In 2010, Joe Lovano swept the prestigious DownBeat Magazine critics’ poll, winning jazz artist, jazz group, and jazz saxophonist of the year. This was an improvement over the major event of Lovano’s 2009, when he broke each of his arms in separate falls.
Who knows what’ll happen to this dude in 2011? I can say that Lovano and his award-winning quintet Us Five play Jazz Alley Thursday April 28 through Sunday May 1 in support of their new album Bird Songs.
You jazz fans will have guessed right away that Bird Songs is an exploration of the music of Charlie “Bird” Parker (another former DownBeat poll winner). Lovano says he learned to play from listening to Parker’s music.
Some of the songs on the album that even I recognize: “Moose the Mooche,” “Ko Ko,” and the heart-breaking ballad “Lover Man.” (Samples of Lovano’s renditions here).
Lovano doesn’t play the type of jazz you sip wine to. His quintet is an odd arrangement, featuring two drummers. The Kansas City Star called Lovano’s performance there earlier this month “bruising,” “alienating [to] less adventurous listeners,” and reported that half the audience fled at intermission. So, maybe don’t bring the grandparents?
Lovano and Us Five play one set Thursday, two sets Friday and Saturday, and another single set Sunday night. As always at Jazz Alley, you’ll get the best seats if you make dinner reservations (though you’ll also end up paying around $100 per person). The music fee for the show is $24.50. Make reservations here.
And here’s Lovano talking about Bird Songs:
Amazing as Bird.
¿Why Lovano is not playing anymore with his wonderful Borgani?
A real shame