Rest In Peace Jimmy Lovelace

Gone is the master of the calm fire of jazz bop drumming, Jimmy Lovelace. To my understanding, he passed away last Thursday night at Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan after a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was a true original, the likes of which will never be seen again in our lifetimes...

Preceded only recently by pianist Frank Hewitt, he too has made the journey referred to in our band's title "Across 7 Street"; having played the jam sessions many a Saturday night at the University of the Streets, he will be remembered on Thursday afternoon at the funeral home across the street...

Thursday November 4th
2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Peter Jarema Funeral Home
7 Street between Avenue A and 1st Avenue

All who knew Jimmy Lovelace are welcome to attend.

Best Wishes,
Chris Byars

Across 7 Street featuring Jimmy Lovelace / The Eternal Pyramid

1 Number 72 (Chris Byars)
2 At Long Last, Love (Ari Roland)
3 Sundial (Chris Byars)
4 Bank Shot (Chris Byars)
5 Apollo 7 (Chris Byars)

Personnel: Chris Byars (tenor sax), Ari Roland (bass), Sacha Perry (piano), John Mosca (trombone), and Jimmy Lovelace (drums)

Recorded in 2001 at The Studio, NYC

For seven years of its nine year run at Smalls, Sunday night featured artists Across 7 Street held court with Jimmy Lovelace, sometimes known as The Ancient One, on the throne--the drummer's throne that is. It never failed that Jimmy would infect an audience with his charm, and the end of every Jimmy Lovelace solo was always greeted by cheers from the crowd. Musicians who work with Jimmy cite his hip accompaniment as the reason they love working with him. Here we offer up an "electronic 10-inch record" of this quintessential New York group that highlights Jimmy's playing. Byars' "Number 72" bristles with hip accents and fills, enough to give music students a master class. Roland's "At Long Last Love" (formerly known humorously as "I'll Destroy the World") shows more of Jimmy's impeccable straight-ahead playing. Listen on "Sundial" at Jimmy's transition between Mosca's trombone solo and Sacha Perry's piano solo, which gives exactly the right momentum and kick, and sounds a bit like a steam locomotive switching tracks. We couldn't resist including Byars' brilliant composition "Apollo 7" to hear Jimmy behind this dark and mysterious walking ballad. This tune seems to point toward new directions for bop, and one never tires of unraveling its mysteries. [You can hear Across 7 Street elsewhere on Made in New York on Smalls Records.]

The title, The Eternal Pyramid, is of course a play on The Eternal Triangle, but it emphasizes the five points of the pyramid reflected in the quintet, and it also alludes to Jimmy's love for ancient Egypt. The members of Across 7 Street and I hope you will enjoy this music very much. Please give generously, and in Jimmy's own words "The-ankh you very much!"

Luke Kaven
September 28, 2004