Viva Caruso

Viva Caruso is one of Joe Lovano's "most ambitious and enjoyable recordings". Inspired by the legendary Italian tenor, Enrico Caruso, Lovano deftly, yet directly, applies orchestral melodies and figures in different manners to create a beautifully meditative collection of music. The album contains a variety of songs, each of which focuses on a distinctive jazz interpretation of classical music.

Track listing

 * 1) "Vesti la giubba - Leoncavallo - 3:48
 * 2) "Tarantella Sincera for voice & orchestra - DeCrescenzo - 4:42
 * 3) "The Streets of Naples" - Lovano - 4:57
 * 4) "Cielo Turchino for voice & orchestra [Deep Blue Sky] - Ciociano - 4:42
 * 5) "Pecchè? for voice & orchestra [Why?] - Pennino - 7:39
 * 6) "O sole mio, for voice & piano (or orchestra)" - DeCapua - 6:47
 * 7) "Viva Caruso" - Lovano - 4:18
 * 8) "Campane a sera "Ave Maria", for voice & orchestra [Evening Bells]" - Billi - 7:02
 * 9) "Santa Lucia, Neapolitan song" - Traditional - 4:25
 * 10) "Sultanto a Te for voice & orchestra [Only to You]" - Fuciio - 5:57
 * 11) "Il Carnivale di Pulcinella - Lovano - 6:42
 * 12) "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)