David Liebman

David Liebman, Marc Copland, Ralph Alessi, Drew Gress and Joey Baron are well known contemporary jazz masters–each a player, composer, and bandleader in his own right. Grounded in the jazz tradition, they are also committed to stretching the boundaries of the possible. These musicians have years of experience touring and recording together– Baron and Copland in Gary Peacock's trio; Gress and Baron in Copland's trio; NEA Master David Liebman and Copland in duo, quartets, and quintets; Drew Gress in Ralph Alessi's ECM groups; and Alessi in Copland's quartet. All the members contribute tunes to the band's repertoire.

Originally put out by Timeless, only to be issued in the U.S. on Impulse! eight years after the session, the phrase "if they only knew" at one time was conceived as a riposte to Liebman's critics. But you won't hear any querulous complaints from this corner, for this is a thoughtful, often burning quintet session carooming off the bumpers of post-bop, jazz-rock, and the avant-garde. Liebman is mostly heard on brittle, sometimes volatile tenor throughout the record, even turning in some fancy bop licks on "Autumn in New York." The relaxed, darting electric touch comes from John Scofield, whose asymmetrical guitar you can spot a country mile away, and he contributes the most attractive tune on the session, "Capistrano"…

Sound explorations are emphasized throughout this release with Jeff Palmer's atmospheric organ, the varied tones of John Abercrombie's guitar synthesizer, David Liebman's very passionate soprano and Adam Nussbaum's drums interacting over a variety of patterns. All of the compositions are group originals with five by Palmer and one apiece from the other three musicians. Whether it be the funky beat of "Hip Slick," the free jamming of "Mr. Adam," the spacey title cut or the almost New Age feel of "Mr. John," the themes are less important than the setting of moods and the advanced improvising.

The co-leaders of this date first met back in the 70's, when pianist Marc Copland's instrument of choice was the saxophone. Whereas the teaming of the pianist's trio with sax great Dave Liebman reflects a natural extension of their fairly recent collaboration at the Santa Fe, New Mexico Jazz Festival. With this release, Copeland brings his elegant touch to the forefront, which is a characteristic that intrinsically complements, his partner's lofty excursions on both tenor and soprano saxophones.

”Liebman is one of the most important saxophonists in contemporary music... a leader and artist of integrity and independent direction.”

David Liebman Quintet - Doin' It Again (1979) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 245 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 90 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 172 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1979, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6319
Jazz / Post Bop / Fusion / Saxophone

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. An excellent set from reedman Dave Liebman – easily one of his most soulful from the 70s, thanks to some key currents in the group! John Scofield is on the session – playing guitar, but sometimes with this phrasing that almost feels more like a keyboard – especially in the way it layers into the rhythms from Ron McClure on bass and Adam Nussbaum on drums – who work with John to carve out these nicely chunky moments that allow Dave to really take off on tenor and soprano sax. The great Terumasa Hino is also in the combo – and his work on trumpet and flugelhorn is brilliant – this bold, flowing sense of color that really illuminates things – and without which, the album would be far less. Titles include "Cliff's Vibes", "Stardust", "Lady", and "Doin It Again".

Journey Around the Truth is a work commissioned from Andy Emler by Radio France for the new organ of the Auditorium of Radio France. This project is the fruit of a long musical friendship between two great jazz musicians: Andy Emler and Dave Liebman. Music ""made to measure"", composed in a year, its convergence of the written and the improvised is magnified by the complicity and virtuosity of the two musicians. Andy Emler, composer, pianist, a catalyst of enthusiasm, initiator of collaborations, arranger, a lover of improvisation, is a man of invention. After taking composition, harmony, counterpoint and fugue courses and Saturday night dances, he embarked on a variety of musical adventures with notable musicians. David Liebman is considered a renaissance man in contemporary music with a career stretching nearly fifty years. He has played with masters including Miles Davis, Elvin Jones, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, McCoy Tyner and others; authored books and instructional videos which are acknowledged as classics in the jazz field; recorded as a leader in styles ranging from classical to rock to free jazz. He has performed on over 500 recordings with over 200 as a leader/co-leader featuring several hundred original compositions.