Joe Lovano: Jazz Tenor Solos

Joe Lovano was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 29, 1952. He studied saxophone with his father Tony "Big T" Lovano until leaving home in 1971 to attend the Berklee School of Music in Boston. His early professional career included stints with organist Jack McDuff, Lonnie Smith (with whom did his first recording "Afro-desia" in 1974), and three years with The Woody Herman Thundering Herd. Since 1980 he has been a member of The Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, playing every Monday night at the Village Vanguard, as well as performing regularly with the trail-blazing Paul Motion Trio. He has worked with such jazz greats as Elvin Jones, Carla Bley, Charlie Haden, John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Peter Erskine, Henri Texier, Aldo Romano, Ken Werner, Mark Johnson and Tom Harrell. Joe is an active clinician and on the faculties of New York University, William Patterson College, and The New School. He plays a Selmer Balanced Action Tenor Saxopgone with a wooden mouthpiece handmade by Francois Luis and No. 4 Prestini Reeds.