Joe Lovano 52ND Street Themes CD

52ND STREET THEMES won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.

After numerous successful small group recordings, master saxophonist Joe Lovano tries his hand at leading a larger ensemble, in this case a nonet. With 52nd STREET THEMES, Lovano goes for a mellow group sound that, like the Birth Of The Cool band or Gil Evans' long-running outfit, swings and sways through several choice standards and originals. Lovano's signature big-toned tenor gets center stage in most of the arrangements, which are tastefully orchestrated by Willie "Face" Smith.

The beauty of a band this size is that the listener is given not just one group, but several smaller ensembles--trios, quartets, quintets--within the larger one, depending on the specific divisions of the arrangements and solo spots. Lovano and his group highlight this aspect of the nonet perfectly, varying their musical approach for a given arrangement while always maintaining a cohesive sound. Standout cuts include familiar standards such as Miles Davis' "Sippin' At Bell's," Tad Dameron's swinging "Tad's Delight," and Gershwin's graceful "Embraceable You."

Recorded at Avatar Studio A, New York, New York on November 3 & 4, 1999. Includes liner notes by Michael Cuscuna.

Joe Lovano Nonet: Joe Lovano (tenor saxophone); Steve Slagle (alto saxophone); George Garzone, Ralph Lalama (tenor saxophone); Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone); Tim Hagans (trumpet); Conrad Herwig (trombone); John Hicks (piano); Dennis Irwin (bass); Lewis Nash (drums).

Personnel: Joe Lovano (tenor saxophone); Steve Slagle (alto saxophone); George Garzone, Ralph Lalama (tenor saxophone); Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone); Tim Hagans (trumpet); Conrad Herwig (trombone); Lewis Nash (drums).

Liner Note Author: Michael Cuscuna.

Recording information: AVatar Studio A (11/03/1999-11/04/1999).

Photographer: Jimmy Katz.CMJ (5/8/00, p.33) - "...The release has a vintage bop sound and the individual performances here boasts a gentle, reverent feel that masterfully recaptures those bygone days when giants walked the earth and played 'the street'."
Down Beat (7/00, pp.73-4) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...[His] most important and most fully realized recording to date....He plays here with a balance of imaginative abandon and technical control that has not been heard since John Coltrane..."