Joe Lovano & The Brusssels Jazz Orchestra - Wild Beauty

[GA Russell]

HALF NOTE RECORDS

ANNOUNCES A NEW RELEASE FROM

THE BRUSSELS JAZZ ORCHESTRA

featuring

JOE LOVANO

WILD BEAUTY

AVAILABLE IN STORES AND ONLINE SEPTEMBER 10, 2013

New York, August 22, 2013 - Following its triumphant partnership with pianist Kenny Werner (Institute of Higher Learning), the award-winning Brussels Jazz Orchestra turns its attention to Joe Lovano, long heralded a towering soloist among tenor saxophonists. Wild Beauty illuminates the composer side of Lovano's musicianship, featuring a palette of earthy tunes previously recorded with small groups, but now re-imagined for the 17-piece BJO. Gil Goldstein wrote the evocative arrangements.

The album is a summational work, filled with autobiographical abstractions. It draws its inspiration from Lovano's generational bloodlines in Italy. "I've dedicated this project to my mom, Josephine Verzi Lovano," he says. " She was born and lived her life in Cleveland, but her heart and soul were with her Sicilian roots and her family. All these tunes are reflections of my life and experiences."

Wild Beauty smolders with a warm glow, as if sculpted from the fiery ash at the base of Mt Etna (Europe's largest active volcano and the source of the album's penultimate track, "Miss Etna"). Lovano's influences can be heard throughout - from Ben Webster to John Coltrane to Enrico Caruso. His passion is heard too, spurred by the spirited play of the BJO, no stranger to Lovano (who led numerous workshops with the Orchestra's personnel over the years), and certainly no stranger to exceptional projects. In 2012 it earned an Academy Award for Best Original Film Score on behalf of "The Artist." Led by saxophonist Frank Vaganee, the BJO is one of Europe's strongest and most respected jazz aggregates.

Ultimately the power of Wild Beauty resides in its personalized narrative - a travelogue born from the collaborative synergy of Lovano, Goldstein and the Brussels Jazz Orchestra. Together they have crafted a special album.

Liner Notes by Joe Lovano

Arranged by Gil Goldstein

For further information on Joe Lovano, please visit www.joelovano.com. For further information on the BJO, please go to www.brusselsjazzorchestra.com.

TRACK TITLES

1. Wild Beauty

2. Powerhouse

3. Streets of Naples

4. Our Daily Bread

5. Big Ben

6. Sanctuary Park

7. Miss Etna

8. Viva Caruso

[John Tapscott]

Lovano's recordings generally leave me feeling a little disappointed. But the one time I heard him live was one of my greatest and most exciting listening experiences ever.

[GA Russell]

Half Note is promoting this one for various Grammy's.

[Larry Kart]

I'm usually lukewarm on Lovano, but this one is a gem, in large part because of Mike Abene's charts:

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=30334#.UmPsnijFUYg

[danasgoodstuff]

I heard Lovano be great and kind meh on the same day at Newport, but I think the difference in temp between the main stage in the sum and the side-stage in the shade was playing havoc with the horn players...

[GA Russell]

I'm usually lukewarm on Lovano, but this one is a gem, in large part because of Mike Abene's charts:

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=30334#.UmPsnijFUYg

I see that this got two Grammy nominations, for Best Large Jazz Ensemble and Best Arrangement (Gil Goldstein).