ALBUM REVIEW: Joe Lovano & Us Five "Cross Culture"

Cleveland, Ohio born Joe Lovano received early inspiration and instruction from his father. Indeed, the elder Lovano nurtured his son and gave the boy sturdy roots from which his talent grew. Not limiting himself to just one instrument, the grown-up Joe Lovano has mastered multiple types of saxophones, flute, alto clarinet and drums, which propelled him to fame and international recognition. Now, the legendary Blue Note Records has released the highly anticipated 2013 album titled "Cross Culture" from Joe Lovano and Us Five which features 11 juicy tracks - ten of which are signature Lovano compositions. 

"Blessings In May" opens the disc with a polyrhythmic profusion of aural pleasure. Frontman Lovano pulls dual duty on both the G-Mezzo and tenor saxophones, which culminates in a seemingly effortless transition between the two very different horns. Complementing the tune are James Weidman on keys, bassist Peter Slavov and original Us Five bassist Esperanza Spalding. The Grammy award winning Spalding graces this disc on three additional tracks. Interestingly, Lovano pairs drummers Francisco Mela on the left channel and Otis Brown III on the right, mixing the two together with true aplomb. This rhythmic duet maintains a consistent symbiotic percussive relationship throughout the entire bouncy track.

Lovano's arrangement of the Billy Strayhorn classic, "Star Crossed Lovers," begins with subtle piano and then digs right in with excellent sax work on the melody. The tune builds by weaving the other fine players of Us Five into the mix and aurally nudges the listener to share in the (often) ill-fated plight of the "Star Crossed Lovers." As the sounds of the instrumentalists fade, the listener is left with an emotional sense of longing. The music takes the listener on the lovers' journey without having to endure the actual drama that a star-crossed pairing entails. Conjuring images of Marc Antony and Cleopatra, Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala from the Star Wars saga, or perhaps even Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai of Chinese legend, this tune is a trip you'll want to take again and again.

On the final cut, Lovano shines. The progressively traditional "Royal Roost" offers cascading sax runs, catchy bass and delicious drums. It is a perfect tune for any occasion: cocktail party, automobile driving or even a dedicated task. Listeners will be tempted to hit the 'repeat' button, because it seems a bit of a shame that the song has to end. "Royal Roost" could (and should) be an outstanding choice for a film soundtrack, due to its upbeat nature and sophisticated sound. Quite frankly, every single  track on "Cross Culture" has the potential to be utilized in a quality film. They are that good, well worth repeating and will be a useful addition to your collection. R. Todd Jones for JazzMusicChart.com