NYU Jazz Faculty and Grammy Award winning saxophonist Joe Lovano was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and began playing alto sax as a child. His performance career from the mid 70’s includes work with Lonnie Smith, Brother Jack McDuff, the Woody Herman Thundering Herd, the Mel Lewis Orchestra, the Paul Motian band, John Scofield, Herbie Hancock, Elvin Jones, Charlie Haden, Carla Bley, Bobby Hutcherson, Billy Higgins, Dave Holland, Ed Blackwell, Michel Petrucciani, Lee Konitz, Abbey Lincoln, Tom Harrell, McCoy Tyner, Jim Hall, Bob Brookmeyer and many more. Professor Lovano's is known for a fearless ability to challenge and push the conceptual and thematic paradigms in his quest for new modes of artistic expression and the development of defines the jazz idiom. As noted in The Village Voice, "Move over Pavarotti, the great Italian tenor around today isn't Luciano, but Lovano." Visit www.joelovano.com
Selected Awards
- 2005 Down Beat Critic’s & Reader’s Polls – Winner “Tenor Saxophonist of the Year”
- 2004 New York Times – Jazz Album Of The Year -- “I’m All For You”
- 2004 Down Beat Critic’s & Reader’s Polls – Winner “Tenor Saxophonist of the Year”
- 2004 Jazz Journalists Association Critic’s Choice Awards Nominee for “Large Ensemble of the Year” (Nonet) and “Tenor Saxophonist of the Year”;
- 2003 Downbeat Critic's Poll Winner - Tenor Saxophonist of the Year
- 2002 NY Times Top Ten Jazz Albums - "Viva Caruso"
- 2001 Down Beat Reader’s Poll Winner for Jazz Artist of the Year; Tenor Saxophonist of the Year; Jazz Album of the Year for “52nd Street Themes” (“Flights Of Fancy” placed #3)
- 2001 Down Beat Critic’s Poll Winner for Musician of the Year
- 2001 Jazz Journalists Association Critic’s Choice Awards Winner for “Musician of the Year” and “Jazz Album of the Year” (52nd St. Themes); Nominated for “Small Ensemble of the Year” (Nonet); “Tenor Saxophonist of the Year”;
- 2001 Recipient of "The Gary Burton Chair for Jazz Performance" by Berklee College of Music
- 2000 Grammy Winner for Best Large Ensemble for 52nd Street Themes
- 2000 Down Beat Readers & Critics Poll Winner Tenor Player of the Year
- 2000 Jazz Journalists Association Critic’s Choice Awards Nominee for “Musician of the Year” and Winner “Tenor Saxophonist of the Year”
- 1999 Jazz Times Readers Poll Album of the Year Trio Fascination: Edition One
- 1999 Bell Atlantic Jazz Awards, winner Best Tenor Saxophonist and nominee for
Musician of the Year
- 1998 New York Jazz Awards nominee for Musician Of The Year; Improviser of the Year; Best Tenor Saxophonist
- 1998 Jazz Journalists Association Critics Choice Awards nominee for Musician of the Year; Best Improviser of the Year; Best Artist/Band In Performance; Best Combo of 1997 (Joe Lovano Sextet); Best Tenor Sax Player of the Year
- 1998 Awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of Music
- 1997 Grammy Nominee Best Instrumental Performance for Celebrating Sinatra
- 1997 Jazz Journalists Association Critics Choice Awards Winner
"Album of the Year" for Quartets Live At The Vanguard and nominee for Musician of the Year; Best Instrumentalist; Best Working Band
(Joe Lovano Quartet);
- 1996 Grammy Nominee Best Jazz Small Group Album and Jazz Solo for Quartets Live at the Village Vanguard
- "Jazz Artist of the Year" 1995 & 1996 Down Beat Critics Poll & Readers Poll
- "Tenor Player of the Year" 1995 Down Beat Readers Poll
- "Album of the Year" Rush Hour 1995 Down Beat Critics & Readers Poll
- 1995 Grammy Nominee Best Large Ensemble for Rush Hour
- 1995 Jazz Report Magazine (Canada)"International Artist of the Year"
- 1994 Grammy Nominee Best Jazz Small Group Album for Tenor Legacy
Lovano's Blue Note releases as a leader include:
Landmarks (Blue Note 96108),
From the Soul (Blue Note 98636),
Universal Language (Blue Note 99830),
Tenor Legacy (Blue Note 27014),
Rush Hour (Blue Note 29629),
Joe Lovano Quartets at the Village Vanguard (Blue Note 29125),
Joe Lovano Celebrating Sinatra (Blue Note CDP37718)
Flying Colors (Blue Note CDP 56092),
Trio Fascination: Edition One (Blue Note CDP 33114)
Friendly Fire (Blue Note CDP 99125)
52nd Street Themes (Blue Note CDP 96667).
Flights of Fancy: Trio Fascination, Edition Two (Blue Note CDP 27618),
Viva Caruso (Blue Note CDP 35986),
On This Day…At The Vanguard, (Blue Note CDP 96667).