JOE LOVANO — Homage (2025) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano and Polish pianist Marcin Wasilewski reunite for their second collaboration, 2025's harmonically unfettered, free-leaning Homage. The album, which follows their 2022 duet Arctic Riff, builds nicely upon their intuitive sense of group interplay, moving between deftly composed works and wholly improvised ones. Joining them once again is Wasilewski's trio featuring bassist Sławomir Kurkiewicz and drummer Michał Miśkiewicz. This is the same group that earned acclaim for their work with the late trumpeter Tomasz Stanko and who bring an equally empathetic approach to playing with Lovano. Cuts like the opening "Love in the Garden" and "Golden Horn" have a tender, sun-dappled quality that conjures a striking blend of John Coltrane and Duke Ellington's later career small group work. Equally evocative is "This Side - Catville" which evokes the swinging, off-kilter free bop of the Ornette Coleman quartet. Yet more esoteric are Lovano's two solo performances: the moody saxophone piece "Giving Thanks" and his textured percussion work on "Projection." While those solo tracks certainly pull the listener deeper into Lovano's dreamy, stream-of-consciousness lyricism, the album is most compelling when the players combine their voices. This is underscored on the title track, a free improvisation that finds Lovano spiraling melodic ideas off Wasilewski as the trio responds in kind. With Homage, Lovano and Wasilewski remain adventurous, kindred spirits. Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1.    Love In The Garden 4:11
Composed By – Zbigniew Seifert
2.    Golden Horn 10:20
Composed By – Joe Lovano
3.    Homage 8:00
Composed By – Joe Lovano
4.    Giving Thanks 2:25
Composed By – Joe Lovano
5.    This Side - Catville 12:00
Composed By – Joe Lovano
6.    Projection 2:03
Composed By – Joe Lovano
Credits :
Double Bass – Slawomir Kurkiewicz
Drums – Michal Miskiewicz
Piano – Marcin Wasilewski
Producer [Album Produced By] – Manfred Eicher
Tenor Saxophone, Tárogató [Tarogato], Gong [Gongs] – Joe Lovano