Ravi Coltrane - Spirit Fiction (2012)

A career on the saxophone with one of the most freethinking saxophonists in music history for a father has to be a tough call. Now 46, Ravi Coltrane, son of John, has often chosen to be a sympathetic sideman rather than the boss. But his Blue Note Records debut as a leader feels like a giant step. The tracks are split between two groups (a quartet with Luis Perdomo on piano, and a superb quintet with Geri Allen at the keys, and Ralph Alessi on trumpet), playing an arrestingly original postbop repertoire, plus covers of pieces by Ornette Coleman and Paul Motian. There are delicate improv conversations between Coltrane and Alessi, passages in which Geri Allen and drummer Eric Harland uncannily recall the sound of the young Herbie Hancock and Tony Williams in the Miles Davis quintet, quiet tone-bending sax ruminations and a deliciously ramshackle version of Ornette Coleman's Check Out Time. It genuinely sounds like a coming-of-age for Ravi Coltrane. ~ John Fordham, The Guardian. 

Blue Note Records, 509999 18937 2 7, 2012
Recorded (#1,3,4,7,11) at Bennett's Studios, Englewood, New Jersey
Recorded (#2,5,8,9,10) at Sear Sound, New York City
Recorded (#6) at Systems Two Recording, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Ravi Coltrane - Tenor & Soprano Saxes
Joe Lovano - Tenor Sax (#9,10)
Luis Perdomo - Piano (#1,3,4,7,11)
Drew Gress - Bass (#1,3,4,7,11)
E.J. Strickland - Drums (#1,3,4,6,7,11)
Ralph Alessi - Trumpet (#2,5,8,9)
Geri Allen - Piano (#2,5,8-10)
James Genus - Bass (#2,5,8,9)
Eric Harland - Drums (#2,5,8,9)

Tracks:
01. Roads Cross {Gress, Strickland, Perdomo, Coltrane} (5:04)
02. Klepto {Ralph Alessi} (7:30)
03. Spirit Fiction {Gress, Strickland, Perdomo, Coltrane} (52:28)
04. The Change, My Girl {Ravi Coltrane} (6:46)
05. Who Wants Ice Cream {Ralph Alessi} (6:32)
06. Spring & Hudson {Ravi Coltrane} (2:21)
07. Cross Roads {Gress, Strickland, Perdomo, Coltrane} (5 (4:03)
08. Yellow Cat {Ralph Alessi} (6:50)
09. Check Out Time {Ornette Coleman} (7:26)
10. Fantasm {Paul Motian} (4:08)
11. Marilyn & Tammy {Ravi Coltrane} (5:42) 

Total Time: 58:57 

Credits:
Producer, Mixing - Ravi Coltrane
Producer, Mixing, Liner Notes - Joe Lovano
Executive-Producer - Bruce Lundvall
Recording Engineer - Dave Kowalski (#1,3,4,7,11)
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Chris Allen (#2,5,8-10)
Recording Engineer - Joe Marchiano (#6)
Mixing Engineer - Ravi Coltrane, Steve Genewick (#1,3,4,6,7,11)
Mixing Engineer - Joe Lovano (#2,5,8-10)
Mastering Engineer - Allan Tucker
Art Direction, Design - Hayden Miller
Photography - Darlene Devita 

Spirit Fiction

Furio Di Castri - Unknown Voyage (1988, 2000)

Recorded in 1988, originally released by the label A Tempo, Unknown Voyage it is a very significant work. The musical result is particularly remarkable for the level of the band here presented and for the compositions, all originals by Furio Di Castri. A recording that is a perfect example of the possibility to be in the mainstream and at the same time to be modern and original. Music built around a clear compositional project. Joe Lovano, Paul Motian, Franco D'Andrea and Furio Di Castri, a real jazz all-stars band, give life to a music in perfect balance between the written parts and the improvised ones with rare technical and expressive skills. ~ italianjazz.bandcamp.com. 

A Témpo Records, ATCD 882, 1989
Felmay Records, 21750 7019 2, 2000
Recorded December, 1988 at Studio Emme, Firenze, Italy 

Musicians:
Furio Di Castri - Double Bass
Joe Lovano - Tenor Saxophone
Franco D'Andrea - Piano
Paul Motian - Drums
Flavio Boltro - Trumpet (#11)
Manu Roche - Drums (#11)

Tracks:
01. Unknown Voyage (5:31)
02. Luce E Ombra (8:26)
03. Colors (3:16)
04. The Ancient Wood (0:49)
05. Lichtung (5:58)
06. Waiting (4:49)
07. Life Song (3:20)
08. Elena's Slow Dance (5:18)
09. Way Out (3:40)
10. Mingus' Faces (5:40)
11. Zac [Bonus] (4:37) 

All compositions by Furio Di Castri

Total Time: 51:30 

Credits:
Producer - Marco Magrini, Furio Di Castri
Executive Producer - Piero Borri
Engineer - Daniele Trambusti, Ben Frasinelli
Cover Design - Lucio Diana
Art Production - Piero Sisti 

Unknown Voyage

Joe Lovano - Flights Of Fancy: Trio Fascination Edition Two (2001)

With four decidedly different trios, Joe Lovano pushes the mainstream jazz envelope along its meandering course. The tenor saxophonist’s brusque tone stands apart as distinctively as his passion for molding the art form. This is a blue-collar effort from a creative, dues-paying, veteran artist. Consider the nonstandard combinations the leader employs here. Lovano joins Toots Thielemans and Kenny Werner for four pieces. He teams with Billy Drewes and Joey Baron for three. Three more tracks feature Mark Dresser and Dave Douglas, while half the album features Lovano with Cameron Brown and Idris Muhammad. In all, the artists engage in trio interplay with each member "speaking his own mind." Lovano encourages the others without dominating. Open trumpet, lyrical harmonica, melody-driven bass and other partners share in the album’s creation. On "Blue Mist," a rainbow of percussion textures surround one solitary soprano saxophone voice before the trio eventually moves into "Off and Runnin'," with two conversing saxophones. As with Lovano’s first Flights Of Fancy project, artist interaction is the key ingredient. When working with harmonica and piano, the saxophonist seems more at ease with the mainstream. When creating alongside Douglas’ trumpet or Drewes’ woodwinds, he’s stretching the envelope. In all situations, Lovano tends to share the microphone in creative interplay that seems determined not to simply recreate the past. Soundscapes, timbre combinations, unexpected turns, and variety mark the saxophonist’s adventures. On "206," he’s at the drum set while trumpet and bass weave melodies. Consisting, for the most part, of forward-looking avant-garde jazz, Lovano’s latest album belongs on this year’s "ten best" list. Directions are changing. It’s up to the "movers and shakers" heard here to continue moving jazz in new, creative directions. In order to survive, jazz must grow. ~ by Jim Santella, AAJ. 

Blue Note, 7243 5 27618 2 1, 2001
Recorded 14th-15th June, 2000 in Four Consecutive Sessions at Avatar Studios, New York 

Trio #1: 14th June, Noon-6:00 pm
Joe Lovano, Cameron Brown, Idris Muhammad
Trio #2: 14th June, 7:30 pm-Midnight
Joe Lovano, Billy Drewes, Joey Baron
Trio #3: 15th June, Noon-3:00 pm
Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner, Toots Thielemans
Trio #4: 15th June, 6:00 pm-9.00 pm
Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas, Mark Dresser 

Musicians:
Joe Lovano - Alto (#10), Tenor (#1-3,5-8,11,13,14) Soprano (#4,12) & C-Melody (#4) Saxes;
Alto (#4) & Bass (#9) Clarinets, Gongs (#4), Drums (#7), Percussion (#4)
Billy Drewes - Soprano Saxophone (#5,9), Alto Flute (#9), Percussion (#4)
Dave Douglas - Trumpet (#3,7,12)
Toots Thielemans - Harmonica (#2,13)
Kenny Werner - Piano (#2,6,13)
Cameron Brown - Bass (#1,4,8,10,11,13,14)
Mark Dresser - Bass (#3,7,12)
Idris Muhammad - Drums (#1,4,8,10,11,13,14)
Joey Baron - Drums (#4,5,9) 

Tracks:
01. Flights Of Fancy {Joe Lovano} (6:23) [#1]
02. On April [I'll Remember April] {Don Raye, Gene DePaul, Pat Johnson} (3:31) [#3]
03. Amsterdam {Joe Lovano} (4:36) [#4]
04. Blue Mist {Joe Lovano} (4:26) [#2/#1]
05. Off And Runnin' {Joe Lovano} (4:01) [#2]
06. Infant Eyes {Wayne Shorter} (6:26) [#3]
07. 206 {Joe Lovano} (6:35) [#4]
08. Bougainvillea {Judi Silvano} (8:01) [#1/#3]
09. Windom Street {Joe Lovano} (4:52) [#2]
10. Hot Shot {Joe Lovano} (4:42) [#1]
11. Aisha {McCoy Tyner} (3:57) [#1]
12. Amber {Joe Lovano} (3:10) [#4]
13. On Giant Steps {John Coltrane} (5:47) [#3/#1]
14. Flights Of Fancy [Reprise] {Joe Lovano} (1:26) [#1] 

Total Time: 67:53 

Credits:
Producer - Joe Lovano
Assistant Producer - Judy Silvano
Recording - James Farber
Mixing - Mark Fraunfelder, Rory Romano
Mastering - Greg Calibi
Art Direction and Design - Jessica Novod
Illustrations - David Hollenbach
Photography - Jimmy Katz

BeatleJazz - All You Need (2007)

Drummer Brian Melvin, keyboardist Dave Kikoski and bassist Larry Grenadier have hit on a winning combination with their BeatleJazz project, which features inventive jazz arrangements of Beatles melodies both familiar and (relatively) obscure. You might expect treacly, easy listening arrangements of these tunes, but the group instead opts for experimentation, and its experiments are usually successful. As usual, they have enlisted some help from their friends (sorry), and All You Need features contributions from legendary saxophonist Joe Lovano, bassist Richard Bona and harmonica virtuoso Toots Thielemans. Some of the treatments are fairly straight-ahead: "Fool on the Hill" is rendered as a lilting jazz waltz, and "The Night Before" is given a standard piano-trio arrangement prominently featuring Kikoski's Fender Rhodes piano. But "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" is played in a sharp and edgy style, and Bona sings "All You Need Is Love" affectingly in duala, his native language. On "Lady Madonna" the group takes a melody that is treacherously difficult to swing and manages to do just that, taking rhythmic liberties as necessary and turning the tune into a credible jazz vehicle. "Look at Me," one of the tracks on which Lovano makes an appearance, features some excellent blowing by the master but doesn't hang together quite as well as an arrangement. Overall, though, this album is a solid winner. ~ by Rick Anderson, AMG. 

Lightyear Entertainment, LTY 54796, 2007
Recorded 12th June, 2006 at Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, New York;
8th & 13th June, 2006 at Peter Karl Studio, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Dave Kikoski - Arranger, Piano, Synthesizer
Larry Grenadier - Bass (#1-3,5,7-9,11)
Brian Melvin - Drums, Tabla, Arranger 

Guests:
Joe Lovano - Saxophone (#3,8)
Toots Thielemans - Harmonica (#1,7,11)
Richard Bona - Bass, Vocals (#4,6,10) 

Tracks:
01. Fool On The Hill {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (4:24)
02. Lady Madonna {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (4:39)
03. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (7:09)
04. All You Need Is Love {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (5:20)
05. All Things Must Pass {George Harrison} (5:42)
06. The Night Before {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (7:40)
07. Beautiful Boy {John Lennon} (6:28)
08. Look At Me {John Lennon} (6:46)
09. I Want You [She's So Heavy] {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (7:18)
10. Cold Turkey {John Lennon} (7:16)
11. Waterfalls {Paul McCartney} (3:35) 

Total Time: 66:17 

Credits:
Producer - Dave Kikoski
Producer, Mixing - Brian Melvin
Executive Producer - Hisao Ebine
Engineer - Michael Marciano [Systems Two Studios]
Engineer [Assistant] - Mike Ross [Systems Two Studios]
Engineer - Jonathan Townesm [Peter Karl Studio]
Mixing - John Gronvall [Arcadia Studios]
Mixing [Assistant] - Sten Saluveer (#1,7,11) [Arcadia Studios]
Mastering - Matt Baxter [Baxter's Ranch]
Photography - John Abbott
Artwork, Design - Marju Toom-Melvin

Tim Hagans - No Words (1994)

The impressive trumpeter Tim Hagans holds his own with the tenor of Joe Lovano during a sextet session with guitarist John Abercrombie, keyboardist Marc Copland, bassist Scott Lee and drummer Bill Stewart that features nine of his originals. The music is essentially advanced hard bop (Lovano and Abercrombie both sound somewhat inspired) and Hagans displays both an attractive tone and a fertile imagination. It's a strong set of modern mainstream jazz. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

Blue Note, CDP 0777 7 89680 2 3, 1994

Recorded 3^rd December, 1993 At Power Station, New York City

Musicians:

Tim Hagans - Trumpet

Joe Lovano - Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone

Marc Copland - Piano, Fender Rhodes

John Abercrombie - Guitar

Scott Lee - Bass

Bill Stewart - Drums

Tracks:

1. No Words {Tim Hagans} (5:42)

2. Nog Rhythms {Tim Hagans} (8:29)

3. Waking Iris {Tim Hagans} (7:39)

4. Noogaloo {Tim Hagans} (6:45)

5. Immediate Left {Tim Hagans} (8:09)

6. Passing Giants {Tim Hagans} (5:04)

7. For The Music {Tim Hagans} (8:53)

8. Housewife From New Jersey {Tim Hagans} (8:00)

9. Lost In My Suitcase {Tim Hagans} (7:52)

Credits:

Producer - Tim Hagans

Producer, Liner Notes - Joe Lovano

Recording Engineer - James Farber

Mixing Engineer - A.T. Michael McDonald

Art Direction, Design - Mark Larson

Photography - Jeffrey Scales

Photography [Session] - Cheung Ching Ming

Total Time: 66:33