DR Big Band & Joe Lovano

DR Big Band

What does it take to call yourself one of the world's most important and leading jazz musicians?

The exploits of American saxophonist Joe Lovano speak for themselves. With over 50 albums, 14 Grammy nominations, and a wealth of awards and accolades, he has long since proven that he belongs at the very top of the live jazz coryphae—while still being in constant artistic movement.

This evening, Lovano visits the Concert Hall to enjoy a new masterpiece, written especially for him and DR Big Band by the Danish composer and saxophonist Lars Møller. The two musicians have known each other for many years and the new work 'Prism' has been created in close collaboration with Lovano himself in New York during the summer of 2026.

In 'Prism', Lars Møller draws on the way Joe Lovano has made the historical language of the saxophone his very own — a personal expression that has characterized modern jazz and inspired new generations. The piece is intended as a vibrant dialogue between the DR Big Band and Lovano's distinctive voice, spanning from the jazz orchestra tradition following Thad Jones and Bob Brookmeyer to freer passages inspired by Lovano's collaboration with Ornette Coleman.

In addition to tonight's premiere, plenty of musical gold awaits you from DR Big Band's rich archive, where Joe Lovano will have the opportunity to put his warm, hoary tenor sound, incredible energy and instrumental mastery into close interaction with DR Big Band and, not least, chief conductor Miho Hazama.