Flights of Fancy: Trio Fascination Edition Two Joe Lovano Blue Note, 2001 Tracks 1: Flights of Fancy 2: On April (I'll Remember April) 3: Amsterdam 4: Blue Mist 5: Off and Runnin' 6: Infant Eyes 7: 206 8: Bougainvillea 9: Windom Street 10: Hot Shot 11: Aisha 12: Amber 13: On Giant Steps 14: Flights of Fancy (Reprise)   Buy it online Reviewed by Claude Lalumière	In 1998, during one of my many trips browsing the jazz section in one of downtown Montreal's record shops, Joe Lovano's Trio Fascination, displayed with the new releases, caught my eye. Its cover was warm and Impressionistic and, somehow, communicated an iconic mood of jazz to me. It turned out, this time, that I could judge a CD by its cover. On Trio Fascination, sax player Lovano was joined by bassist Dave Holland and drummer Elvin Jones to create a set of saxophone trios that succeeded in being both archetypal and personal. Implicit in the subtitle, Edition One, was the promise of, at least, one sequel. Three years later, heralded by a similar (if not quite as evocative) cover, that promise has been fulfilled with the release of Lovano's Flights of Fancy: Trio Fascination Edition Two. One was a focused affair; three musicians creating an album's worth of cohesive music. Two, however, is a quite different musical experience. For starters, Two showcases four different trios. The result emphasizes Lovano's impressive range of expression, but it does sacrifice the enveloping intimacy of the previous recording. One was more visceral, whereas Two is more reflective and formal. Nevertheless, it's a gorgeous album on its own terms. It unfolds like a suite of contemplative and expressive études, slipping from one trio to the next, from one musical voice to another. The juxtapositions are never jarring, but, on the contrary, are delightful surprises. Lovano's enthusiasm for the music and for working with his chosen collaborators shines throughout the whole recording. For example, one of the trios features Dave Douglas on trumpet. The result is an intriguing blend of Douglas's folksy Tiny Bell Trio sound and Lovano's post-bop effervescence. Another combo, the one with Belgian harmonica player Toots Thielemans, evokes Franco-European blues and the film soundtracks of yesteryear. Lovano himself ventures beyond the saxophone and plays, with thoughtful deftness, clarinet, percussion, and drums. So far, the Trio Fascination series has proven to be an excellent format for Lovano to explore and express his musical passions. I hope many more "fascinations" will follow. | September 2001 Claude Lalumière is a Blue Coupe magazine contributing editor, as well as a freelance writer, editor, translator and publishing consultant. He owned and ran danger!, Montreal's chart-topping mid-1990s alternative bookstore. His published criticism can be found on his Web site.	Flights of Fancy: Trio Fascination Edition Two unfolds like a suite of expressive études, slipping from one trio to the next, from one musical voice to another. The juxtapositions are never jarring, but, on the contrary, delightful surprises.