Joe Lovano - Tones, Shapes and Colors

CDs: Tones, Shapes and Colors

1. Chess Mates (Werner)
2. Compensation (Werner)
3. La Louisiane (Lovano)
4. Tones, Shapes and Colors (Lovano)
5. Ballad for Trane (Werner)
6. In the Jazz Community (Lovano)
7. Nocturne (Lovano)

Joe Lovano - Tenor Saxophone, Gongs
Kenny Werner - Piano
Dennis Irwin - Bass
Mel Lewis - Drums

Produced by Giovanni Bonandrini

Recorded November 21, 1985

"...the interplay by the musicians, the excellent pacing of tempos and moods, and the consistently satisfying solos make this a set worth searching for." - Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

My first recording as a leader features my 1985 working Quartet: Kenny Werner on piano, Dennis Irwin on bass and Mel Lewis on drums. We recorded this on November 21st of that year at the Jazz Coalition, New York. The title track features unaccompanied tenor sax and gong, played simultaneously. That concept was born in the early 80s, with my passion for drums and percussion.

I started playing with Mel in 1980, when I joined the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Kenny Werner and I met in the early 70s, in Boston and we’ve been very close associates and brothers in this music and our lives, ever since. We’ve collaborated a number of times, under each other’s leadership, and we’ve really developed in the music together, through the years. And I'm still playing with Dennis, in my Trio and Nonet!

"Move over Pavarotti, the greatest Italian tenor around today isn't Luciano, but Lovano. " Will Friedwald, Village Voice