Joe Lovano's Paramount Quartet, featuring guitarist Julian Lage, bassist Asante Santi Debriano, and drummer Will Calhoun, delivers a masterful blend of bebop and free improvisation. The album, released on ECM Records, highlights Lovano's virtuosic saxophone playing across original compositions and covers of Charlie Haden and Wayne Shorter.
A Tribute to the Saxophone's Legacy
The saxophone, invented by Adolphe Sax in the 19th century, was initially sidelined by traditionalists. However, jazz musicians from Sidney Bechet to John Coltrane and Joe Lovano have elevated it to a central role in jazz. Lovano's Paramount Quartet captures the instrument's pliable eloquence, with Lovano's brilliant bebop chops and free-improvisational flair shining throughout.
Track Highlights
The album opens with Charlie Haden's First Song, featuring a lyrical solo guitar intro from Lage and an exquisite sax theme that evolves into extended improvisation over vaporous guitar chords. Amsterdam showcases Lovano's G mezzo soprano sax with symmetrical melodies and fast-paced sax-guitar interplay, driven by Calhoun's rattling percussion. Fanfare for Unity is a percussive, funk-infused dance, while Wayne Shorter's Lady Day offers an entrancing ballad. The closing track, Congregation, evokes a communal vibe, summing up the album's spirit.
A Late-Career Triumph
Paramount Quartet is a late-career triumph for Lovano, affirming his status as a tireless maestro. The quartet's chemistry is palpable, with each musician contributing to a cohesive yet adventurous sound.
Other Notable Releases
This month also sees releases from Joshua Redman with vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa on Diavola (Blue Note), featuring intimate covers and originals; guitarist Mahan Mirarab's Unspoken (ACT), blending Eastern and Western traditions; and the UK ensemble Empirical's Like Lambs: To the Slaughter (Whirlwind), mixing Yoruba traditions, European chamber music, and free improvisation.
