(VIDEO) Arts Center Concert Series Preview: Joe Lovano Us Five

Joe Lovano will bring his half a century of Jazz experience to the on Oct. 22 as the second act in the Hopkins Saturday Subscription Series.

The Grammy-winning ensemble of the Joe Lovano Us Five will play selections from his latest albums “Bird Songs” and “Folk Art.”

The New-York based Lovano describes "Folk Art" on his website as a mix of his "native-tongue free jazz elasticity with nuanced Latin grooves and meditative lyricism."

Lovano stressed though, that his ensemble doesn’t just play one style of jazz and that they try to explore multiple forms.

“Jazz is a term, but the personal expression of each artist tells its own story. When you went to hear Miles Davis, you didn’t just go to hear jazz, you went to hear Miles Davis, and whatever he played for you was what he wanted you to hear, and that’s the way we explore music as an ensemble,” Lovano said.

Despite winning numerous awards throughout his lengthy career including the Grammy in 2000 for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, Lovano still listed his greatest achievement as merely being able to sustain a career in music.

“The biggest accomplishment is to be able to continue and develop and share your ideas and your blessings with folks,” Lovano said.

His ensemble, the Us Five, features a rather unorthodox assembly of musicians: Esperanza Spalding on bass, piano player James Weidman and two drummers—Francisco Mela and Otis Brown III.

The concert takes place at 8 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Tickets cost $28 and are available on the arts center’s website.