Photo by Desmond White
Alex LoRe -alto saxophone
Thomas Morgan -bass
Kush Abadey -drums
Saxophonist Lee Konitz was a mentor of mine. I used to go up to his apartment on 86th street frequently to have lunch, play/talk about music, and just enjoy his company. His playing has been and continues to have a strong influence on me. His trio album, Motion, with Elvin Jones and Sonny Dallas (released on Impulse!/Verve in 1961) is one of my all time favorites. The idea for the project was to channel the spirit of Motion by including spontaneous improvisations over standards, original compositions of mine, and free group improvisations. As a final nod to Lee, he was 34 years old when he recorded "Motion", and we finished the recording just 2 days shy of my 35th birthday.
Praised by The New York Times as a saxophonist who is “...making the connections among about 70 years’ worth of contemplative, articulate and light–toned players,” Alex LoRe is an active alto saxophonist and composer on the New York music scene. Mentored by such masters as Lee Konitz, George Garzone, and Bunky Green, LoRe’s playing and compositions reflect a myriad of influences ranging from the contemporary classical repertoire through today’s most influential artists on both the jazz and popular music scenes. LoRe has released three albums as a leader and recorded on over two dozen albums as a side musician. In New York, he frequents prominent venues such as Smalls Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Club, and The Jazz Gallery. He is also the co-founder of “This, Now,” an 11-piece chamber ensemble that strives to further integrate the fabrics of through-composed music and improvisation.
In May of 2023 LoRe will release his fourth album on Whirlwind Recordings. LoRe’s previous three albums— Dream House (2014) and More Figs and Blue Things (2016) on saxophonist Greg Osby’s label, Inner Circle Music, and Karol (2019) on Challenge Records International have received critical acclaim by The New York Times, Downbeat Magazine, and Jazz Wise Magazine (UK), among others. All About Jazz states, “with Karol, [LoRe] continues to carve out a unique space in the pantheon of present-day saxophonists and composers.”
This recording project is supported by Chamber Music America’s Artistic Projects program, funded through the generosity of The Howard Gilman Foundation.
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