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Title: Misstep
Review: No question that Lovano is a major contemporary figure, he's earned that through a series of marvelous records. This is a major disappointment though, nothing at all like the superb Trio Fascination Vol. 1. The problem lies in the conception - the various ensembles deny the CD any focus whatsoever, the number of tracks with each group means that there is no room [time] for a good exploration of the best parts, and the personnel choices are not ideal. One would expect Lovano and Dave Douglas to combust, but they play past each other, Billy Drewes is as thin-sounding and meaningless as usual, and Joe himself plays drums on several tracks, in order to provide the proper instrumentation within the guidelines of a trio, and Joe is simply not good at it. Skip it, especially if you're a fan.
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