Universal Language is one of
Joe Lovano's most ambitious and successsful albums, an attempt to prove the cliché that music is indeed the universal language. He does this by writing a set of ten original compositions that cover a broad spectrum of sounds and styles, from hard bop to worldbeat-influenced post-bop. His band -- trumpeter
Tim Hagans, drummer
Jack DeJohnette, pianist
Kenny Werner, vocalist
Judi Silvano and bassists
Charlie Haden,
Scott Lee and
Steve Swallow -- handle the subtleties of the music expertly, bringing the melodic themes into unexpected territory.
Silvano's voice is used as texture, not a lead instrument, which helps give the music complexity and an otherworldly depth. It's an unabashedly adventurous and risky project, and it works frighteningly well. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine