The latest CD by jazz saxophonist
Joe Lovano blends New York attitude with Midwestern warmth in an homage to the Manhattan street where bebop ruled in the '50s and '60s. The music here, like that of such other thematic
Lovano albums as
Rush Hour (his 1995 celebration of third-stream music) and
Celebrating Sinatra, evokes the past without being at all archival. Fronting a four-man sax section,
Lovano blasts through such strong Dameronia as "The Scene Is Clean" and "Tadd's Delight," refreshes the indelible lyricism of
Dameron's lovely "If You Could See Me Now," and, in an intimate duet with pianist
John Hicks, velvetizes
Billy Strayhorn's lush "Passion Flower." It also features
Miles Davis' early "Sippin' at Bells";
Lovano's homage to
Charlie Parker, the complex "Charlie Chan," a three-way saxophone conversation between
Lovano and fellow tenormen
George Garzone and
Ralph Lalama that's punctuated by
Lewis Nash's pinpoint drums; "Abstractions on 52nd Street,"
Lovano's extrapolation and embellishment of a
Thelonious Monk line; and
George Gershwin's "Embraceable You," plushly orchestrated by
Willie "Face" Smith and lovingly performed by
Lovano. Others contributing sax are
Gary Smulyan (baritone) and
Steve Slagle (alto);
Tim Hagans and
Conrad Herwig play trumpet and trombone, respectively, while
Dennis Irwin handles bass. Like many other
Lovano records, this hews close to tradition but updates it effectively. Besides the fervor of the playing --
Smith says he would've played saxophone, but these New York players were much better prepared -- the song selection is astute,
Lovano's originals are solid, and
Smith's sole compositional contribution, "Deal," is tasty indeed. ~ Carlo Wolff