HANK JONES & JOE LOVANO

‘Joyous Encounter’ is the title of Joe Lovano’s latest CD on which he collaborates with ‘national treasure’ (to quote Lovano) Hank Jones (87). In this intimate setting the joyous encounter reaches high peaks of lyricism and swing, not to mention fascinating contrasts between the exuberant tenor player and the master of the subtle statement. Downbeat wrote about Jones: ‘When stimulated, as he is on the 2004 Lovano-Jones collaboration I’m All For You (Blue Note) and this year’s followup, Joyous Encounter, there is no fresher voice in jazz.’