douglas J cuomo - seven limbs

Seven Limbs is composer Douglas J. Cuomo's second major collaboration with the saxophone giant Joe Lovano. Inspired by a specific meditation from Cuomo’s Buddhist practice, this sixty minute piece features Lovano playing a part that is almost entirely improvised, accompanied by a string quartet (The Overlook), playing a part that is completely notated. The piece is a consummate blending of classical composition with improvisatory practices.

As evidenced in the recording, Cuomo and Lovano have a special musical connection. Cuomo describes this connection and the unusual demands and requirements made by this way of working:

"For Joe, I try to create a musical world that is inviting but a bit mysterious, where he's challenged to do something different than he usually does, but that has underlying characteristics that are based in the deeper levels of how Joe thinks about music. So, it's not about how he plays changes, or even how he solos, but what kinds of moods spark his imagination. What kind of harmonies, rhythms, colors can the string quartet provide that make him say, ‘I want to add my musical heart to that.’

“Joe often talks about his music in terms of tones and vibrations. That aligns with my thinking, also – it's a non-intellectual, almost mystical way of thinking about music that can be deeply powerful. Joe recognized that commonality in the way we approach not only music, but the world in general, which I think is why we have such a deep artistic and personal connection and trust. We also both love challenges, having a hunger to explore what else our music can do and where else we can take it.

“There are only a few measures in all of Seven Limbs where I specify precisely what Joe plays. The rest of the time what he sees in his part is only what the string quartet is playing, along with indications of when to play and when not to play. What he plays is entirely based on what he hears. This requires a high level of trust and openness on both our parts that I find very beautiful. It's a commitment to honor the moment — whatever occurs spontaneously in this particular performance, this particular recording take."

Cuomo originally wrote Seven Limbs for the guitarist Nels Cline and the Aizuri Quartet (Sunnyside, 2021). In 2021, Lovano attended a concert of the piece at Caramoor. Immediately after the performance, he turned to Cuomo and asked if it could be adapted for saxophone for him to play. The two were already collaborating closely, as Cuomo was composing a raft, the sky, the wild sea, a concerto for Lovano that also featured him improvising over a fully notated ensemble, in this case a full orchestra.

To create the saxophone version, Cuomo modified a number of sections, replacing parts that were written with Cline's specific guitar language in mind with material inspired by Lovano's musical thinking. He then recruited The Overlook string quartet (violinists Monica Davis and Yezu Wood, violist Angela Pickett, and cellist Laura Metcalf) to join forces with Lovano. After a number of live performances, they went to the recording temple of jazz, Van Gelder Studios, on June 1st and 2nd, 2025, and made this record.