Joe Lovano has been cutting records since 1985. Here he has put together a group of younger artists as his backing band and they are exploring the work of Charlie Parker. I like Lovano's take on the Parker standards like the opener "Passport." He slows the tempo a bit letting the band fill out the sound behind him to create a deep and rich song. I actually prefer Lovano's take on songs like "Passport" and "Donna Lee" to that of Parker's.
Where I think Lovano and his band struggle is when they take a less structured and a more abstract approach at interpretation. Take a song like "Ko Ko" where I think they get a bit lost trying to figure out where to go with this complex, fast paced, Parker tune.
If you are in the mood for some jazz I say throw this one on and give it a listen. It would be fun to have on while having coffee with friends.
Following the Rhapsody rating method I give it 2 out of 5 stars for Not Bad.
In Louisville in the summer of 1989, I paid $7.95 or some outrageous amount for a cassette of Charlie Parker music, and I've enjoyed off and on ever since.
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