Mr. Lovano is a big, burly man, bearded and jovial with a personality that emanates warmth. His predominant instrument is the tenor saxophone and he dominates his horn with a virtuosity and authority that few other present day players possess.
Prior to The Oscars' embracing Outasight's "Tonight Is The Night" -- well, not with an award but with broadcast muscle -- the single had airplay on over 115 Top 40 radio stations, sales of over 530,000 copies, over 18,000 daily streams on Spotify, and over 5 million views on YouTube.
For the last several years, the trumpeter Tim Hagans has been a ubiquitous force on the modern jazz scene, both as a powerful voice on his instrument and as a talented composer and arranger.
Two Saturday's ago, in the sleepy town of Irvington, NY, the Westchester Jazz Orchestra kicked off their 2011 season with a very special guest, the eminent saxophonist Joe Lovano.