Viva Caruso
The ebullient Italian-American jazz tenor-saxophonist Joe Lovano pays  tribute to the legendary Italian tenor Enrico Caruso, employing small combos and a 12-piece chamber ensemble primarily comprised of woodwinds, as arranged and conducted by Byron Olsen. Lovano covers some of Caruso's opera "hits," obscure songs, and traditional Neapolitan ditties. Lovano's deep tones and passion parallel Caruso's vocal gifts. The saxophonist adds a Coltrane-tinged, sax/bass/drum configuration to "Vesta la giubba" fromPagliacci. On the slower rendition of "Tarantella sincera" and the waltzy "Soltano a te (Only for You)," Lovano and the woodwinds echo Gil Evans's sonorities. Judy Silvano's silky wordless vocals grace the bossa nova spiced "Compane a sera (Evening Bells)," while Gil Goldstein's accordion laces Lovano's "The Streets of Naples" with a tinge of the tango. Lovano's tour-de-force is the four-part suite, "Il carnevale di Pulcinella"; it pays tribute to the commedia dell'arte and to the Italian tarantella dance form. We can practically hear maestro Caruso shout from the heavens, "Viva Lovano!"--Eugene Holley Jr.