Viva Caruso (2002)

Never at a loss for a novel idea to transform into a concept album, saxophonist Lovano turns to the signature pieces of the legendary Italian tenor Enrico Caruso. No jazz-meets-the-classics pretense or crossover dross here, just a heartfelt and creative reimagining (thanks in part to Byron Olsen's clever arrangements) of beautiful melodies that also leave plenty of space for Lovano's own rhapsodic tenor playing. A-