Shawn Lovato

Shawn Lovato is a New York bassist, composer, and improviser whose music draws on the city's underground scenes, from hip hop and punk to metal, alongside jazz and chamber writing. Raised on the edges of New York, he has built a body of work that blurs those lines, beginning with his 2017 quintet debut Cycles of Animation and the 2022 suite Microcosms, commissioned by the ensemble Hotel Elefant. His 2026 album Biotic introduces a chordless trio with saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and drummer Henry Mermer. He also teaches as an adjunct instructor at Hofstra University and performs across the city's creative music venues, from The Stone to The Jazz Gallery.