Cross Culture

Jazz | Jan 2013

Reviews

Fo
Reviewed 2013-01-26
JOE LOVANO US FIVE: Cross Culture
Blue Note, 2013

MODERN JAZZ – The third release from saxophone star Lovano’s unusual two-drum quintet adds African jazz guitarist Lionel Loueke for extra texture. The music has an open, exploratory feel, structured but not predictable at all, and Lovano jumps from horn to horn at will.

Fo’s Picks: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9

1. 6:18 – lively, lopsided bounce: percolates merrily along, sax sings to itself
2. 5:00 – open, improvisational: relaxed sax over busy twin drummers
3. 6:36 – slouching tune: sax/guitar/piano conversation over repeated pattern
4. 4:29 – spiky theme slides into jerky, thumping rhythms & angular solos
5. 7:34 – the only standard here: lovely Billy Strayhorn ballad, played straight
6. 5:41 – twisty & introspective: sax/guitar muse over billowing rhythm
7. 4:22 – thumping drum chant, high sax & quiet guitar get into it halfway thru
8. 5:18 – twin-bass intro: serene exotica perks up when soprano sax enters
9. 5:55 – neo-bop groover: tenor blows, but gently, solid bass & piano solos
10. 2:45 – quick, jerky tune: wacky double-sax sound from aulochrome
11. 7:53 – speedy cymbal rhythm sets up wide-open, free-roaming solos

[ Fo ] - 26 January 2013

Recent airplay

Blessings In May
RebopJul 15, 2016
Cross Culture
RebopApr 15, 2016
Blessings In May
RebopMar 18, 2016
Star Crossed Lovers
RebopFeb 19, 2016
Star Crossed Lovers
RebopJun 05, 2015
Journey Within, Star Crossed Lovers
RebopMar 27, 2015

Charting

2013-01-26 — 2013-03-31 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
Mar 31 2
Mar 17 2
Mar 10 3
Mar 3 3
Feb 24 3
Feb 17 2
Feb 10 3
Feb 3 4

Track listing

1. Blessings In May
2. Myths And Legends
3. Cross Culture
4. In A Spin
5. Star Crossed Lovers
6. Journey Within
7. Drum Chant
8. Golden Horn
9. Royal Roost
10. Modern Man
11. P.M.