2008 · Album
Symphonica
Recorded November 26, 2005 (live) · Blue Note Records · Produced by Information not verified — omitted
Lovano Takes the Orchestra Head-On
A live date that bets big on Lovano's tenor against a full orchestra — and mostly wins.
By 2009, when Joe Lovano's Symphonica was released on Blue Note Records, Lovano had been one of the most consistently interesting saxophonists working for decades. This was his 20th album on the label, which is a remarkable run by any measure. The recording captures a live concert from November 26, 2005, and the setting is ambitious: Lovano's tenor saxophone up against a full symphony orchestra. That combination has tripped up plenty of jazz musicians over the years, producing records that feel stiff or ceremonial. Symphonica avoids the worst of those pitfalls, though not entirely.
What works here is Lovano's refusal to just float on top of the orchestral arrangements. He digs in, plays with his usual slightly raw, woody tone, and doesn't sand off the jazz feel to accommodate the strings. The orchestral writing gives him room to breathe rather than smothering him, and there are stretches where the combination genuinely crackles. The live setting helps — there's an energy in the performance that a studio session might have ironed out. You can hear the ensemble responding to him in real time, which makes a difference.
That said, this isn't the album to start with if you're new to Lovano. His quartet and nonet recordings are sharper introductions to what he does. Symphonica is a side trip — a worthwhile one for fans who want to hear him stretch into a different context, but it's not essential. Think of it as a document of a specific night, a specific experiment. The concert clearly meant something, and the recording preserves that feeling without overselling it. For Lovano completists and anyone curious about jazz-orchestra pairings that actually swing, it earns its place in the catalog.
Who's playing
John Goldsbybass
Michael Hofmannbassoon
Frank Chastenierkeyboard, piano
Paul Shigiharaguitar
Joe Lovanotenor saxophone
Jens Neufangbaritone saxophone
Olivier Peterstenor saxophone
Karolina Strassmayeralto saxophone
Heiner Wibernyalto saxophone
Rob Bruynentrumpet
Andy Haderertrumpet
John Marshalltrumpet
Klaus Osterlohtrumpet
Jürgen Schustertrumpet
Mattis Cederbergtrombone
David Horlertrombone
Bernt Laukamptrombone
Ingo Luistrombone
Ludwig Nusstrombone
Steve Singertrombone
Brigitte Schreinerflute
Egmont Krauspercussion
Michael Schmidtpercussion
Romanus Schöttlerpercussion
Ricardo AlmeidaFrench horn
Johannes Chane Beckerviola
Ulla van Daelenharp
Hans Dekkermembranophone
Alfons GaisbauerFrench horn
Bernhard Holkerviola
