52nd Street Themes

Joe Lovano

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 25, 2000)
• Original Release Date: April 25, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B00004SQ28
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #105,328 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Why is Joe Lovano's retrobop revival record different from all the other retrobop revival records? Because 52nd Street Themes, which is dominated by five Tadd Dameron tunes, shakes off the musty museum reverence of such efforts and makes a very personal statement. Lovano's two most influential mentors in his native Cleveland--his father Tony and the album's arranger Willie "Face" Smith--both played with Dameron. So when Lovano plays a Dameron piece, he's not merely studying history, he's expressing the emotional debt of a son to a father, of a student to a teacher. Moreover, the saxophonist and leader has the kind of thick, creamy tone that does justice to the seductive melodies created by Dameron, Thelonious Monk, and Billy Strayhorn. And yet Lovano is a thorough modernist; no sooner does he evoke these old tunes than he pulls them apart and puts them back together again. There are seven nonet pieces (with Smith's wonderful, Mingus-like horn charts), two sextets, a quartet, a trio, a duo, and an unaccompanied sax solo. This is what Lester Young might have sounded like had he lived long enough to become David Murray. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now I get it!, April 26, 2000

By A Customer

First off...I am NOT a JAZZ historian/expert..just a lover of great music. I have appreciated Lovanos playing with others (Scofield) but have yet to get a release by the man himself that i haven't traded in. I do not know why I even bought this ..because it looked like it might be an over the top blowing session and I am more interested in melody and swing. AM I GLAD i took the chance..this is a WONDERFUL collection.

The arrangements as stated by the Amazon reviewer are absolutely swingin and classy...never cluttered. Lovanos playing seems more emotional and less concerned with virtuosity than on previous outings. A great recording gets better with repeated listenings and this certainly qualifies...This will STAY in my collection with my Monk , Mingus and Miles.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Class Act, May 22, 2000

By	Tim Jeter (VA) - See all my reviews

I am of the opinion that Joe Lovano and Michael Brecker ( not on this CD ) are the best sax men in jazz today. Two years ago I would have placed Kenny Garrett at the top but in light of the direction he has gone lately I have changed my view. Joe has done an album in a somewhat traditional vein with a big band flavor but stays cutting edge enough to satisfy people who like their jazz progressive. Fans of bop will really get into this. Actually , any jazz fan will like this recording. A killer CD.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Museum piece par excellence, August 7, 2000

By A Customer

I couldn't disagree more with the official Amazon review. This is very much a museum piece. Right down to the retro recording technique - live to analog two-track. Even the arrangements have a historical feel. Oh it's fine jazz and it's a fine museum piece. It looks back lovingly and never looses focus. But something is missing. This music is stale. Because it is so focused on the past, the musicians are at ease. They are so much at home there is no sense of excitement, no edge. No fun. No challenge to the listener. It is sure to sell millions. Compare almost _anything_ in similar setting: e.g.Clark Terry ("Having Fun" even has Lewis Nash on drums) or similar bop vein: Steve Swallow ("Real Book" or "Always Pack Your Uniform On Top") The past should propel the music, not hold it captive.