a wonderful album and an auspicious debut for the new group seemingly opening up another chapter in Lovano’s long and distinguished career.
ECM 2855 / 78519 CD & 7851811 LP
Joe Lovano (tenor saxophone, tarogatos); Julian Lage (guitar); Asante Santi Debriano (double bass); Will Calhoun (drums)
Recorded February 2025
Continuing his decades long musical journey and his highly productive association with ECM, Joe Lovano debuts his new Paramount Quartet with a collection of five original compositions for the quartet and two readings of pieces by contemporary jazz giants in Charlie Haden and Abbey Lincoln’s ‘First Song’ and ‘Lady Day’ by Wayne Shorter.
Appropriately the set opens with ‘First Song’ with this gentle piece that brings out some delicate and lyrical playing from both Lovano on tenor and the guitar of Julian Lage. This gentle side of the quartet is also displayed on Shorter’s composition that brings a concentrated performance from all four musicians from Lage’s contemplative introduction and his lyrical solo that combined with Lovano’s tenor and sympathetic accompaniment, or rather dialogue, with bass and drums reveal the new group to be one of the saxophonist’s finest.
This is further cemented with the original compositions that allow the quartet more space and freedom in which to explore their burgeoning relationship as a unit. The empathy is quite staggering as the quartet work their way through the angular theme and propulsive groove of ‘Amsterdam’ with the dialogue between Lovano’s tarogato and bass and drums of note. This sense of deep communication is also inherent in ‘The Call’ with the quartet’s daring use of space and silence that is a model of restraint and used to produce compelling music.
The wonderful relationship and understanding between bassist Asante Santi Debriano and drummer Will Calhoun both colours and propels the music in equal measure often in very subtle ways with the pair setting up effective grooves for Lovano and Lage to work from as on ‘Fanfare for Unity’ and the exuberant feel of the closing ‘Congregation’.
All in all, a wonderful album and an auspicious debut for the new group seemingly opening up another chapter in Lovano’s long and distinguished career.
