Recorded live at the Village Vanguard, On This Day...At the Vanguard is saxophonist
Joe Lovano's first recording with his award-winning nonet since the release of
52nd Street Themes in 2000. Having recorded in a variety of settings ranging from those of big-band leaders
Woody Herman and
Mel Lewis to duets with
Mulgrew Miller on
Tenor Legacy to quartets featuring such stellar artists as
Dave Holland,
John Scofield, and
Al Foster (collectively known as
Scolohofo),
Joe Lovano proves with this CD that his artistry remains highly adaptable to any musical setting. Opening the program with the first of two originals written for this recording is
Lovano's swinging "At the Vanguard." It has a harmonic sequence based on "Stompin' at the Savoy," and features outstanding solos by
Lovano, alto saxophonist
Steve Slagle, trumpeter
Barry Ries, and pianist
John Hicks. "Focus" and
John Coltrane's "After the Rain" offer listeners two exceptional contrasts of
Lovano's playing style, while "On This Day Just Like Any Other" is a 15-minute free jazz offering with amazing improvisations that
Lovano wrote around the time drummer
Billy Higgins passed away. The recording closes with "My Little Brown Book," a beautiful, serene ballad that returns the music to the quartet sound and served as the show's encore. Overall, On This Day...At the Vanguard captures the essence of
Lovano's reverence and enthusiasm for the jazz venue that has supplied a great deal of his musical inspiration over the course of his jazz career. ~ Paula Edelstein