Joe Lovano
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Joseph Salvatore Lovano (born 29 December 1952 in Cleveland, Ohio) is a jazz saxophonist, alto clarinetist, flautist, and drummer. Since the 1970s, Lovano has been one of the world's premiere tenor saxophone players, earning a Grammy award and several nods on Down Beat magazine's critics' and readers' polls. Joe Lovano exclusivley plays Borgani saxophones.
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[edit] Early years
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Lovano was exposed throughout his early life to jazz by his father, Tony "Big T" Lovano. John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, and Sonny Stitt were among his earlier influences. He developed further at Berklee College of Music, and then served a big band apprenticeship with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd and the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra.
"Big T" Lovano, a fine Cleveland tenorman, was his first inspiration. He taught Joe all the standards, how to lead a gig, how to pace a set, and to be versatile enough to always find work. Joe started on alto at age six and switched to tenor five years later. He attended Berklee before working with Jack McDuff and Dr. Lonnie Smith. After three years with Woody Herman's Orchestra, Lovano moved to New York and began playing regularly with Mel Lewis’ Big Band. This influence is still present in his solos. He often plays lines that convey the rhythmic drive and punch of an entire horn section.
[edit] Recent work
One of the top saxophonists of the 1990s, Joe Lovano continues to grow and explore as a musician. He has a husky tenor tone based in the tradition, but an approach to improvisation that is modern and daring. In the early ‘80s he began working in John Scofield’s Quartet and a bass-less trio with Paul Motian and Bill Frisell. Steeped in the tradition of Ornette Coleman, Motian’s recordings show off Lovano’s avant-garde abilities. Scofield’s Quartet straddled the line between “inside” and “outside”. These recordings feature some of Lovano’s best work.
Lovano has enduring musical partnerships with John Scofield and Paul Motian, having participated in some of their most noteworthy projects over the years.
He is currently a jazz artist on the international level. His live work, specifically Quarterts at the Village Vanguard, garnered a Down Beat "Jazz Album of the Year" award. Other releases include Trio Fascination and 52nd Street Themes. In 2006 Lovano released Streams Of Expression, a tribute to two different genres of jazz, cool and free. He did this with the help of Gunther Schuller who contributed his Birth Of The Cool Suite. In a surprise loss Lovano and his nonet did not win the Grammy for best large ensemble jazz record of 2006. It is rumored that Joe Lovano and Hank Jones are realsing an album together in June of 2007 entitled Kids.
[edit] Discography
[edit] As leader
- Tones, Shapes and Colors (1985)
- Hometown Sessions (1986)
- Solid Steps (1986)
- Village Rhythms (1988)
- Worlds (1989)
- Landmarks (1990)
- Sounds of Joy (1991)
- From the Soul (1991)
- Universal Language (1992)
- Tenor Legacy (1993)
- Quartets: Live at the Village Vanguard (1994)
- Rush Hour (1994)
- Ten Tales (1994)
- Celebrating Sinatra (1996)
- Tenor Time (1997)
- Flying Colors (1997) with Gonzalo Rubalcaba
- Trio Fascination: Edition One (1998)
- Friendly Fire (1999) with Greg Osby
- 52nd Street Themes (2000)
- Flights of Fancy: Trio Fascination, Volume 2 (2001)
- Viva Caruso (2002)
- On This Day ... at the Vanguard (2003)
- I'm All for You (2004)
- Joyous Encounter (2005)
- Streams of Expression (2006)
[edit] Collaborations
- Unknown Voyage (1985) with Furio Di Castri
- Grand Slam (2000) with Jim Hall, George Mraz, and Lewis Nash
- Fourth World (2001) with James Emery, Judi Silvano, and Drew Gress
- ScoLoHoFo (2003) with John Scofield, Dave Holland, and Al Foster
- Gathering of Spirits (2004) with Michael Brecker and Dave Liebman
[edit] TV Appearances
- SOLOS: the jazz sessions (2004) Bravo! Canada
