Viva Caruso
| Viva Caruso | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 23, 2002 | |||
| Recorded | October 13 and 15, 2001 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 65:06 | |||
| Label | Blue Note | |||
| Producer | Joe Lovano | |||
| Joe Lovano chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Tom Hull | B+[2] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings |  [3] |
Viva Caruso is an album by American saxophonist Joe Lovano. It is a tribute album to opera singer Enrico Caruso, featuring a small orchestral ensemble and performing jazz interpretations of compositions associated with Caruso..
Reception
Allmusic described this album as Lovano's "most ambitious and enjoyable recordings".[4] Ben Ratliff of The New York Times mentioned: "Against the throbbing, susurrating group sound, Mr. Lovano just flowed, playing with a strong, aerated tone; he delivered fresh, forthright melodic material and played all around it. Everything about the set was original, from idea to execution."[5]
Track listing
- "Vesti la giubba - Leoncavallo - 3:48
- "Tarantella Sincera for voice & orchestra - DeCrescenzo - 4:42
- "The Streets of Naples" - Lovano - 4:57
- "Cielo Turchino for voice & orchestra [Deep Blue Sky] - Ciociano - 4:42
- "Pecchè? for voice & orchestra [Why?] - Pennino - 7:39
- "O sole mio, for voice & piano (or orchestra)" - DeCapua - 6:47
- "Viva Caruso" - Lovano - 4:18
- "Campane a sera "Ave Maria", for voice & orchestra [Evening Bells]" - Billi - 7:02
- "Santa Lucia, Neapolitan song" - Traditional - 4:25
- "Sultanto a Te for voice & orchestra [Only to You]" - Fuciio - 5:57
- "Il Carnivale di Pulcinella - Lovano - 6:42
- "For You Alone for voice & piano (or orchestra) - Geehl, O'Reilly - 4:07
Personnel
- Joe Lovano – tenor sax (on all tracks)
- Joe Lovano Street Band (tracks 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11)
- Joe Lovano – arrangements and orchestrations
- Ed Schuller and Scott Lee – bass (both on all tracks)
- Gil Goldstein – accordion (3, 7)
- Joey Baron – drums (3, 7, 9, 11)
- Carmen Castaldi – drums (1, 6, 7, 11)
- Bob Meyer – mallets (1), drums (6, 7, 11)
- Jamey Haddad – mazhar (frame drum) (11)
- Michael Bocian – acoustic guitar (11)
- Judi Silvano – voice and flute (11)
- Billy Drewes – clarinet (11)
- Herb Robertson – trumpet (11)
- Gary Valente – trombone (11)
- Opera House Ensemble (tracks 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12)
- Byron Olson – arrangements, orchestrations, conductor
- Helen Campo – flute
- Dick Oatts – flute
- Billy Drewes – clarinet
- Charles Russo – bass clarinet
- Kim Lackowski – bassoon
- Michael Rabinowitz – bassoon
- Tom Christianson – oboe, English horn
- John Clark – French horn
- Ed Schuller – bass (tracks 2, 4, 8)
- Judi Silvano – voice (5 & 8)
- Gil Goldstein – accordion (5, 10, 12)
- Scott Lee – bass (5, 10, 12)
References
- ^ Allmusic Review
- ^ "Tom Hull: Grade List: Joe Lovano". Tom Hull. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 910. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
- ^ Joe Lovano: Viva Caruso - Joe Lovano | AllMusic
- ^ Ratliff, Ben. "MUSIC IN REVIEW; Joe Lovano". The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2025.