Joyous Encounter

Amazon.com
For most saxophonists, recording with a mainstream rhythm section would be business as usual. For Joe Lovano, who has spent much of his career experimenting with duos and unconventional trios, little-big bands and string-enhanced ensembles, it's something of a departure. And a rewarding one at that, judging by his return to the studio with the illustrious backing trio of his 2004 effort, I'm All For You. The first time around, a certain spark was lacking in the accompaniment. This time, having toured together, the band clicks. The eminent bop-era veteran Hank Jones steals the show with his elegantly charged piano playing on tunes including Thelonious Monk's "Pannonica" and "A Child is Born" (one of three songs by his late, great brother Thad). Onetime Bill Evans drummer Paul Motian drops second line beats on a tripping-down reading of Oliver Nelson's "Six and Four" and graces Lovano's title track with varied textural effects. And bassist George Mraz is in fine form. In the end, though, Lovano commands the most attention with his grainy, boldly measured, heavyweight tenor. Ranging from the shimmering balladry of "Autumn in New York" to the modal intensity of John Coltrane's "Crescent" (the original of which featured another of Jones' celebrated siblings, Elvin), he finds consistently fresh ways to revitalize the familiar. --Lloyd Sachs

Joyous Encounter,Joe Lovano,Blue Note Records,Jazz,Mainstream Jazz,Pop,Post-Bop

Average customer rating: thru the mist Great group, but don't care for all the tunes An uneven set of tracks A Master Class

Joyous Encounter Joe Lovano Manufacturer: Blue Note Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Blue Note Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall I'm All for You Kids: Duets Live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola I Have the Room Above Her Town Hall, New York City, June 22, 1945 ASIN: B0008FPIW2 Release Date: 2005-05-10

Tracks:

1. Autumn In New York
2. Bird's Eye View
3. Don't Ever Leave Me
4. Alone Together
5. Six and Four
6. Pannonica
7. Consummation
8. Quiet Lady
9. Joyous Encounter
10. A Child Is Born
11. Crescent

Amazon.com

For most saxophonists, recording with a mainstream rhythm section would be business as usual. For Joe Lovano, who has spent much of his career experimenting with duos and unconventional trios, little-big bands and string-enhanced ensembles, it's something of a departure. And a rewarding one at that, judging by his return to the studio with the illustrious backing trio of his 2004 effort, I'm All For You. The first time around, a certain spark was lacking in the accompaniment. This time, having toured together, the band clicks. The eminent bop-era veteran Hank Jones steals the show with his elegantly charged piano playing on tunes including Thelonious Monk's "Pannonica" and "A Child is Born" (one of three songs by his late, great brother Thad). Onetime Bill Evans drummer Paul Motian drops second line beats on a tripping-down reading of Oliver Nelson's "Six and Four" and graces Lovano's title track with varied textural effects. And bassist George Mraz is in fine form. In the end, though, Lovano commands the most attention with his grainy, boldly measured, heavyweight tenor. Ranging from the shimmering balladry of "Autumn in New York" to the modal intensity of John Coltrane's "Crescent" (the original of which featured another of Jones' celebrated siblings, Elvin), he finds consistently fresh ways to revitalize the familiar. --Lloyd Sachs

Customer Reviews:

thru the mist.......2006-11-14

joe lovano plays sax slower than anyone else around. i had to check to see if i had my old turntable on. no, this is a cd, so there was no warped vinyl, no playing speeding to adjust, or, out of curiousity, playing the album at a faster speed just to hear what the recording sounded like faster.
what i decided to do was travel to the mist to a land long ago when sax players wore loose suits and porkpie hats. i listened to don byas and coleman hawkins and lester young, back in the 40's and the 50's and none of them played that slow. i put on a cd by billie holliday and followed it with a cd by joe lovano. lovano's tone and pacing were beautiful. lovano isn't imitating or really playing tribute to the master tenors of long ago, what he's doing is playing with billie holliday.

Great group, but don't care for all the tunes.......2006-03-13

"Autumn in New York" is by far the best cut on this album. Why they chose to put it first is beyond me. First off, it's a ballad, which is risky business when using that as your opener -- live or on a CD. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The other tunes seem to cover the same base -- bebop and post-bop. There isn't enough variety to make each tune fit, unless he intended it to be an album of that nature.

I give it 4 stars because the group itself is great. Anything with Hank Jones is always enjoyable to listen to. This is really the only album I have heard of Lovano's beyond a 30 second clip, so others who are more familiar with his material probably know whether or not this is a hit or miss album for him.

An uneven set of tracks.......2005-10-28

Track one is so fine, in there with the best of quintet jazz in a traditional sound. Past track one I began to ask. "why this after track one?" The sound bits on
Amazon convinced me to buy this CD. I was not intentionally misled, I just did not
listen to those with a keen ear. There are good passages on any track, it is always a treat to listen to Hank Jones.

A Master Class.......2005-05-19

Contrary to Mr. Sachs' editorial review above, recording with a mainstream rhythm section does not constitute a departure of any sort for Lovano. His first CD was in 1985 with Kenny Werner, Dennis Irwin, and Mel Lewis. Since then he's recorded no fewer than 11 CDs featuring a piano/bass/drums rhythm section, not counting his work as a sideman or this quartet's previous CD, "I'm All For You." This isn't groundbreaking music, and it shouldn't be portrayed that way. It's old school jazz in the best tradition, and it stands handsomely on that merit.

For knowledgeable jazz fans, there's no better way to sell this CD than simply to explain that it's Joe Lovano, Hank Jones, George Mraz, and Paul Motian playing standards. For everyone else, whether you're genuinely looking for an introduction to jazz or you just want a few CDs to look cool on your rack: Start here. "Joyous Encounter" is a bona fide, five-star CD.

There's absolutely nothing I enjoy more than listening to a group of seasoned jazz musicians record a session of standards. These four guys have nearly three centuries of experience between them, and the result is a master class for any jazz musician -- how to approach standards with a fresh perspective, how to build solos without blotting out the rhythm section, how to increase intensity without increasing volume... They use all the tools, and they prove themselves craftsmen. They never skate; they dig in, from the first track to the last. There's a wealth of lessons and wisdom, every moment of which is a pleasure to hear.

This year has already brought five-star releases from Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, and Kenny Wheeler; and this summer promises competition from Bill Frisell, Jim McNeely, and Wayne Shorter. By December, we may have half a dozen CDs as good as "Joyous Encounter" -- but I guarantee, none will be better. Buy this now.

Average customer rating:

Crew of Seven & Other Songs Manufacturer: Peter Moffitt ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B000CA9PE0 Release Date: 2001-06-05

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