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The Best Music Of May: NPR Staff Picks

Top left, clockwise: Sinéad Harnett, Olivia Rodrigo, The Zolas, Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen, Bill Laurance, Sound Prints. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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All Songs Considered

The Best Music Of May: NPR Staff Picks

In May, we swooned to Olivia Rodrigo's Sour, marveled at Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen, went back to the '90s with The Zolas, bathed in the opulent luxury of Sinéad Harnett's voice, got lost in Bill Laurance's piano universe, and jazz group Sound Prints expanded its possibilities.

The Best Music Of May: NPR Staff Picks

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International Jazz Day's Global Celebrations Are On, And Again Online

Herbie Hancock, speaking to high school students in the State Dining Room of the White House during President Obama's celebration of International Jazz Day on April 29, 2016. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

Music News

International Jazz Day's Global Celebrations Are On, And Again Online

WBGO

April 30 will bring the International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert, with artists from across the world taking part in another digital edition of the show, in addition to several other events.

Cleveland's Joe Lovano Comes Home

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Craig Lovell/Courtesy of the artist

Jazz Night In America

Cleveland's Joe Lovano Comes Home

WBGO and Jazz At Lincoln Center

Every December, saxophonist Joe Lovano travels home to Cleveland to throw himself a birthday concert. We hear tales of Lovano family lore, and a get a slice of his musical past and present.

Cleveland's Joe Lovano Comes Home

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For John Scofield, Everything Old Is New Again — Even The Hard Parts

John Scofield's latest album, Past Present, reunites an old quartet for set of tunes steeped in reflection and loss. Philippe Levy/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Philippe Levy/Courtesy of the artist

Music News

For John Scofield, Everything Old Is New Again — Even The Hard Parts

The jazz guitarist has a new record out with an old quartet, playing music that deals, in part, with the death of Scofield's son.

For John Scofield, Everything Old Is New Again — Even The Hard Parts

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Joe Lovano And Dave Holland On Piano Jazz

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Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz

Joe Lovano And Dave Holland On Piano Jazz

The saxophonist and bassist formed a dynamic trio with Marian McPartland for this 2000 session.

Joe Lovano And Dave Holland In The Studio

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SFJAZZ Center Opening Night On JazzSet

Chick Corea (keyboard) joined the SFJAZZ Collective for the closing performance, an arrangement of his piece "Spain." Scott Chernis/Courtesy of SFJAZZ Center hide caption

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Scott Chernis/Courtesy of SFJAZZ Center

JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater

SFJAZZ Center Opening Night On JazzSet

WBGO

On opening night at San Francisco's newly constructed building designed for and dedicated to jazz, fans filled the stunning Robert N. Miner Auditorium for a maiden voyage and festive concert.

SFJAZZ Center Opening Night On JazzSet

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Best Music Of 2008

Geniuses Collide In 2008's Best Jazz

90.5 WESA

Cross-pollination of excellent musicians made for some amazing jazz in 2008. The year's best CDs feature numerous musicians collaborating with each other on a wide variety of recordings. Hearing the best musicians work with other geniuses is a wonderful thing to witness. Here are 10 of the best jazz CDs of the year.

Hear Shaunna Morrison Machosky Discuss Her Top Pick

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Concerts

Joe Lovano and Mike Stern in Concert

WBGO

Two artists in prime musical condition, in terms of both careers and chops, play outdoors and back to back at the J&R Music Festival in New York. This program is dedicated to Lovano's longtime friend and bandmate, Dennis Irwin, who died earlier this year.

Joe Lovano in Concert on JazzSet 8/26/06

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Music Interviews

Joe Lovano, Returning to 'The Birth of the Cool'

On a new CD, Streams of Expression, tenor sax player Joe Lovano performs three songs arranged by Gil Evans for the Miles Davis Nonet. The selections form the origins of the "cool sound" in jazz. They're part of a suite sewn together by Gunther Schuller, who played with Davis.

Joe Lovano, Returning to 'The Birth of the Cool'

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Music

'Saxophone Summit: A Gathering of Spirits'

Music critic Ashley Kahn reviews Saxophone Summit: A Gathering of Spirits, a new jazz CD spotlighting three contemporary saxophone masters: Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman and Michael Brecker.

'Saxophone Summit: A Gathering of Spirits'

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Music Interviews

Saxophonist & Composer Joe Lovano

Fresh Air

In 2000, saxophonist Joe Lovano was voted Down Beat Readers and Critics Poll Winner Tenor Player of the Year. Early in his career, Lovano played with Woody Herman and the Mel Lewis Orchestra. He's also worked with Elvin Jones, Carla Bley, Lee Konitz and Charlie Haden. And he played with the Paul Motian Trio which featured his Berklee School of music classmate, Bill Frisell. In 1991 he began work as a leader, and has recorded a number of albums. His latest is Flights of Fancy: Trio Fascination, Edition Two.

Saxophonist & Composer Joe Lovano

Only Available in Archive Formats.
Sound Prints Quintet: Live At The Village Vanguard

The Sound Prints Quintet is (L-R): Lawrence Fields, Dave Douglas, Joe Lovano, Linda Oh, Joey Baron. John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com hide caption

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John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com

Live At The Village Vanguard

Sound Prints Quintet: Live At The Village Vanguard

WBGO

Few jazz bandleaders are as active — and as actively acclaimed — as saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas. They've launched a band with friends new and old. Hear a live performance.

Sound Prints Quintet: Live At The Village Vanguard

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Tenors Of Our Time: Five Saxophone Modernists

Folk Art is Joe Lovano's 21st recording for the Blue Note label. He gives a generous nod to Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango on the stand-out track, "Dibango." Jimmy Katz/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jimmy Katz/Courtesy of the artist

Take Five: A Jazz Sampler

Tenors Of Our Time: Five Saxophone Modernists

WBGO

Even with his contributions to the instrument, not even Coleman Hawkins could have predicted how the tenor saxophone would become so centrally identifiable with jazz. Five of today's leading tenor players have new releases in 2009, each with his own take on the shape of jazz to come.

Gary Burton On JazzSet
Courtesy of Phil Farnsworth

Concerts

Gary Burton On JazzSet

WBGO

The vibraphonist celebrates 50 years at Berklee College of Music with three generations of friends. Joe Lovano, Steve Swallow and Julian Lage all join Gary Burton onstage for this concert from JazzSet.

Gary Burton On JazzSet

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Joe Lovano With Us Five: A Different Kind Of Bird

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Favorite Sessions

Joe Lovano With Us Five: A Different Kind Of Bird

Jazz24

Saxophonist Joe Lovano and his group Us Five get down to business in this session with KPLU. Listen to the band play works from jazz great Charlie Parker.

Joe Lovano With Us Five: A Different Kind Of Bird

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Joe Lovano: Drawing On 'Bird'

On Bird Songs, Joe Lovano looks for new ways into Charlie Parker's material. Courtesy of Jimmy Katz hide caption

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Courtesy of Jimmy Katz

Review

Music Reviews

Joe Lovano: Drawing On 'Bird'

Fresh Air

In the 1940s, Charlie Parker, nicknamed "Bird," was a prime mover behind the new style of bebop, with its refined harmonies, offbeat rhythms and abstract melodies played at breakneck speed. On Bird Songs, Joe Lovano looks for new ways into Parker's material.

Joe Lovano: Drawing On 'Bird'

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