Joe LoCascio In The City of Lost Things

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Born and raised in New York, Joe LoCascio has made Houston his permanent home since 1977. He attended the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut where he studied with John Mehegan and Neil Slater. A prolific performer and composer, LoCascio has twelve albums as a leader to his credit and has recorded or performed with jazz luminaries such as recording and performing with the likes of Chet Baker, Tim Hagans, Randy Brecker, Freddie Hubbard, Dave Liebman, Ernie Watts, Tony Campise, George Mraz, George Coleman, Hank Crawford and countless others.
" His compositions, always strong melodically, lead listeners through a maze of unexpected twists punctuated with enticing harmonic content. His thirteenth album as a leader, "In the City of Lost Things" presents ten new compositions, all of them gems. Locascio enlists Richard Cholakian on drums and Thomas Helton on upright bass for the trio on this date. Cholakian and Helton have made a name for themselves as a sought-after drum/bass pair. They both possess a restless creativity that peaks their interest in a wide range of styles from avant-garde to Delta Blues. Teamed up with Locascio, you get an immediate sense of the group's genuine camaraderie. It's a well-matched ensemble and certainly one the more interesting trios around.
Here he capitalizes on the unique nature of this group by creating music with extended trio interplay both during the melody and on the expansive improvised sections. The centerpiece of this style comes early on the second track, “Sonia Braga”. Ms. Braga is a well-known Brazilian actress (well-known in Brazil, that is: her claim to US fame is “Kiss of the Spiderwoman”). The piece honors its namesake with a sultry groove that spans eight minutes. It features an electrifying Arco solo from Thomas Helton, which stands the track on its head most wonderfully.
The trio explodes on “Port of Call”. The piece gets an extra boost from the left-hand/bass doublings which contrast the spry melody. The solos all around are brief but potent. As evidenced the ever-shifting dynamics of the next track “The Wall of Sleep”, Locascio can masterfully create many moods within a piece. It is these sorts of variations in the pulse of his writing that contribute to such a rich experience for the listener.
One can always expect a beautiful ballad on any of Locascio’s albums. “In the City of Lost Things” does so with “Julian”. Again, the arrangements make this tune even more striking. Cholakian’s innovative brush work (not just on the snare!) counterbalances the arc of the song and ensuing solo. This may be the CD's strongest track, but I’m a sucker for a good ballad.
“ Under a Pink Moon” is a nod in the direction of Bill Evans, particularly in the devices heard throughout his solo, yet the composition feels like something Herbie Hancock might assemble. Either way, it’s a wonderful representation of Locascio’s impressive pianism. The momentum continues on “Our Story” before concluding with a lively solo piece called “Hopalong”. Aptly titled and filled with a playful energy, it's a nice coda to an otherwise serious program. It also reminds us what a fine solo player he is.
One interesting aspect to this set of compositions is the use of odd meters throughout. Often such devices can seem deliberate to the point of being contrived. But in Locascio’s hands, the meter becomes completely germane to the composition. The opening track is in 5/4, as is “The Wall of Sleep”. The title track is in 11/4. These meter variations give pop to the individual tracks while adding life to the CD as a whole.
In the end, a Locascio CD is a guarantee of great playing, great compositions, and something you can revisit often. "In The City of Lost Things" is no exception. Highly recommended. - Andrew Lienhard houstonJazz.com
" I Love Joe LoCascio's writing! His pieces have an innocence that sings to the heart while providing a challenge in harmony and form at the same time. Joe plays who he is: generous, intelligent and warm. This sincerity as well as his devotion to the music, is never in question when listening to him perform. Joe LoCascio is a poet on the piano, as well as a painter." - Art Lande
“ Joe LoCascio is a first rate jazz pianist and composer with a style growing out of bop, but completely his own.”- Randy Brecker
" LoCascio's playing, like his writing (all the tracks are his originals), is heady, clean and crisply swinging, and while he describes his writing and playing as "linear," he's downplaying his strongest quality: texture....gorgeous ballads." Harvy Siders, JazzTimes Magazine
" His technical facility, harmonic sophistication and fluid melodic lines" - Paul McArthur, DownBeat Magazine
" A great deal of inventiveness.....a very fine set indeed...highly recommended" - Lawrence Brazier, Jazznow
" LoCascio unravels some rather otherworldly progressions that drape the composition with an extra layer of mystery and intrigue". Keith Zimmerman , Yellow Dog Jazz
" An artist who merits being included among the best of his contemporary piano playing peers. Recommended. - Dave Nathan, allmusicguide.com
" He combines many styles within his playing from stride to bebop to modal. In general his approach is very modern utilizing bitonality, dissonance, and extended harmonies. LoCascio has a thorough sense of harmony as well as rhythm and it is a pleasure to hear all three musicians work with such artistry. This is a very flexible recording as the new jazz fan can enjoy its listener friendly quality while the experienced listener can enjoy traveling inside the music with its various twists and turns. Tastefully done!" - Michelle Labieniec-Despard. Jazz Improv