Joe Lovano has carved out an impressive career finding new musical worlds to conquer, with albums ranging from Ellingtonia to bebop to even Caruso. This time, he forms a trio with the free thinking team of Marilyn Crispell/p and Carmen Castaldi/dr-perc, with moods ranging from deep mystique to post bop experimentation.
He takes up the Eastern European tarogoto to add to his musical lexicon, and it works well on the moodier themes and echoes as on the almost chanting “Mystic” while he takes a visit to the inner sanctum with drums and percussion on “Gong.” Crispell produces muscular chords on “The Smiling Dog” and creates a film noir mood with Lovano’s breathy tenor sax on the sepia toned “Seeds of Change” likewise the three forming a spacy dream for “One Time In.” The overall environment is akin to morning light eking through a stained glass window with gentle lights glimmering through the scent of the candle smoke.
ECM Records