Joe Lovano: Symphonica (EMI)

 |   |  1 min read

Joe Lovano: Emperor Jones
Joe Lovano: Symphonica (EMI)

Those who were witness to the outstanding Auckland concert fronted by saxophonist Lovano and guitarist John Scofield might be right now looking for Joe albums: if so this maybe ain't the one you need.

Where that concert had tension, strength'n'stretch, musical dialogues which sounded like those betweeen an erudite dinnertable conversationalist (Lovano) and an edgy, humorous man with Tourettes (Sco), this album - as the title suggests - finds the elusive Lovano in yet another mood.

Of course if you've read the Elsewhere articles about him (see tags) then you know to expect the unexpected from Lovano: so while he tours with Sco this current album catches him with a German big band and orchestra for whom Lovano has adapted material from his vast back-catalogue to deliver this layered, sometimes romantic, often suave and frequently challenging album.

Rather than sit back and let the string section weave around easy melodic lines, Lovano goes back to material he recorded for sometimes flinty albums, pulls in a little free playing just to keep everyone honest and, although tipping a hat to Ellington, his father and other mentors or music (Alexander the Great uses the changes from the Coltrane favourite Bye Bye Blackbird) he delivers an album that stands as distinctive and singular in his catalogue.

That said, if the concert was right in your zone then you should start with the bouncy Dawn of Time here (taken from an album with Sco).

Elsewhere though this is sophisticated, smart and sassily orchestrated jazz -- and Lovano sounding as comfortable as if you dropped him into a free jazz ensemble.

More evidence of his particular and unbound genius, in other words. 

 

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   Jazz at Elsewhere articles index

Broadbent, Gibson, Smith: Together Again (Ode)

Broadbent, Gibson, Smith: Together Again (Ode)

The title of this album might better be Together Again . . . At Last because it has been far too long since LA-based pianist/composer Alan Broadbent and bassist Putter Smith recorded with Auckland... > Read more

Crayford, Sellers, Dyne: Our Own Sweet Way (ia/Rattle)

Crayford, Sellers, Dyne: Our Own Sweet Way (ia/Rattle)

Released through the Independent Artists imprint of Auckland's Rattle label -- albums which don't quite fit the remit of Rattle Jazz but are deserving of wider distribution -- comes this... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

STRANGE CUSTOMS: Yep, packed it myself sir

STRANGE CUSTOMS: Yep, packed it myself sir

My father always used to say that, as far we know, we’re only here once so we might as well look around. And so I have -- with increasing urgency as I have become older. I call it cramming... > Read more

EPs by Yasmin Brown: Dillastrate, Phoebe Rings, Turnstile, Curt Chambers

EPs by Yasmin Brown: Dillastrate, Phoebe Rings, Turnstile, Curt Chambers

With so many CDs commanding and demanding attention Elsewhere will run this occasional column by the informed and opinionated Yasmin Brown. She will scoop up some of those many EP... > Read more