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Dave Liebman

Dave Liebman is an NEA Jazz Master

David Liebman was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 4, 1946. He began classical piano lessons at the age of nine and saxophone by twelve. His “epiphany” was hearing John Coltrane perform live in New York City clubs such as Birdland, Village Vanguard and Half Note as a teenager. Throughout high school and college, Liebman pursued his jazz interest by studying with saxophone guru Joe Allard as well as jazz musicians Lennie

Tristano and Charles Lloyd. Upon graduation from New York University (with a degree in American History), he began to seriously devote himself to the full time pursuit of being a jazz artist. In the early 1970s, Liebman took the leading organizational role as Founder and President of Free Life Communication, a cooperative of several dozen young cutting edge musicians intent on performing around New York in venues outside the traditional jazz club situation. Free Life became an integral part of the fertile New York "loft" jazz scene in this period and was funded by the New York State Council of the Arts and enjoyed a residency in the “Space for Innovative Development” which was a renovated church funded by the Rubin Foundation as a home for the arts in midtown Manhattan along with several other notable avant-garde performing groups…the Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis ballet companies along with Joe Chaikan’s “Open Theater.”

After one year spent with Ten Wheel Drive, one of the early jazz fusion groups, Liebman secured the coveted saxophone/flute position in the group of John Coltrane’s ex-drummer, Elvin Jones. Within two years, Liebman reached the zenith of his apprenticeship period when the legendary trumpeter Miles Davis hired him. These years from 1970 thru 1974 were filled with tours, recordings and the incredible experience gained by being on the bandstand with two masters of jazz. At the same time, Liebman began exploring his own music-first in the Open Sky Trio with Bob Moses and then with pianist Richie Beirach in the group Lookout Farm. This group recorded for the German based ECM label as well as A&M Records and touring the U.S., Canada, India, Japan and Europe.

In 1977, Liebman did a world tour with pianist Chick Corea followed by the formation of the David Liebman Quintet with John Scofield as featured sideman. After several world tours and recordings by the quintet over three years, he reunited with Richard Beirach forming Quest in 1981. Beginning with bassist George Mraz

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8
Album Review

David Liebman, Jeff Williams: In Duo

Read "In Duo" reviewed by Neil Duggan


There is a wonderful hidden treasure trove of jazz recordings which keep being unearthed from old radio broadcasts, forgotten corners of attics or, in this case, boxes of old cassette tapes. Drummer Jeff Williams was delving through some old cassettes made during his extensive career. He found a recording from an improvisational session he made in 1991 with saxophonist Dave Liebman. The recording was made at a session at Bar Room 432, on the West Side of 14th Street in ...

2
Album Review

Dave Liebman: Live at Smalls

Read "Live at Smalls" reviewed by Alberto Bazzurro


Tre ampi brani per un totale che supera di un po' i settanta minuti di musica tirata e vibrante, colta dal vivo nel gennaio 2022 al celebre jazz club newyorchese, compongono questo notevole nuovo lavoro di Dave Liebman, una delle presenze più significative (e incidenti) della scena jazzistica ormai da oltre quarant'anni. Il gruppo protagonista dell'incisione, del resto, è di prima grandezza, a partire dal pirotecnico (ma mai per miracol mostrare, come si suol dire) trombettista Peter Evans, che si ...

2
Album Review

JD Walter: What the World Needs Now

Read "What the World Needs Now" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


JD Walter beckons listeners into a soulful and captivating journey through modern jazz interpretations of non-jazz material. With his unique vocal stylings and innovative arrangements, he brings a fresh perspective to familiar popular tunes, and several jazz standards, while delivering thought-provoking original compositions. From the very first track--Stevie Wonder's “Golden Lady"--it is evident that Walter's vocal prowess is a force to be reckoned with. He dashes along in full flight and then effortlessly shifts into intricate ...

7
Album Review

Funkwrench Blues: Soundtrack For A Film Without Pictures

Read "Soundtrack For A Film Without Pictures" reviewed by Chris May


Once upon a time it was hard to walk into an arthouse cinema without bumping into a jazz soundtrack. Miles Davis' for Louis Malle's Ascenseur Pour L'échafaud (1958), Charles Mingus' for John Cassavetes' Shadows (1959), Krzysztof Komeda's for Roman Polanski's Knife In The Water (1962) were among a legion of similarly inclined endeavours. But all that was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. In the 2020s, if you want to hear a freshly ...

13
Liner Notes

Marc Copland: Impressions

Read "Marc Copland: Impressions" reviewed by John Kelman


Solo performances may approach presenting an artist at his or her most vulnerable, but it's in the context of the duo that they're the most exposed. Not only are their abilities, instincts and improvisational élan laid bare, but their communication skills, at the deepest level, are impossible to disguise. The good news is that, were pianist Marc Copland and saxophonist Dave Liebman in Hans Christian Andersen's famous children's story, “The Emperor's New Clothes," there'd be no child crying out, “But ...

8
Liner Notes

Machine Mass: Inti

Read "Machine Mass: Inti" reviewed by John Kelman


One of music's most remarkable qualities is its ability to provide a context for expression of otherwise indescribable feelings. The genesis of Machine Mass Trio came at a time of duress for Tony Bianco, the expat American drummer who, since relocating to Europe in the mid-1990s, has performed with A-list improvising musicians including Elton Dean, Evan Parker and Alexander Von Schlippenbach. He's also a charter member of douBt, alongside fellow MMT mate, Belgian guitarist {Michel Delville. “My wife ...

4
Album Review

Dan Costa: Beams

Read "Beams" reviewed by Craig Arthur


UK-born pianist Dan Costa plays and composes in the impressionistic tradition of Bill Evans, acoustic Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea or Marcin Wasilewski. It is a style that lends itself well to the alchemy of turning light into music, music into light. And his subject matter of choice on Beams, like that of an impressionist painter, is indeed light. He describes the album as “a celebration of light in some key physical and metaphysical forms." Light is like water, ...

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3

Recording

Bassist-Producer Frank Swart Releases 'Soundtrack For A Film Without Pictures' Featuring Gary Bartz, Dave Liebman, George Garzone, Bill Evans, Warren Wolf And Idris Ackamoor

Bassist-Producer Frank Swart Releases 'Soundtrack For A Film Without Pictures' Featuring Gary Bartz, Dave Liebman, George Garzone, Bill Evans, Warren Wolf And Idris Ackamoor

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

In his wide-ranging career, bassist, guitarist, arranger, composer, producer, and engineer Frank Swart has contributed to countless sessions covering a wide range of music, from rock and funk to psychedelic acid jazz. In recent times, under the Funkwrench Blues name, he has created and produced 146 singles (at the time of this writing) that have been released once every two weeks, featuring such major artists as Mike Stern, Charlie Hunter, John Medeski, Oz Noy, Fred Wesley, and the late Lucky ...

2

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Dave Liebman's birthday today!

David Liebman was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 4, 1946. He began classical piano lessons at the age of nine and saxophone by twelve. His “epiphany” was hearing John Coltrane perform live in New York City clubs such as Birdland, Village Vanguard and Half Note as a teenager. Throughout high school and college, Liebman pursued his jazz interest by studying with saxophone guru Joe Allard as well as jazz ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Dave Liebman's birthday today!

David Liebman was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 4, 1946. He began classical piano lessons at the age of nine and saxophone by twelve. His “epiphany” was hearing John Coltrane perform live in New York City clubs such as Birdland, Village Vanguard and Half Note as a teenager. Throughout high school and college, Liebman pursued his jazz interest by studying with saxophone guru Joe Allard as well as jazz ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Dave Liebman's birthday today!

David Liebman was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 4, 1946. He began classical piano lessons at the age of nine and saxophone by twelve. His “epiphany” was hearing John Coltrane perform live in New York City clubs such as Birdland, Village Vanguard and Half Note as a teenager. Throughout high school and college, Liebman pursued his jazz interest by studying with saxophone guru Joe Allard as well as jazz ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman

Source: Michael Ricci


1

Recording

Stephans, Liebman, Copland, Gress's Quartette Oblique on Sunnyside

Stephans, Liebman, Copland, Gress's Quartette Oblique on Sunnyside

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey

Stephans, Liebman, Copland, Gress: Quartette Oblique (Sunnyside) Attempting the impossible, Rifftides once again tries to catch up. We all know that is impossible because record companies refuse to accept that jazz is dead; they keep releasing new music. It took too long for me to mention this superb quartet album, which has been out for a year or so. From Dave Liebman’s falling-away tenor saxophone insinuations that introduce Wayne Shorter’s “Nardis” through the concluding exploration of Miles Davis’s “So What” ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman

Source: Michael Ricci


7

Event

In Touch Entertainment Announced Today Its Summer Jazz Series Lineup

In Touch Entertainment Announced Today Its Summer Jazz Series Lineup

Source: Charles Carlini Presents

In Touch Entertainment is announcing the summer lineup of its highly successful jazz series held in a legendary New York music venue, Zinc. The programs consist of Piano Jazz, Trumpet Masters, Boss Tenors, Percussion Masters, Dangerous Rhythms (curated by bestselling author and Latin jazz enthusiast T.J. English), and Vocal Mania. The latter is also debuting this month on the West Coast, with performances held at Vitello’s Jazz and Supper Club in Studio City, CA starting on June 29. In addition ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman

Source: Michael Ricci


1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman

Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman

Source: Michael Ricci


"Liebman is one of the most important saxophonists in contemporary music... a leader and artist of integrity and independent direction." —Downbeat Magazine

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

In Duo

Whirlwind Recordings
2024

buy

The Elements: Water

Arkadia Records
2023

buy

Live at Smalls

Cellar Live
2023

buy

Blues Variant

Criss Cross
2023

buy

Beams

Dan Costa
2023

buy

Coda(s)

Corner Store Jazz
2023

buy

Encaminho

From: Beams
By Dave Liebman

The Call

From: Soundtrack For A Film Without...
By Dave Liebman

To Swing or Not

From: Coda(s)
By Dave Liebman

Blues Variant

From: Blues Variant
By Dave Liebman

Inti

From: Inti
By Dave Liebman

The Sky

From: Turnaround: The Music of...
By Dave Liebman

A Bright Place

From: Live/As Always
By Dave Liebman

WTC

From: Quest for Freedom
By Dave Liebman

Lost Horizon

From: Five on One
By Dave Liebman

Standoff

From: Re-Dial
By Dave Liebman

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