Joe Lovano With Us Five: A Different Kind Of Bird
Set List
- "Yardbird Suite"
- "Koko"
- "Donna Lee"
- "Barbados"
Live sessions in the KPLU Performance Studio are always fun, but when saxophonist Joe Lovano stopped by with his group Us Five, it was more than fun. It was also an honor. New York Times jazz critic Ben Ratliff put it succinctly: "It's fair to say that [Lovano is] one of the greatest musicians in jazz history."
Usually in our studio sessions, we begin with a song from the visiting artist, chat for a moment, hear another song, chat again and hear another song — and that's that. Lovano, though, wanted to go about it a bit differently. He gave a few introductory remarks and then performed an uninterrupted four-song mini-set of Charlie Parker compositions (reflecting the content of his current tour and his latest CD, Bird Songs). So here they are: Joe Lovano and Us Five, with James Weidman (piano), Peter Slavov (bass), Otis Brown III (drums) and Francisco Mela (drums). With Us Five, Bird lives and soars to new heights.
More From This Series
Favorite Sessions
Alialujah Choir: Bowler Hats And Harmonies
This Portland trio lives by two rules: Have fun and harmonize. Watch it back that up for OPBmusic.
Favorite Sessions
David Bromberg: In The Studio, A New Lease On Life
The folksinger and guitarist recently returned to music, reinvigorated after a 17-year respite.
Favorite Sessions
Stephin Merritt: A Few Ways To Off Your Ex
The Magnetic Fields' frontman stops by the WFUV studio to perform "Your Girlfriend's Face."
Comments
Please keep your community civil. All comments must follow the NPR.org Community rules and terms of use. See also the Community FAQ.
NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its website or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.