of his Sound Prints album on Blue Note, Joe Lovano reflects on his career as a jazz musician and the importance of unity through music On 23 July 1966, at around...

Posted May 19th, 2015

Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas salute sax great Wayne Shorter

From The Boston Globe Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas salute sax great Wayne Shorter By: Jon Garelick Sound Prints is saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas’s Wayne Shorter project, but it’s not exactly a tribute ‘covers’ band. In fact, in the first of two sets that the band played at Scullers on Thursday night, there was only one tune by...

Posted May 15th, 2015

Joe Lovano/Dave Douglas "Sound Prints" catches Wayne Shorter spirit

From Wall Street Journal By Martin Johnson *‘Sound Prints: Live at Monterey Jazz Festival’ Review A short’“but impressive’“live recording from saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas* For nearly two decades, saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas have been two of the leading figures in the contemporary jazz scene, and their career arcs are parallel. Both have built and...

Posted May 12th, 2015

Saxophonist Joe Lovano’s treatment of Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat legacy was a festival highlight

ft.com Saxophonist Joe Lovano’s treatment of Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat legacy was a festival highlight By: Mike Hobart The radical Afrobeat legacy of Fela Kuti is something of a jazz festival staple. Often it is there just to promote the feelgood factor, but not when Joe Lovano’s Village Rhythms Band are in town, capturing the springy rhythmic complexity of the original...

Posted May 5th, 2015

Joe Lovano Fires Up Cheltenham

from jazzwisemagazine.com *PHRONESIS AND TENOR TITANS ARCHIE SHEPP AND JOE LOVANO FIRE UP CHELTENHAM * By: Jon Newey Fellow tenor titan Joe Lovano (above) deployed an alternative form of soul searching with his new Village Rhythms Band, as he explored the power of Afro-centric modal funk in uncompromising style. His burnished golden tenor tone seems to have deepened as his...

Posted May 1st, 2015

Cheltenham Jazz Festival, review: 'packed with good things'

From The Telegraph Cheltenham Jazz Festival, review: ‘packed with good things’ By: Ivan Hewett The Cheltenham Jazz Festival is a reminder of what a vastly inclusive and tolerant art form jazz has become. If there are any ‘jazz police’ around looking for signs of impurity, they keep a low profile. The physical layout of the festival certainly helps, with marquees...

Posted Apr 28th, 2015

Renovated Apartments, Following Föllakzoid, & More

From Rolling Stone Renovated Apartments, Following Föllakzoid, & More By: Dave DiMartino David Lyttle: Faces (Lyte Recordings) Must pay respects to one of the best, most polished albums I’ve heard this year: Irish multi-instrumentalist Lyttle has crafted an immensely listenable, genre-spanning set mixing jazz, R&B and a host of voices including Talib Kweli and Cleveland Watkiss, and the marvelous saxwork...

Posted Apr 2nd, 2015

Joe Lovano at Humber College: Brass is now in session

From thestar.com Joe Lovano at Humber College: Brass is now in session By: Peter Goddard Jazz always went to school before it went out to play. Miles Davis studied in 1944 at the elite Juilliard School in New York. Others before him ‘” back to clarinetist Barney Bigard in the 1920s ‘” played by some sort of school rules. Sure,...

Posted Mar 4th, 2015

Sound Prints: Live At Monterey Jazz Festival

JOE LOVANO & DAVE DOUGLAS ANNOUNCE APRIL 7 RELEASE DATE FOR THE DEBUT RECORDING FROM THEIR CO-LED QUINTET SOUND PRINTS LIVE AT MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL FEATURES TWO NEW COMPOSITIONS WRITTEN BY THE BAND’S PRIMARY INSPIRATION WAYNE SHORTER Saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas have announced an April 7 release date for Live at Monterey Jazz Festival, the debut recording...

Posted Jan 16th, 2015

Berklee Global Jazz Institute Sends Envoy to Dominican Republic Jazz Festival

From DownBeat Magazine Berklee Global Jazz Institute Sends Envoy to Dominican Republic Jazz Festival Although attendance is free, the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival sells VIP tickets, assigning the funds to hold music workshops, master classes and youth concerts for children from Puerto Plata, Sosúa and Cabarete, the three host municipalities. The 2014 edition hosted 18 young musicians in all, many...

Posted Jan 16th, 2015

Umbria jazz winter, la formula è vincente ma ora si deve cambiare

From il manifesto Umbria jazz winter, la formula è vincente ma ora si deve cambiare By: Luigi Onori Festival. Chiusa la ventitreesima edizione della kermesse musicale. Tra omaggi a Sellani e i medley dei Doctor 3, spicca l’agile pianista Jon Batiste e la rilettura di Coltrane da parte di Joe Lovano Top Jazz ovvero la serata per i vin­ci­tori del...

Posted Jan 2nd, 2015

Charles Lloyd Group and Joe Lovano/Dave Douglas Soundprints – Bold and Beautiful at Barbican

From jazzwisemagazine.com Charles Lloyd Group and Joe Lovano/Dave Douglas Soundprints ‘” Bold and Beautiful at Barbican By: Kevin Le Gendre If ever gravitas was needed to close an event with a profile as high as that of the EFG London Jazz Festival then this was it. Tenor saxophonist Charles Lloyd in the second set and trumpeter Dave Douglas and tenor...

Posted Nov 24th, 2014

Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Quintet: Sound Prints

From Cuadernos de Jazz_ Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Quintet: Sound Prints En uno de los conciertos estilísticamente más audaces hasta ahora del Festival de Jazz de Barcelona, Joe Lovano y Dave Douglas, acompañados de un trío de lujo con un Joey Baron en estado de gracia, ofrecieron su particular homenaje a Wayne Shorter, pletórico en swing y en aperturas...

Posted Nov 12th, 2014

Sound Prints Quintet Develop at TSRI

from nbcsandiego.com Sound Prints Quintet Develop at TSRI By: Robert Bush Athenaeum Jazz continued its groundbreaking fall concert season with a blockbuster show by the Sound Prints Quintet on Oct. 15, an all-star conglomeration co-led by trumpeter Dave Douglas and tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano which also featured pianist Lawrence Fields, bassist Linda Oh, and drummer Joey Baron. Once again, jazz...

Posted Oct 27th, 2014

Sound Prints Truly Surprise and Delight at Town Hall | Concert Review

From The Seattle Times Sound Prints Truly Surprise and Delight at Town Hall | Concert Review By: Paul de Barros One of the great pleasures of jazz is its capacity for surprise. The exquisite concert by Sound Prints Saturday at Town Hall, the centerpiece of the Earshot Jazz Festival, which started a week ago Friday and continues through Nov. 11th,...

Posted Oct 19th, 2014

Sound Prints cover the waterfront at Kay Meek

From North Shore News Sound Prints cover the waterfront at Kay Meek By: Jeremy Shepherd The trumpet sounds like New York at night. The rhythm is wild and rapid, like the pulse of a caffeinated cabbie cutting through crosswalks come hell or pedestrians – and just when the trumpet ought to be short of breath, it howls. That howl is...

Posted Oct 17th, 2014

Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas exit the jazz mainstream

From straight.com Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas exit the jazz mainstream By: Alexander Varty SAXOPHONIST JOE LOVANO and his wife, singer Judy Silvano, live in what he describes as ‘a little house in the trees’, an hour’s drive up the Hudson River from the jazz capital of the world. But their rural retreat doesn’t sound particularly tranquil when the Georgia...

Posted Oct 15th, 2014

Sound Prints Premieres Track from Upcoming Blue Note Release

This Fall saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas will launch a 22-date tour across the United States and Europe with their co-led quintet Sound Prints featuring pianist Lawrence Fields, bassist Linda Oh and drummer Joey Baron. Sound Prints will be previewing their forthcoming Blue Note debut which will be released in early 2015. Listen to a track from the...

Posted Oct 7th, 2014

Acclaimed jazz journeymen Lovano and Douglas grace Earshot jazz fest

blogs.seattletimes.com Acclaimed jazz journeymen Lovano and Douglas grace Earshot jazz fest By: Paul de Barros Only a handful of journeymen jazz players consistently win magazine polls of both critics and readers. Saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas are longtime members of that club. Both are coming to the Earshot Jazz Festival in the rarely-seen collaborative group Sound Prints, on...

Posted Oct 6th, 2014

Side by side: Herwig, Lovano team to explore Latin side of Joe Henderson

from columbiatribune.com Side by side: Herwig, Lovano team to explore Latin side of Joe Henderson By: Aarik Danielsen It is almost scary to realize that ‘The Latin Side of Joe Henderson,’ the latest from jazz trombonist Conrad Herwig, with an assist from titanic saxophonist Joe Lovano, is just one card Herwig’s Latin Side All-Stars can pull from its deck Thursday...

Posted Oct 2nd, 2014

Joe Lovano: Birdland, New York City, 21st September 2014

MILES DAVIS: ‘ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT ‘Well, I would have to say Miles Davis ‘Round About Midnight’. I grew up listening to this recording as a kid and the poetic expression – the ensemble playing between John Coltrane and Miles Davis, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones just captured my attention from an early age. And of course their...

Posted Sep 21st, 2014

Reflections on Charlie Haden...

I’m feeling tears of love and joy with the passing of Charlie Haden. I grew up listening to his spiritual, poetic music through recordings with Ornette Coleman and The Keith Jarrett Quartet. Charlie said once that Ornette gave him permission to be himself in the music, this gave me the inspiration to try and develop in the art of improvising....

Posted Jul 15th, 2014

Joe Lovano, one of jazz's "12 most important musicians"

from mercurynews.com Here are jazz’s 12 most important musicians By: Richard Scheinin The saxophonist breathes this music as much as anyone. With massive sound and lungs like a bellows, he stalks the stage, grabbing one horn and then the next: his tenor, his soprano, his double-belled aulochrome. With his nonet, he plays exhilarating bebop. With his Us Five quintet, which...

Posted May 12th, 2014

Review: The Spring Quartet at the Lobero Theatre

from independent.com Review: The Spring Quartet at the Lobero Theatre By: Charles Donelan There’s no better example of the way that great rhythm sections have transformed jazz in the postmodern era than drummer Jack DeJohnette, who brought his latest (and one of his greatest) quartets to the Lobero on Tuesday, February 18. The Spring Quartet consists of DeJohnette on drums,...

Posted Feb 24th, 2014

Joe Lovano, Jack DeJohnette, Esperanza Spalding & Leo Genovese at SFJAZZ Center

from sfjazz.blogspot.com They call themselves The Spring Quartet, and their sound is without a doubt fresh. Joe Lovano pulled out an impressive collection of horns and woodwinds, using them interchangeably throughout the night and exploring altissimo on all. Jack DeJohnette, recently honored as an NEA Jazz Master, was ever youthful in spirit, listening and reacting to his younger bandmates, but...

Posted Feb 21st, 2014

Interview | DeJohnette, Lovano, Spalding and Genovese arrive on Saturday with the Spring Quartet

from capitalbop.com Interview | DeJohnette, Lovano, Spalding and Genovese arrive on Saturday with the Spring Quartet By: Giovanni Russonello I was talking to Esperanza Spalding in late 2011 about her soon-to-be-released album, Radio Music Society, when she mentioned Jack DeJohnette, who’d guest starred on a few tracks. When she met him, she said, they’d gotten into a conversation about his...

Posted Jan 31st, 2014

Joe Lovano at The Stone (NYC) one of Village Voice's "Best Jazz Shows in NYC This...

from blogs.villagevoice.com Saxophonist Joe Lovano takes up residency at the Stone for six nights (Dec. 3-8) to mark his 60th birthday. Though he’s been with a major label for over 20 years, Lovano came of age in small indie venues like this, and he’s never stopped being part of the community of improvisers. He’ll make that clear in a duo...

Posted Dec 2nd, 2013

Joe Lovano on November cover of JAZZiT (Italy)

from jazzit.it È in edicola il mensile Jazzit News #5 relativo al mese di novembre 2013. Nel sommario: agenda concerti, inserto internazionale, anticipazioni discografiche, speciale Padova Jazz, rubrica “Jazz in Italy” dedicata all’Eskimo Jazz Band di Fabio Morgera, rubrica “Three Whishes” con ospite il batterista Francesco Cusa e molto altro. To see the full article click here

Posted Nov 14th, 2013

Lovano blows into Ashdod

from jpost.com Lovano blows into Ashdod By: Barry Davis Stellar saxophonist Joe Lovano will headline the fifth annual Super Jazz Festival, which will take place on October 2 and 3 at the Payis Performing Art Center in Ashdod. The 60-year-old Lovano, who has been one the leading lights of the jazz fraternity for some years now, has put out an...

Posted Sep 26th, 2013

CD Review: Brussels Jazz Orchestra & Joe Lovano “Wild Beauty”

from rochestercitynewspaper.com CD Review: Brussels Jazz Orchestra & Joe Lovano “Wild Beauty” By: Ron Netsky When I first heard Joe Lovano’s ‘Viva Caruso’ album a decade ago, I fell in love with a tune called ‘Streets of Naples.’ Listening to the same tune, arranged by Gil Goldstein for the Brussels Jazz Orchestra, with Lovano soloing, I just couldn’t believe my...

Posted Sep 16th, 2013

Taking Collaboration to a Whole New Level

from nytimes.com Taking Collaboration to a Whole New Level Fred Hersch Trio and Joe Lovano Jam at Village Vanguard By: Nate Chinen The pianist Fred Hersch and the tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano met on a level playing field just once during their first set at the Village Vanguard on Wednesday night, on a ballad called ‘Hot House Flower.’ It’s Mr....

Posted Jul 29th, 2013

Fred Hersch, Joe Lovano Join Forces at the Vanguard

from online.wsj.com The Jazz Scene: Fred Hersch, Joe Lovano Join Forces at the Vanguard By: Will Friedwald The stakes are high this week at the Vanguard MGC -0.22% : Pianist Fred Hersch’s trio, one of the major ensembles of our time, is being joined by an equally formidable soloist, tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano. Catching these twin colossi in action together...

Posted Jul 26th, 2013

Joe Lovano speaks about "Wild Beauty"

“Wild Beauty’ is the new album by the Brussels Jazz Orchestra with the American saxophonist Joe Lovano. A suite of Lovano compositions arranged by Gil Goldstein. For Cobra.be Leurentop Rob spoke with Joe Lovano just after the recordings in the Studio Bijloke in Ghent, where the BJO with Lovano also played the title track for our camera. To watch the...

Posted Jul 2nd, 2013

Joe Lovano with the Metropole Orchestra

Posted May 24th, 2013

Sax man shows how it's done

from au.news.yahoo.com Grammy Award-winning American jazz saxophonist Joe Lovano is quick to acknowledge all the help and advice he has received over his long and illustrious career. That’s why he made the WA Academy of Performing Arts one of his first stops during his headlining visit for the Perth International Jazz Festival, which starts today. “The world of music is...

Posted May 23rd, 2013

Joe Lovano, joined by family and friends, delivers a virtuoso Tri-C JazzFest performance

from cleveland.com Joe Lovano, joined by family and friends, delivers a virtuoso Tri-C JazzFest performance By: Chuck Yarborough Treasures come in all forms. For some, it might be Spanish doubloons from an ancient shipwreck. To others, it might be a family heirloom, maybe the brooch mom’s great-great-great-great-grandma brought over from the old country. For Clevelanders and jazz lovers, it’s gotta...

Posted Apr 29th, 2013

The quintet has never sounded more adventurous or more comfortable

from chicagoreader.com Joe Lovano Us Five Over the course of his fruitful career, great postbop saxophonist Joe Lovano has made lots of concept records’“paying tribute to a classic jazz album or a particular player, for instance, or taking inspiration from vocalists such as Frank Sinatra or Enrico Caruso’“but he’s at his best when he focuses on his prodigious skills as...

Posted Apr 22nd, 2013

Joe Lovano comes home to perform with family and friends at Tri-C JazzFest

from cleveland.com Joe Lovano comes home to perform with family and friends at Tri-C JazzFest By: Chuck Yarborough Clevelander Joe Lovano had a ready influence growing up ‘” his father, tenor sax man Tony “Big T” Lovano. That’s why when Lovano the son returns to the Tri-C JazzFest — a gig he first started playing as a bandleader in the...

Posted Apr 22nd, 2013

Cleveland’s Joe Lovano Comes home For JazzFest

from coolcleveland.com Cleveland’s Joe Lovano Comes home For JazzFest It’s going to be quite an afternoon for jazz at the Allen Theatre. As soon as Bill Frisell’s Beautiful Dreamers wind up, Grammy-winning Cleveland-born sax player Joe Lovano and his group Us Five will take the stage. Lovano left Cleveland after high school to become one of the stars of the...

Posted Apr 20th, 2013

Tri-C JazzFest makes a case for genre, hoping to broaden audience

from cleveland.com Tri-C JazzFest makes a case for genre, hoping to broaden audience By: Chuck Yarborough No matter where you live — from a bustling metropolis to a wide spot in the road with a flashing yellow light as the only traffic governance — you can hear music on your radio. Maybe it’s rock, maybe country, maybe hip-hop, top 40,...

Posted Apr 19th, 2013

Galaxy of stars lights up Tri-C JazzFest

from examiner.com Galaxy of stars lights up Tri-C JazzFest By: Frank Kuznik Jazz fans will have all they can handle and more at the Tri-C Jazz Fest, which opens at the State Theater in Cleveland on Friday, April 19. This year’s program packs an incredible amount of music into 10 days, ranging from hard bop to smooth jazz, with a...

Posted Apr 17th, 2013

Artist's Choice: Joe Lovano on Paul Motian

from jazztimes.com Artist’s Choice: Joe Lovano on Paul Motian By: Joe Lovano One of the most swinging and creative drummers in jazz history, Paul Motian had a sound, touch, feeling and approach all his own that developed throughout his lifetime, and his relationships fueled his ideas. As a composer he also had a story; his pieces expressed his strong personality...

Posted Mar 25th, 2013

A Conversation with Joe Lovano about The Tribute Concert for Paul Motian

from http://straightnochaserjazz.libsyn.com Podcast 340: A Conversation with Joe Lovano about The Tribute Concert for Paul Motian Symphony Space in Manhattan will be presenting an all-star cast of jazz greats on March 22, coming together to pay tribute to their colleague, legendary drummer and composer, the late Paul Motian, voted number one in the 2012 Downbeat Critics Poll Hall of Fame....

Posted Mar 18th, 2013

Lovano’s Us Five Strikes Gold at Mint

from downbeat.com Lovano’s Us Five Strikes Gold at Mint By: Sean J. O’Connell On Jan. 22, saxophonist Joe Lovano brought Us Five to the Mint in Los Angeles. The quintet’“including pianist James Weidman, bassist Esperanza Spalding and drummers Otis Brown III and Francisco Mela’“played for nearly two hours and matched the giddy enthusiasm of the standing-room-only audience of 200. Lovano...

Posted Mar 15th, 2013

JAZZ CONVERSATIONS: WAYNE SHORTER & JOE LOVANO, PT. 3

Joe Lovano sits down with Wayne Shorter for Part 3 of a discussion about music and beyond. Now available from Blue Note Records: Wayne Shorter Quartet’s WITHOUT A NET & Joe Lovano Us Five’s CROSS CULTURE. To watch part 3 of the interview click here

Posted Mar 15th, 2013

JAZZ CONVERSATIONS: WAYNE SHORTER & JOE LOVANO, PT. 2

Joe Lovano sits down with Wayne Shorter for Part 2 of a discussion about music and beyond. Now available from Blue Note Records: Wayne Shorter Quartet’s WITHOUT A NET & Joe Lovano Us Five’s CROSS CULTURE. To watch part 2 of the interview click here

Posted Mar 8th, 2013

JAZZ CONVERSATIONS: WAYNE SHORTER & JOE LOVANO, PT. 1

Joe Lovano sits down with Wayne Shorter for Part 1 of a discussion about music and beyond. Now available from Blue Note Records: Wayne Shorter Quartet’s WITHOUT A NET & Joe Lovano Us Five’s CROSS CULTURE. To watch the video click here

Posted Mar 5th, 2013

"...a music that seems to exist firmly in two places at once"

from online.wsj.com Joe Lovano Us Five The Allen Room (Jazz at Lincoln Center)* By:Will Friedwald Generally speaking, the bigger the band, the more support a soloist has. But leave it to saxophonist Joe Lovano to expand his group in a way that makes him work harder: Us Five, which has just released its third album, “Cross Culture,” features two drummers...

Posted Feb 20th, 2013

Tribe of Joe: Saxophonist Joe Lovano and His Us Five Band

from artinfo.com Tribe of Joe: Saxophonist Joe Lovano and His Us Five Band By: Larry Blumenfeld Were Joe Lovano to play only tenor saxophone and perform solely in bands led by other musicians, he’d be an indispensable and original voice on jazz’s landscape. But on his 23 recordings for the Blue Note label, and for several years prior, Lovano, who...

Posted Feb 15th, 2013

Joe Lovano on NBC News - New York

From NBC Catching up with Legendary Saxophonist Joe Lovano Saxophonist Joe Lovano is celebrating Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 25th anniversary this weekend. He sat down with Erika Tarantal to tell us more. To watch the video click here

Posted Feb 13th, 2013

Joe Lovano's jazz: intense and cerebral

from http://articles.mcall.com Joe Lovano’s jazz: intense and cerebral By: Tim Blangger Jazz saxophonist Joe Lovano doesn’t make recordings. He crafts intense, cerebral, joyous musical projects, which sometimes get recorded. The difference might seem insignificant, but in a mainstream jazz climate dominated by cookie-cutter originals and microwaved standards, Lovano’s prodigious output sets him apart from many of his peers. Past Lovano...

Posted Feb 7th, 2013

Joe Lovano, "...in no hurry to slow down"

from heyreverb.com Joe Lovano and Us Five at Dazzle Jazz Club, 01/30/13 (review) By: Same DeLeo The goatee and barrel-chested frame may be trademarks, but musically, jazz master Joe Lovano is a chameleon. Whether Hammond B3 jazz, big band, hard bop, avant garde or world music, Grammy winner Lovano has found his voice through it all for going on five...

Posted Feb 1st, 2013

Joe Lovano on Blue Note Pt. 1 of 3

from bluenote.com JOE LOVANO ON BLUE NOTE 1991-1999 By: Brad Farberman A Blue Note recording artist since 1991, the grounded but searching tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano released Cross Culture, his 23rd album for the label, this Tuesday, January 8th. Over the phone before a Village Vanguard gig with Sound Prints, the five-piece he co-leads with trumpeter Dave Douglas, we talked...

Posted Jan 31st, 2013

Joe Lovano & Joshua Redman: Live At SFJAZZ

Once he had established himself as a world-class saxophonist, Joshua Redman moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he grew up. Soon afterward, he co-founded the SFJAZZ Collective. With his successor in the tenor sax chair, Joe Lovano, the band runs through “Blackwell’s Message,” a jaunty, open swinger to ring in the opening of the new SFJAZZ Center.

Posted Jan 30th, 2013

For Grammy-winning jazzman Joe Lovano, freedom and variety are key

from westword.com For Grammy-winning jazzman Joe Lovano, freedom and variety are key By: Jon Solomon “Free jazz is one thing,” says Joe Lovano, “but I like to say I play jazz free.” The Grammy-award-winning saxophonist, who has been playing professionally for four decades, improvises like he’s been liberated. He says it’s about developing a way of playing where you’re not...

Posted Jan 30th, 2013

Lovano provides energetic jazz explorations on ‘Cross Culture’

from triblive.com Lovano provides energetic jazz explorations on ‘Cross Culture’ By:Bob Karlovits ‘Cross Culture’ is an album that requires several listenings before a judgment is passed. It is a lean exploration of jazz that is not eased by pretty melodies or rich arrangements. Instead, it is a display of the broad range of talents of saxophonist Joe Lovano. With his...

Posted Jan 26th, 2013

Us Five, "explore the outer limits of creative improvisation"

from metroland.net Joe Lovano and Us Five By: Jeff Nania Anything goes with these five. Us Five, that is’“Joe Lovano’s newest supergroup that leveled the Egg this past weekend. This group explore the outer limits of creative improvisation in a postmodern rhythmic soundscape where dueling drummers (Otis Brown III and Francisco Mela) take turns at color and time, and bassist...

Posted Jan 24th, 2013

Joe Lovano Leads His Band Down Bold Trails

from philly.com Saxophonist Joe Lovano leads his band down bold trails By:Shaun Brady Dressed from head to toe in shades of red, saxophonist Joe Lovano looked as colorful as the arrays of flowers that surrounded him in Longwood Gardens’ conservatory Saturday night. Bounding across the ballroom stage, juggling several exotic horns in addition to his trademark tenor saxophone, Lovano led...

Posted Jan 21st, 2013

Lovano's Us Five a Showcase of Jazz Talent

from timesunion.com Lovano’s Us Five a showcase of jazz talent By: Michael Eck Saxophonist Joe Lovano has a kinetic, aggressive sound, particularly on tenor. His tone is bone dry, and at times it seems that he refuses to play a long line, leaning instead towards the sheets of sound of one of his early heroes, John Coltrane. But Coltrane, even...

Posted Jan 21st, 2013

Joe Lovano "never fails to keep things swinging"

from irockjazz.com Composer and saxophonist Joe Lovano, a man who never fails to keep things swingin’, recently released his latest album Cross Culture. With his notorious quintet Us Five, Lovano has produced his 23rd Blue Note record. His soft, breathy and gliding tone is a sound that can be heard from a mile away. This jazz veteran’s latest collection is...

Posted Jan 18th, 2013

Editor’s Pick: Joe Lovano Us Five at Longwood Gardens

from philadelphiaweekly.com Editor’s Pick: Joe Lovano Us Five at Longwood Gardens By: Eugene Holley Jr. For the past three decades, Cleveland-born saxophonist Joe Lovano has been the hardest working man in the jazz business, performing and recording in bop, opera and third stream formats and in duo, trio, quartet, nonet and symphonic configurations. But for the last few years, Lovano’s...

Posted Jan 16th, 2013

Joe Lovano releases the first great jazz album of 2013

from chicagoreader.com Joe Lovano releases the first great jazz album of 2013 By: Peter Margasak The saxophonist Joe Lovano has regularly spoken of his malleable quintet Us Five as a band that’s capable of doing and playing anything, and on the group’s brand-new Cross Culture (Blue Note), its third album, that’s never seemed more apparent. The group tackles the Ellington/Strayhorn...

Posted Jan 11th, 2013

Cleveland-born sax star and quintet on fire in 'Cross Culture

from cleveland.com Joe Lovano: Cleveland-born sax star and quintet on fire in ‘Cross Culture’ By: Chuck Yarborough Cleveland-born Joe Lovano occasionally makes it back to his hometown for gigs, and those are always treats for jazz enthusiasts. Sadly, his current schedule, which runs through December 2013, doesn’t have a Northeast Ohio date. After listening to his newest release with his...

Posted Jan 11th, 2013

Cross Culture

On January 8, 2013, saxophonist and composer Joe Lovano will release Cross Culture, his 23rd Blue Note recording and the third consecutive release by his critically acclaimed quintet, Us Five. To celebrate the album’s release, Lovano will be taking Us Five out on an 11-city U.S. tour that launches January 19 and includes shows at The Mint in Los Angeles...

Posted Jan 8th, 2013

New York Times Reviews "Cross Culture"

from nytimes.com New Albums by Joe Lovano Us Five and Chris Tomlin By: Ben Ratliff and Jon Caramanica Most jazz musicians are flexible: it’s a philosophical requirement of the job. At 60, Joe Lovano is an extreme case, moving toward universality. Long ago he developed a tenor saxophone sound for his temperament. It rolls and smears and smokes, all width,...

Posted Jan 8th, 2013

Cross Culture, "begins with a sun-drenched burst of joy"

from http://somethingelsereviews.com Joe Lovano and Us Five ‘” Cross Culture (2013) By: Nick DeRiso I expected Joe Lovano, after an association dating back to 1981, to offer tribute to Paul Motian ‘” the legend who died just two months before the saxist began Cross Culture. Instead, Lovano begins with a sun-drenched burst of joy. ‘Blessings in May’ swings with a...

Posted Jan 6th, 2013

"Cross Culture" an exploration of musical styles from across the globe

from soundcheck.wnyc.org Check Ahead: Joe Lovano Us Five, “Cross Culture” By: Katie Bishop In an article on Salon.com last week titled ‘Did the American songbook kill jazz?,’ arts reporter Scott Timberg explores the genre’s reliance on standards — and the idea that constant (and often mediocre) recycling of old familiars like ‘Autumn Leaves’ and ‘Stardust’ has perhaps been the poison...

Posted Jan 1st, 2013

Belgrade Jazz Festival: Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas

From DownBeat Magazine Belgrade Shifts to Young and Impressive Program By: Josef Woodard A brief history of the Belgrade Jazz Festival is helpful in understanding its uniqueness, importance and formidable spirit. Founded in 1971 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia’“a country whose status as a buffer zone between the West and the Eastern Bloc allowed for a healthy jazz trafficking’“the festival went on...

Posted Nov 30th, 2012

Sound Prints Live Performance on NPR Nov 28

Few jazz bandleaders are as active ‘” and actively acclaimed ‘” as saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas. But while they’ve met from time to time on the bandstand, their brief overlap in the SFJAZZ collective ‘” during a season where the compositions of Wayne Shorter were featured ‘” got them to front a band together. It’s a quintet...

Posted Nov 25th, 2012

Sound Prints Quintet: Live At The Village Vanguard

from NPR Sound Prints Quintet: Live At The Village Vanguard By Patrick Jarenwattananon Few jazz bandleaders are as active ‘” and actively acclaimed ‘” as saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas. But while they’ve met from time to time on the bandstand, their brief overlap in the SFJAZZ collective ‘” during a season where the compositions of Wayne Shorter...

Posted Nov 19th, 2012

Joe Lovano on the Music of Wayne Shorter & More

jazztimes.com Joe Lovano on the Music of Wayne Shorter & More Video interview with the acclaimed saxophonist and bandleader taped at the 2012 Newport Jazz Festival By Lee Mergner During the 2012 Newport Jazz Festival, JazzTimes set up a make-shift video production studio backstage inside the old barracks of Fort Adams. During two afternoons, a succession of artists’“including Jack DeJohnette,...

Posted Nov 5th, 2012

Live Review: Sound Prints, "mutual trust between Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas is palpable"

networkedblogs.com/DP4Nx Review: Dave Douglas / Joe Lovano Soundprints By: Sebastian Scotney In the corporate world and in business schools there is an endless debate as to whether a dual CEO arrangement can ever work. (if I’ve put you off with this irrelevance read Ivan Hewett’s succinct and spot-on review – or John Fordham’s thoughtful five-star-er ).Perhaps, as in many areas...

Posted Oct 23rd, 2012

Live Review: Sound Prints, "enough ideas for a gig twice as long."

guardian.co.uk Dave Douglas/Joe Lovano ‘” review By: John Fordham The Soundprints quintet, led by trumpeter Dave Douglas and saxophonist Joe Lovano, played almost two hours straight on their first night at Ronnie Scott’s ‘” yet the show felt as if it had passed by in a flash, while boiling with enough ideas for a gig twice as long. Soundprints is...

Posted Oct 17th, 2012

Jazz for Obama concert set for Tuesday night

from latimes.com Jazz for Obama concert set for Tuesday night By: Chris Barton With Kid Rock on the road stumping for Paul Ryan and a variety of other musicians having tacitly endorsed President Obama by asking the Romney campaign not to play their music for campaign events, jazz artists have joined in the political season with a fundraising concert planned...

Posted Oct 9th, 2012

LIVE REVIEW: Us Five at Scullers

from thephoenix.com Live jazz from Joe Lovano, Eric Hofbauer, and Taylor Ho Bynum By: Jon Garelick Is there a more buoyant personality in jazz than Joe Lovano? The 59-year-old multi-reed player and composer brought his Us Five band into Scullers Thursday night (September 13), “glad to be home” ‘” home being the US, after a tour that brought the band...

Posted Sep 18th, 2012

GRAMMY.com Exclusive Backstage Interview with Joe

The Recording Academy played host to GRAMMYs On The Road at the Detroit Jazz Festival on Aug. 31-Sept. 3 in downtown Detroit. GRAMMY.com conducted an exclusive backstage interview with GRAMMY-winning saxophonist Joe Lovano. Joe sat down with The Recording Academy to talk about his life and his thoughts on music. You can watch the interview here

Posted Sep 12th, 2012

Astounding surprises mark DeJohnette tribute show

recordonline.com Astounding surprises mark DeJohnette tribute show By: Timothy Malcolm BEARSVILLE ‘” Midway through Terri Lyne Carrington’s set, her blistering band hearing a roar from the Bearsville Theater audience Sunday night, she looked up and saw Jack DeJohnette standing beside her. Her teacher, fellow drummer and living legend, handed Carrington a towel. Wipe it off, pro, you’re hot tonight. Beside...

Posted Aug 15th, 2012

LIVE REVIEW: Sound Prints at the Ottawa Jazz Festival

from allaboutjazz.com Ottawa Jazz Festival, Days 4-8: June 21-23, 2012 By: John Kelman If OIJF festival director Catherine O’Grady was responsible for getting the world premier of Prism, she also deserves credit for bringing trumpeter Dave Douglas and saxophonist Joe Lovano’s nascent Sound Prints group’“also featuring pianist Lawrence Fields, up-and-coming bassist Linda Oh and, perhaps only in competition for the...

Posted Jul 2nd, 2012

Ravi Coltrane makes his Blue Note debut with Joe Lovano produced Spirit Fiction

from jazzwisemagazine.com Ravi Coltrane makes his Blue Note debut with Spirit Fiction Jon Newey Saxophonist Ravi Coltrane (pictured), who signed to Blue Note in August 2010, makes his debut for the label with Spirit Fiction, released in the UK on Monday 18 June. Produced by Joe Lovano, with whom Coltrane plays alongside Dave Liebman in the Saxophone Summit, this is...

Posted Jun 15th, 2012

Benefit Concerts at Blue Note, Dizzy’s Fund Jazz Causes

from downbeat.com Benefit Concerts at Blue Note, Dizzy’s Fund Jazz Causes By: Russ Musto ‘Nobody said it was going to be easy, and nobody was right,’ declared Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola Programming Director Todd Barkan, quoting the witty insight of the late pianist John Hicks into the life of a jazz musician. Barkan was introducing the Playing Our Parts concert benefiting...

Posted May 11th, 2012

"Tenor Masters" Offers Plenty of Sax Appeal at Jazz at Lincoln Center

_from nydailynews.com “Tenor Masters” Offers Plenty of Sax Appeal at Jazz at Lincoln Center By: Greg Thomas Three distinct tenor sax voices ‘” Joe Lovano, Benny Golson and Bennie Maupin ‘” will share the stage Friday and Saturday at the Allen Room of Jazz at Lincoln Center for ‘The Music of the Tenor Masters.’ Lovano, 59, the musical director, is...

Posted Mar 23rd, 2012

Joe Lovano Remembers Paul Motian

from jazztimes.com Joe Lovano Remembers Paul Motian The tenor saxophonist pays tribute to the legendary drummer By: Joe Lovano I grew up listening to a lot of music that Paul was a part of. Obviously Bill Evans’ music, and a lot of things with Mose Allison. I was just hip to him from my dad’s record collection. In the early...

Posted Mar 19th, 2012

LIVE REVIEW: Joe Lovano in concert in Málaga

from lausti.com Joe Lovano in concert in Málaga By:Tapani Lausti Joe Lovano walked on to the stage looking relaxed, waving his tenor sax as a way of greeting to the clearly enthusiastic audience. From the very first notes one could feel the power of an artist at the height of his creative powers. Having enjoyed his albums over so many...

Posted Mar 12th, 2012

Joe Lovano: Inimitable Streams of Expression

from allaboutjazz.com Joe Lovano: Inimitable Streams of Expression By: Angela Davis Penned as “one of the greatest musicians in jazz history,” saxophonist Joe Lovano has successfully created a unique voice within the jazz tradition and has contributed significantly to the continuance and development of the idiom. In just over a quarter of a century he has created an expansive body...

Posted Mar 6th, 2012

In the Family of Jazz, Joe Lovano is the Godfather

from elpais.com En la familia del jazz, Joe Lovano es el padrino By:Iker Seisdedos Spanish: Como el resto de las madres sobre la faz de la tierra, la del saxofonista de ascendencia siciliana Joe Lovano, nombre decisivo en el jazz de las últimas tres décadas, opina que su hijo no la visita lo suficiente. Ella aún vive en Cleveland, donde...

Posted Mar 5th, 2012

Joe Lovano’s Us Five bring energy to burn

from theglobeandmail.com Joe Lovano’s Us Five bring energy to burn By: J.D. Considine Jazz saxophonist Joe Lovano brought his hot young quintet Us Five to Toronto Tuesday, in a makeup gig for an October show that had to be postponed after a freak blizzard grounded the band in New York. Here are five things you should know about those Five:...

Posted Feb 2nd, 2012

INTERVIEW: Joe Lovano on BBC Radio 3

Paul Motian, drummer, bandleader, composer and one of the most influential jazz musicians of the last 50 years, died on November 22, 2011 in Manhattan. He was 80 and lived in Manhattan. Joe Lovano was a close personal friend of Paul and worked with him on many releases. Most notably, his trio work with Paul and Bill Frisell. After his...

Posted Jan 2nd, 2012

Joe Lovano Pays Tribute to Sonny Rollins at KCH

from jazztimes.com Kennedy Center Honors with Sonny Rollins to be Broadcast Dec. 27 By: Jeff Tamarkin Sonny Rollins and his fellow 2011 Kennedy Center Honorees’“Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Yo-Yo Ma and Meryl Streep’“ere celebrated for their professional accomplishments and artistry on Dec. 4 at the annual Honors Gala in Washington, D.C. Seated with the President of the United States and...

Posted Dec 26th, 2011

LIVE REVIEW: Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas at Sculler's

from blog.thephoenix.com LIVE REVIEW: Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas at Sculler’s By: Jon Garelick A jazz supergroup of sorts made its debut at Scullers this week. The Joe Lovano/Dave Douglas quintet, calling itself Soundprints, rolled into town for sets Tuesday and last night. Advance word was that this was a Wayne Shorter-devoted project, which Douglas confirmed from the stage Wednesday...

Posted Dec 1st, 2011

Lovano, Saxophonists Showcased in Québec

from downbeat.com Lovano, Saxophonists Showcased in Québec By: John Murph The saxophone was the focal point of the 5th annual Festival de Jazz de Québec, and from Oct. 20’“30, three distinct major-league voices’“Dave Liebman, Maceo Parker and Joe Lovano’“set the bar. Festival President and founder Gino St. Marie also invited 60 Québécois saxophonists to flesh out the event, which occupied...

Posted Nov 16th, 2011

WBGO Champions of Jazz Benefit at Lincoln Center

Tonight is WBGO’s Champions of Jazz Benefit at Frederick P. Rose Hall at Lincoln Center. The “Champions of Jazz” honorees of the night are Jimmy Heath (NEA Jazz Master, Saxophonist, Composer and Educator) and Tommy LiPuma (GRAMMY® Award Winning Producer and Chairman Emeritus of the Verve Music Group) along with special guest Natalie Cole Joe Lovano will be a featured...

Posted Nov 2nd, 2011

LIVE REVIEW: Master Parker

from voir.ca Master Parker By: Antoine Leveillee When the soloist and composer Joe Lovano Us quintet founded the Five in 2008, the idea was to have a set tailored to showcase his own compositions. The first album, Folk Art , is the proof. But during a tour in Barbados a year ago and a half, the saxophonist has decided to...

Posted Nov 1st, 2011

LIVE REVIEW: Fiery collaboration marks Jazz Series opener at St. Cecilia

mlive.com Fiery collaboration marks Jazz Series opener at St. Cecilia By: John Phipps Tenor saxman Joe Lovano isn’t one to let himself fall into a rut, and his appearance in Thursday night’s kickoff of St. Cecilia Music Center’s 2011-12 Jazz Series provided ample proof of that. Lovano brought his own version of a talented young rat pack to town in...

Posted Oct 28th, 2011

Joe Lovano's Us Five at Carnegie Hall this Friday

_from carngiehall.org Jeff Tamarkin on Joe Lovano By: Jeff Tamarkin Joe Lovano was only two years old when the iconic American saxophonist Charlie Parker passed away, but as Lovano began to master the instrument himself, it was ‘Bird’ Parker who served as his major influence. So when Lovano comes to Zankel Hall, it’s payback time. Along with his group Us...

Posted Oct 26th, 2011

INTERVIEW: Joe Lovano on The New Jazz Archive

from ipr.interlochen.org Jeff Haas, the host of IPR’s “The New Jazz Archive,” sits down for a chat with saxophonist Joe Lovano. Lovano has a new album called “Bird Songs.” It’s an album of “re-imagined” versions of Charlie Parker tunes. JL: Well, I started playing saxophone as a kid and my Dad played saxophone and he heard Charlie Parker play live...

Posted Oct 25th, 2011

Joe Lovano, A Bridge Between Jazz’s Past and Future

from kansas.com A bridge between jazz’s past and future Grammy-winning tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano followed in his father’s footsteps. By: Joe Stumpe It says something about tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano’s stature in the jazz world that his bassist is a young woman named Esperanza Spalding. Spalding won this year’s Grammy for Best New Artist ‘” beating out pop sensation Justin...

Posted Oct 21st, 2011

LIVE REVIEW: Westchester Jazz Orchestra With Joe Lovano

from huffingtonpost.com Opening Night for the Westchester Jazz Orchestra With Special Guest Joe Lovano By: Ralph A. Miriello Two Saturday’s ago, in the sleepy town of Irvington, NY, the Westchester Jazz Orchestra kicked off their 2011 season with a very special guest, the eminent saxophonist Joe Lovano. The Westchester Jazz Orchestra is a rotating group of talented, working musicians, who...

Posted Oct 6th, 2011

Jazz giant in Irvington

from www.lohud.com Jazz giant in Irvington By:Linda Lombroso Forty years into his career as a tenor saxophonist, Joe Lovano says he’s still scratching the surface. “I’m trying to just develop, tell more of a story of who I am in my compositions and in my playing,’‘ says Lovano, who will perform as guest artist Saturday with the Westchester Jazz Orchestra....

Posted Sep 21st, 2011

The 2011 Chicago Jazz Festival: Ambitious Programming

from jazztimes.com Excerpt from: The 2011 Chicago Jazz Festival: Ambitious Programming By: David Whiteis Booking the Saxophone Summit’“Joe Lovano, David Liebman and Ravi Coltrane, along with pianist Phil Markowitz, bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Billy Hart’“after Deep Blue took both chutzpah and faith. Would a crowd attuned to the trio’s nightclubby vibe have ears big enough to handle the uncompromisingly...

Posted Sep 19th, 2011

Hurricane Irene Wont't Keep Joe Lovano From Detorit Jazz Fest

from MLive.com Hurricane Irene won’t stop saxophonist Joe Lovano from playing the Detroit Jazz Festival this weekend By: Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk GRAND RAPIDS ‘” Hurricane Irene left millions without power or phone across the Eastern Seaboard, canceled some 9,000 flights and contributed to at least two dozen deaths. It could have been worse, said saxophonist Joe Lovano this afternoon after his...

Posted Aug 30th, 2011

Saxophonist Joe Lovano Taps Into His Music and Instruments

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review Saxophonist Joe Lovano taps into his music and instruments By Bob Karlovits Saxophonist Joe Lovano insists his music is more a creature of evolution than planning. “It’s not that I am looking for new things,” says the jazz star who has performed in everything from big bands to a duo with Hank Jones. “It is just...

Posted Aug 11th, 2011

Where Summertime Means Jazz

From the New York Times Where Summertime Means Jazz By Phillip Lutz FOR jazz fans, the absence this summer of a festival in New York City produced by George Wein, who founded the Newport Jazz Festival and for many years staged sister events in the city, has been conspicuous. But the undiminished presence of the Caramoor and Litchfield jazz festivals...

Posted Aug 1st, 2011

Joe Lovano on Frank Foster

The inspiration and encouragement I have received throughout the years from the masterful Frank Foster is beyond words for me. To know him, playing and studying his music, sharing the stage with him on occasion, has sent me on my way on my horn and in the music. He was so full of love and encouragement I was always overwhelmed....

Posted Jul 27th, 2011

Something New for Carmel Bach Festival - A Jazz Saxophonist, Joe Lovano

From the San Jose Mercury News Something new for Carmel Bach Festival — a jazz saxophonist, Joe Lovano By Richard Scheinin CARMEL — In its 74th season, the Carmel Bach Festival has a new music director and conductor, Paul Goodwin, an Englishman who enjoys juxtaposing the tried-and-true and the new. In the midst of Friday’s concert at the Sunset Center...

Posted Jul 25th, 2011

Joe Lovano: Touring the World of Music, Many Horns in Hand

From the San Francisco Classical Voice Joe Lovano: Touring the World of Music, Many Horns in Hand By Jeff Kallis Joe Lovano’s love of music ‘” and of the instruments, particularly saxophones, that he makes it on ‘” transcends, if not prevents, any effort to link him to a particular kind of music. Introduced during his youth in Cleveland to...

Posted Jul 15th, 2011

Joe Lovano Plays Live Set on KPLU

From NPR Joe Lovano With Us Five: A Different Kind Of Bird By: Nick Morrison Live sessions in the KPLU Performance Studio are always fun, but when saxophonist Joe Lovano stopped by with his group Us Five, it was more than fun. It was also an honor. New York Times jazz critic Ben Ratliff put it succinctly: “It’s fair to...

Posted Jun 30th, 2011

Joe Lovano Nonet with Lewis Nash: Streams of Expression at Dizzy's

From Jazz Police Joe Lovano Nonet w/Lewis Nash: Streams of Expression at Dizzy’s By: Ronaldo Oregano Joe Lovano thrives on challenging his creative output through many formats. Unlike his other groups that primarily showcase his prowess on the tenor sax, his nine-piece ensemble also emphasizes his strong compositional skills. Lewis, an amazing rhythmic drummer, is the perfect complement to accent...

Posted Jun 9th, 2011

Joe Lovano Us Five - Taking Bird to New Heights

KPLU Studio Sessions Joe Lovano Us Five – Taking Bird to new heights By Justin Steyer, Abe Beeson and Nick Francis Live sessions in the KPLU Performance Studio are always fun. However, when saxophonist, Joe Lovano, stopped by with his group, Us Five, it was more than fun. It was also an honor. New York Times jazz critic, Ben Ratliff,...

Posted May 9th, 2011

Joe Lovano: Art After Five’s Jazzy Take on a Modern Masterpiece

Art After Five’s Jazzy Take on a Modern Masterpiece In a new podcast that has just been released on iTunes, one of the most sought after jazz performers on the world stage, Joe Lovano, discusses his latest original composition’“set to premiere on May 20 at Art After 5. The piece, Shimmers of Light, was inspired by the Museum’s Ellsworth Kelly...

Posted May 4th, 2011

Joe Lovano's High-Flying Musical Homage

from SIGNON SAN DIEGO Joe Lovano’s High-Flying Musical Homage Sax great performs at Anthology Wednesday with his US Five band By George Varga April 23, 2011 Joe Lovano’s status as one of the top saxophonists in jazz has been a matter of record for several decades, as befits a masterful musician whose past musical collaborators range from Woody Herman, Charlie...

Posted Apr 25th, 2011

Saxophonist Joe Lovano Boldly Upholds Charlie Parker’s legacy

From the Kansas City Star Saxophonist Joe Lovano boldly upholds Charlie Parker’s legacy By Bill Brownlee Every serious jazz musician must eventually address his or her relationship with the groundbreaking music of Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker. Few have done so with the imagination and authority Joe Lovano displayed during a bruising performance Saturday at the Folly Theater. Half of the concert...

Posted Apr 4th, 2011

4 Stars for Joe Lovano at Ronnie Scott's in London

from guardian.co.uk By: John Fordham Joe Lovano has said that he doesn’t play free jazz, he plays jazz, free. On his superb new album Bird Songs, a set of adventurous interpretations of Charlie Parker classics, the gifted American saxophonist demonstrates what he means, but keeps the mercurial source material explicitly displayed. Lovano and the Us Five band took the policy...

Posted Apr 1st, 2011

Joe Lovano Delights Legion of Fans at Ronnie Scott's

From the London Evening Standard Joe Lovano delights legion of fans at Ronnie Scott’s By Jack Massarik Time was when American stars like Joe Lovano would spend entire fortnights at Ronnie Scott’s. In these straitened times fans had to settle for a one-night stand on Friday which crammed the club to capacity. And as if aware of the situation, the...

Posted Mar 28th, 2011

REVIEW Joe Lovano 'Bird Songs' - BBC Music

From BBC Music Charlie Parker’s music rethought and interpreted in fresh ways By John Eyles Although he has recorded for Blue Note for 20 years, it is significant that saxophonist Joe Lovano’s recordings are now jointly credited to Us Five. Before putting together this exciting young band, Lovano was on a comfortable artistic plateau. The band of two drummers, bass...

Posted Mar 2nd, 2011

Joe Lovano on NPR's Fresh Air

From NPR Joe Lovano: Drawing On ‘Bird’ by Kevin Whitehead In the 1940s, Charlie Parker, nicknamed “Bird,” was a prime mover behind the new style of bebop, with its refined harmonies, offbeat rhythms and abstract melodies played at breakneck speed. Bird’s saxophone style was the key: Even musicians who played other instruments modeled their styles on his, and his compositions...

Posted Feb 24th, 2011

Joe Lovano on PBS NewsHour's Art Beat

From PBS NewsHour Conversation: Joe Lovano Takes On Parker By Jeffrey Brown and Murrey Jacobson Long considered one of the great saxophonists of his generation, Joe Lovano is well known for his work in the be-bop traditions of jazz and for making it uniquely his own, innovating and improvising on the themes and sounds of Thelonoius Monk, John Coltrane, Wayne...

Posted Feb 24th, 2011

Joe Lovano on JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater

Tune into catch the rebroadcast of Joe Lovano’s Us Five live at the Village Vanguard on NPR’s JazzSet tomorrow, February 17th. To check your local listings, click here

Posted Feb 16th, 2011

Bird Songs Praised by AOL and JazzTimes

From AOL Spinner Joe Lovano Soars on the Wings of Bird With His Jazz Sax Tribute By Tad Hendrickson The legacy of Charlie Parker is something that every jazz musician has to contend with. As a co-creator of bebop up at Minton’s with Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell and others, Parker has assured his legacy by the time he...

Posted Feb 11th, 2011

Joe Lovano: Playing 'Bird Songs' As Modern Jazz, NPR

From NPR Music Joe Lovano: Playing ‘Bird Songs’ As Modern Jazz, NPR Saxophonist Charlie Parker was an original. His improvisations and harmonies still beguile and inspire, almost 60 years after he died at the age of 34. His influence on jazz has lasted for generations and still affects musicians today. Musicians still pay tribute to “Bird,” as Parker was known,...

Posted Jan 31st, 2011

Lovano and Scofield Talk About Team Work

From the Times Union Jazz giants Lovano and Scofield talk about team work By R.J. DeLuke To call saxophonist Joe Lovano and guitarist John Scofield world-class musicians is like saying the Pope is fairly well-established in the religion business. The two are giants in jazz, among the best on their respective instruments. Both have a constant creative drive and an...

Posted Jan 27th, 2011

REVIEW Joe Lovano 'Bird Songs' - All About Jazz

From All About Jazz Bird Songs By Andrew J. Sammut Sax giant Joe Lovano has blown next to a bevy of jazz greats, and been applauded as soloist and leader throughout his nearly 40-year career. While it might seem surprising that audiences had to wait until his 22nd album for a tribute to Charlie Parker, Bird Songs demonstrates, once again,...

Posted Jan 21st, 2011

REVIEW Joe Lovano Shaking the Room—and the Snow

From the Wall Street Journal Joe Lovano and Us Five By Will Friedwald After 30 albums as a leader and at least 25 years in the spotlight, it’s clear that Joe Lovano is more than a dominant figure in jazz. In fact, he’s jazz’s answer to George Clooney or Jeff Bridges, a vibrant player who can be counted on to...

Posted Jan 17th, 2011

REVIEW 'Bird Songs' LA Times

From the LA Times Album review: Joe Lovano Us Five’s ‘Bird Songs’ By Chris Barton Given its occasional tendency to revel in its rich past, you could argue that jazz needs another album dedicated to one of its titans about as much as it needs another 19-hour documentary series. But leave it to restless tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano to take...

Posted Jan 12th, 2011

REVIEW 'Bird Songs' Boston Globe

From the Boston Globe Joe Lovano / Us Five, ‘Bird Songs’ By Steve Greenlee Saxophonist Joe Lovano has tried on a lot of bands and formats since joining the Blue Note label 20 years ago ‘” duos, trios, quartets, big bands, near-classical ensembles. But his current quintet, Us Five, may be his finest. The band ‘” which features pianist James...

Posted Jan 10th, 2011

REVIEW 'Bird Songs' DownBeat Editors' Pick

From DownBeat Magazine Joe Lovano Us Five, Bird Songs By Frank Alkyer For those who wonder, ‘Do we really need another interpretation of Charlie Parker’s music?’ Yes, we do, and Bird Songs is it. Lovano’s big-hearted tenor and vast imagination make this record a must-have for Bird fans, Lovano fans and jazz fans alike. With his terrific group Us Five’“which...

Posted Jan 5th, 2011

The Guardian's Best of Jazz and World in 2011

UK newspaper The Guardian released its picks for the best of Jazz and World music in the new year. Among their picks are Joe Lovano and Baaba Maal. To read the full article click here

Posted Jan 4th, 2011

NPR First Listen: Joe Lovano Us Five, 'Bird Songs'

From NPR First Listen: Joe Lovano Us Five, ‘Bird Songs’ By Patrick Jarenwattananon It’s been more than 55 years since Charlie Parker last took up an alto saxophone, and just about every jazz musician still grapples with his legacy. Here’s a man who was a central architect behind the revolution of bebop, the closest thing jazz has to a lingua...

Posted Jan 3rd, 2011

Win An Autographed Copy of Bird Songs

Sign up to win an autographed copy of Joe Lovano Us Five’s upcoming release, Bird Songs. Simply “like” Joe Lovano on facebook and click on the Bird Songs tab to enter.

Posted Dec 16th, 2010

Joe Lovano Us Five Release "Bird Songs" January 11, 2011

Press release from Blue Note Records ‘I didn’t approach this as a tribute record,’ states Joe Lovano, dispelling right off the bat any preconception that his new album Bird Songs’“an exploration of the Charlie Parker songbook’“is a mere retread. Lovano’s 22nd album for Blue Note Records (the release of which will mark his 20th year on the label) breaks the...

Posted Dec 2nd, 2010

Joe Lovano Us Five Breaks Mold Of Bird Tribute Albums

From DownBeat Joe Lovano Us Five Breaks Mold Of Bird Tribute Albums Joe Lovano’s band Us Five has recorded a new CD, the saxophonist’s 22nd for the Blue Note label. Bird Songs, an exploration of the Charlie Parker songbook, will be released on Jan. 11, 2011. Breaking the mold of Parker tribute albums, Bird Songs takes a modern and personal...

Posted Nov 11th, 2010

REVIEW: Ad Hoc Quartet With Common Roots

from the New York Times Ad Hoc Quartet With Common Roots By Nate Chinen MARLBORO, N.Y. ‘” A few songs into a jazz summit meeting at the Falcon here on Saturday night, the all-stars went through an unannounced lineup rotation. John Scofield had just started into his guitar solo on ‘Hacksensack,’ a Thelonious Monk tune, backed by the drummer Jack...

Posted Aug 31st, 2010

Joe Lovano and Chris Potter Salute James Moody

from Jazz Police Saxophone Summit: A Salute to James Moody with Alexander, Tabackin, Lovano, Heath, Potter 8/24-29 By Ronaldo Oregano The top saxophonists in jazz today are gathering at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York to pay tribute to saxophone legend James Moody, who is currently recovering from gall bladder surgery. Moody, who played with Dizzy Gillespie’s band...

Posted Aug 23rd, 2010

Joe Lovano on Abbey Lincoln

from Blue Note Records Joe Lovano on Abbey Lincoln “Abbey was one of the most distinctive voices in modern jazz. She told some beautiful honest stories about her life and experiences and had a way of expression that touched you in a very personal way. Abbey’s tunes and interpretations were full of meaning with each word articulated with deep passion....

Posted Aug 17th, 2010

New Photos from Joe Lovano and McCoy Tyner at Middelheim

Enjoy these photos of Joe Lovano and the McCoy Tyner Trio at the Jazz Middelheim Festival on August 12, 2010

Posted Aug 13th, 2010

VIDEO On the Road with Joe Lovano

Get a behind the scenes look at Joe Lovano on the road with US Five! Watch the video here

Posted Jul 9th, 2010

REVIEW Joe Lovano at the Ottawa Jazz Festival

from the Ottawa Citizen Lovano’s Quintet delivers raw, organic music By Peter Hum OTTAWA ‘” With an uncommon instrumentation, the band of tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano made uncommonly good music in Confederation Park on Tuesday night. The New York jazz star brought his Us Five band ‘” consisting of pianist James Weidman, bassist Petar Slavov, and not one, but two,...

Posted Jun 30th, 2010

Joe Lovano Sweeps the DownBeat Awards, Nabs Cover

IMN congratulates Joe Lovano on winning Jazz Artist, Jazz Group and Jazz Saxophonist of Year in the 58th Annual DownBeat Critics Poll! In addition, he is featured on the magazine’s cover. This news comes after a string of recent awards including 3 Jazz Journalist Association Awards for best Tenor Saxophonist, Small Ensemble and Record of the Year. Congratulations Joe!

Posted Jun 29th, 2010

INTERVIEW Talking Jazz With Joe Lovano

from The Charleston Gazette Talking jazz with Joe Lovano By Bill Lynch Jazz saxophone player and bandleader Joe Lovano believes his album, “Folk Art,” touches people because “you can move to it and feel we’re creating music, not just creating a rehearsal.” It’s the kind of music that thrives outdoors, where Joe Lovano’s Us Five quintet will be Saturday —...

Posted Jun 23rd, 2010

REVIEW Joe Lovano at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival

from Jazz Police Twin Cities Jazz Festival ‘” 12th Annual Tops Them All By Andrea Canter For the twelfth time, area jazz fans, general music fans, and folks just out for some free fun found plenty to enjoy at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, formerly the Hot Summer Jazz Festival. And formerly, it was a two-weekend, two-city affair. The flailing...

Posted Jun 21st, 2010

Joe Lovano Hits Trifecta at Jazz Awards

Saxophonist Lovano hits trifecta at Jazz Awards Associated Press By Charles J. Gans NEW YORK ‘” Joe Lovano hit the trifecta at the annual Jazz Awards with wins for tenor saxophonist, small ensemble and record of the year. Lovano is being honored by the Jazz Journalists Association for his CD “Folk Art.” It is his first album of all original...

Posted Jun 16th, 2010

Joe Lovano Reflects on Hank Jones

Hank Jones Upon Reflection… Knowing and creating music with Hank over the last Fifteen years has enlightened and enhanced my life beyond description. He was the most sincere, gracious, elegant man I’ve had the pleasure to know. Hank was full of love and had a inner passion that poured out of him in his relationships on and off the band...

Posted May 19th, 2010

LOVANO 2010

Check out this recent video (by Bret Primack) chronicling Joe Lovano in 2010 thus far.

Posted Apr 27th, 2010

REVIEW Joe Lovano Us Five @ The Village Vanguard (NYC)

(from The New York Times by Nate Chinen) A warm sense of occasion surrounds this week’s Village Vanguard engagement by the saxophonist Joe Lovano. The club just commemorated its 75th anniversary, another mile marker in a storied and still vital history. And Mr. Lovano, leading the group from his most recent album, ‘Folk Art’ (Blue Note), is celebrating something else...

Posted Feb 26th, 2010

Village Vanguard Turns 75 - Lovano's Us Five Celebrates

So what happened on February 23rd, 1935? Max Gordon opened the doors to the Village Vanguard! And 75 years later, they’re still in the same spot; the basement of 178 7th Avenue South. The week of February 23rd – 28th, 2010 marks the club’s 75th ANNIVERSARY! And to honor the occasion, Joe Lovano lights up the bandstand with his group...

Posted Feb 23rd, 2010

JazzTimes: FOLK ART Best Album of 2009!

Critics Picks: Top 50 New Albums and Top 10 Historical Releases By JazzTimes We compiled our top 50 new releases and top 10 historical/reissue recordings of 2009 from year-end lists by our critics. To see each voter’s ballot, go to this page. Only CDs and box sets released between Nov. 1, 2008, and Oct. 31, 2009 were eligible. Some releases...

Posted Jan 4th, 2010

Seventh Annual Panama Jazz Festival Announces 2010 Lineup

Panama’s annual cornerstone cultural event, the seventh Panama Jazz Festival will be held January 11-16, 2010. With upwards of 100,000 people in attendance since the festivals 2003 inception, this year’s edition is dedicated to Panamanian pianist, Ellerton Oswald (better known as Sonny White), noted for his work as Billie Holiday’s accompanist and his role in the production of her seminal...

Posted Nov 30th, 2009

"Lovano's Wings Clipped in Full Flight"

LOVANO’S WINGS CLIPPED IN FULL FLIGHT I’d like to personally thank everyone for their concern and good wishes for my speedy recovery. I am doing fine and with the focus and attention I am receiving from my love and guardian-angel Judi Silvano I’ll be back on the international scene shortly. I had two unfortunate accidents while on tour with my...

Posted Nov 17th, 2009

Joe Lovano: "Coltrane Revisited"

From The New York Times By Nate Chinen Joe Lovano, jovial but focused, brought his tenor saxophone to his lips at Birdland on Wednesday night, taking charge without preamble or pause. With his first few notes he traced a syncopated vamp, quickly adopted by the bassist Lonnie Plaxico and the drummer Andrew Cyrille. Then Mr. Lovano pulled back, letting the...

Posted Sep 25th, 2009

Listen to Joe Lovano Us Five Live Recording from Newport Jazz

August 9, 2009 from WBGO – Jazz audiences mostly know Joe Lovano as a top-drawer, burly-toned tenor saxophonist. He bears a massive catalog of recordings, which he seemingly appends multiple times a year over the last 20-plus years. But at Berklee College of Music, his alma mater and employer, he’s just one of many talented teachers on staff. It’s where...

Posted Aug 12th, 2009

JazzTimes Returns in August with Joe Lovano on the Cover

JazzTimes will be returning in August with their August/September issue with a cover story on Joe Lovano and his recent Us Five ensemble. To read more on JazzTimes, and the new ownership which saved the magazine from going out of print, click here

Posted Jul 28th, 2009

Masada Quintet featuring Joe Lovano

John Zorn’s Masada project has blossomed over the past decade and a half, demonstrating durability in the face of multiple interpretations. The composer’s stated intention to create a classic songbook, a consistent body of written work to inspire artists beyond his own performances, has been fruitful. However, most of the variations on these Hassidic-inspired tunes have been made by peers...

Posted Jun 29th, 2009

In Conversation with Joe Lovano

Folk Art, Joe Lovano’s latest release on Blue Note with his band Us Five, is the tenor saxophonist’s twenty-first album for the label. It’s also the first time Lovano has made an entire album comprising his own compositions. In so doing, he continues a tradition begun by Blue Note’s founding fathers Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff, who, as Lovano points...

Posted Jun 1st, 2009

Joe Lovano Us Five "Folk Art" Out Today

‘It’s fair to say that he’s one of the greatest musicians in jazz history.’ - Ben Ratliff, The New York Times Grammy-winning saxophonist and composer Joe Lovano stands alone at the vanguard of large and small group jazz. From his recent Grammy-nominated work with the WDR Big Band & Rundfunk Orchestra, Symphonica, to his role as Gary Burton Chair of...

Posted May 19th, 2009

Saxophonist Joe Lovano Delivers A Musical Joy Ride At Wadsworth Atheneum

Joe Lovano is a restless creator. Less than two weeks before his newest band, Us Five, releases its debut recording and embarks on a European tour, the saxophonist guided his nonet through a 90-minute musical joy ride Friday night at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. His nonet engagement followed recent tours with the McCoy Tyner Trio and with the...

Posted May 10th, 2009

50th Annual Grammy Nominees Announced

Nominations for the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards were announced today by The Recording Academy at which seven IMN Artists were nominated. International Music Network would like to congratulate all of our artists that were nominated. Here is a list of the IMN nominees and the respective categories in which they were nominated:Category 47 Best Jazz Instrumental Solo Anagram Michael Brecker,...

Posted Dec 6th, 2007