Joe Lovano is one of the undisputed giants on the New York jazz scene today. Raised in a musical family in Ohio, he started playing saxophone at age five. He moved to Boston to study music at Berklee, eventually settling in New York and working with Mel Lewis. In 1981 Lovano initiated a successful collaboration with drummer Paul Motian and guitarist Bill Frisell. Gaining in fame and popularity, this master improviser went on tour alone and recorded a string of albums, garnering honours and awards along the way. A Festival regular, he has also worked with other major league players like Herbie Hancock and Charlie Haden.