Born: July 1 Primary Instrument: Reeds
Early in saxophone and flute player Paul Lieberman’s career during a session at Mickey Hart’s, Gil Evans commented to Airto “everything he plays sounds right”-and David Sanborn responded to a NY performance with a surprise kiss.
Paul’s critically acclaimed new CD “Ibeji” appears on various “Best of 2011” lists and features a number of legendary musicians in a look at Brazilian music and Jazz as twin children of Mother Africa separated at birth, raised in distant parts of the world and now reunited: Rufus Reid & Nilson Matta on bass, Duduka da Fonseca, Tim Horner, and Allman Brothers co-founder Jaimoe on drums, Joel Martin on piano, and Eugene Friesen on cello.
Reviewers say “Lieberman [who] is a soulful player on any instrument, conveying deep emotional content...demonstrates his instrumental mastery and also reveals himself as a formidable composer” in this “stunning, heartfelt, and emotional” debut recording. With “high musicianship displayed with emotion, laid bare” the “sparkling originals” and “fascinating” arrangements “enchant” and “celebrate life to its fullest” in this “beguiling mix”. “Blessed with 2 cracker-jack rhythm sections” the “oh-so-sweet” CD “shines” with “‘soul’ music through and through” that “combines technique, intelligence, experience, emotions, and risk-taking that pushes the musician beyond the ordinary or the commonplace.” With “one of the best covers of a Beatles tune by a jazz player, a beat that floats on every track...pervasive ensemble joie de vivre” and an original that “sent chills up my spine” “Ibeji is a hell of an accomplishment... and displays, quite brilliantly, the commonalities of these music heritages.”
Among Paul's other recent activities: an appearance as part of an all-star tribute band at the first annual James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival playing with George Benson, The Manhattan Transfer, Jimmy Heath, Kenny Barron, Paquito D’Rivera, Jon Faddis, Adam Nussbaum, Renee Rosnes, and Todd Coolman, the Brazilian premiere of “Ibeji Live” headlining the Chapada in Jazz Festival following two days of master class and performance at the Federal University of São João del Rei, a saxophone quartet co-founded with Gary Smulyan, Marty Ehrlich, and Jason Robinson, touring with The Gregg Allman Band and Jaimoe's Jasssz Band (also of the Allman Brothers), appearances as featured soloist with Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, creation of the wind/percussion music for worldwide performances by the Young@Heart Chorus, naming as a Rico Artist and as a member of the editorial board of the journal “Analytical Approaches to World Music”, nominations for Latin Jazz Flutist of the Year & Brazilian Jazz Album of the Year, Clinician at the Syracuse Jazz Fest, and receipt of a grant from the Northampton Arts Council.
Upcoming: a 2 week concert tour of the Czech Republic, and Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band performs at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.
After earning his BA at Yale, Paul responded to simultaneous tour invitations from Buddy Rich and Brazilian Jazz legends Airto and Flora Purim by becoming the only “gringo” in the all-Brazilian group, and toured the US for the next two years, appearing at major clubs, theaters, and festivals, performed for audiences of up to 30,000, and made his Lincoln Center debut. He then moved to Rio de Janeiro for 4 years, where he became Brazil’s first-call studio sax and flute player, recording on over 50 albums and doing arranging and producing work for CBS, Warner and other labels. He became so fully assimilated into the language and culture of Brazil that he was routinely taken to be a native. Paul has performed and/or recorded with Pat Metheny, George Benson, David Sanborn, Jaco Pastorius, The Allman Brothers Band, Mickey Hart, Taj Mahal, Rufus Reid, Jaki Byard, David “Fathead” Newman, Bernard Purdy, Lew Soloff, Jimmy Heath, Paquito D’Rivera, Ronnie Foster, Claudio Roditi, Dick Oatts, Conrad Herwig, Brian Lynch, Jon Faddis, Wayne Bergeron, Arturo O’Farrill, Dave Samuels, Adam Nussbaum, Bobby Sanabria, The Temptations, David Byrne, The Gregg Allman Band, Jaimoe's Jasssz Band, and the Springfield Symphony, as well as Brazilian stars such as Simone, Chico Buarque, Djavan, Milton Nascimento, Toninho Horta, Alcione, Joao Bosco, Leny Andrade, Miucha, and Roberto Carlos, along with a veritable Who’s Who of Brazil’s top instrumental artists, including Hermeto Pascoal, Cesar Camargo Mariano, and many, many others.
Paul has also performed in Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, Hawaii, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, and Wales, and spent four years on the UMass Amherst jazz faculty, where he earned his MM in Jazz Composition and Arranging.
Awards:
2011 Finalist: John Lennon International Songwriting Competition 2011 Nominee: Latin Jazz Flutist of the Year & Brazilian Jazz Album of the Year, Latin Jazz Corner 2010 grant from the Northampton Arts Council, Inc.“Lieberman [uses] two ensembles:..and displays, quite brilliantly, the commonalities of these music heritages. Two ensembles, two sets of compositions, two sources of music...a single cohesive album that flows wondrously from first note to last...high musicianship displayed with emotion, laid bare... Ibeji is a hell of an accomplishment, and it easily ranks in the Top Five of my favorite albums of 2011.” - Dave Sumner, Bird Is The Worm (Jan 19, 2012)
Good God, this song is beautiful. It sent chills up my spine... When the year ends, this album will undoubtedly receive some Top Ten recognition.” - Dave Sumner, All About Jazz (Aug 12, 2011)
“Lieberman demonstrates his instrumental mastery and also reveals himself as a formidable composer... He is a soulful player on any instrument, conveying deep emotional content... Lieberman's affection for both American jazz and Brazilian music is evident in his compositions and arrangements...and his excellent performance.” - Greg Simmons, All About Jazz (Aug 18, 2011)
“Throughout, there was furious improvisation...And there were friends in the house aplenty. Along with the Tedeschi appearance, a gang-up on Willie Dixon’s “The Same Thing” featured crackling undercurrent from guest drummer Kenwood Dennard and percussionist Egvie Castillo, and a four-way pass-the-hat jam between Trucks, Haynes, Max Creek/Mike Gordon Band guitarist Scott Murawski and ace jazz saxophonist Paul Lieberman that picked up speed and excitement the longer it went on.” - Chad Berndtson, review of Allman Brothers concert, Patriot Ledger (Aug 08, 2012)
“...filled from beginning to end with joy... Blessed with...a program that ranges from sparkling originals to classic tunes from Brazil to jazz standards to one of the best covers of a Beatles tune by a jazz player, the recording shines... ‘Lovely’ is a weak word for this stunning, heartfelt, and emotional work... In truth, “Ibeji” is “soul” music through and through, in the way that John Coltrane's “A Love Supreme”, JS Bach's “6 Suites for Cello”, and, yes, [Beethoven’s] “Song of Joy” is “soul” music to my ears. The music comes from a place that combines technique, intelligence, experience, emotions and risk-taking that pushes the musician beyond the ordinary or the commonplace. How one reacts to this joyful creation is a matter of personal taste but, for this listener, I am going to return to this recording over and over because I like just how fine this music makes me feel.” Richard Kamins, Step Tempest (May 07, 2011)
“Wow! You have a beautiful vibrant recording. BRAVO!...I am glad I could be a part of it.” - Rufus Reid, on first hearing the finished product... (Apr 18, 2011)
“Paul Lieberman’s clinic proved to be a highlight of the 2012 Syracuse Jazz Fest Education Program. Drawing on his experience in music education, Paul was able to get right down to the level of the students in the audience and deliver meaningful, relevant, and eminently useable information designed to improve their understanding and performance of America’s music; jazz. For over an hour, he held the students in rapt attention as he both challenged and motivated them on their journey toward becoming better musicians. It was a thrill for me to see the student’s reactions: many told me afterward that they were truly inspired and “charged up” by Paul’s presentation. My only regret is that we only had an hour to give him!” - Steve Frank, Syracuse Jazz Fest Education Program Director(Jul 05, 2012)
“I was privileged to work with Paul Lieberman on planning and implementing a professional development day for thirty K-12 educators on Brazilian culture, music and dance and its African and European roots. Paul played a vital role in designing the program and inviting other musicians. He masterfully introduced Brazilian history, musical forms and multiple traditions in a well-organized professional manner. What impressed the participants the most was that this person who had just provided a scholarly presentation, also was an incredible musician who interacted with two Brazilian musicians in their native Portuguese and with the teachers to bring alive so many styles of music and to demonstrate unfamiliar instruments. I can honestly recommend Paul regardless of whether you are seeking a musical performance, a lecture or both. Paul also created an online site so they will be able to easily take their new knowledge back to their schools. Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, Creative” - Peter Gilmartin, Program Director at Primary Source, LinkedIn recommendation (May 17, 2012)
“...a rare touch of Brazilian jazz...a breath of fresh air...As a unit, [Nos Daqui is] terribly charismatic; Lieberman's commanding presence strikes a remarkable contrast with his tender flute playing.”
-Hartford Advocate, Hartford, Connecticut
“Lieberman is an inspired tenorist, and whoever has heard him in the Carioca night knows what he is capable of, thanks to the supreme facility with which he resolves the most difficult phrases, while never losing the thread.”
-Jornal do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
“Lieberman is... without a doubt, the star of ‘Na Barra’, creating on the flute an ethereal mood of great melodic beauty...”
-Jornal do Brasil
“Lieberman... has a resume that would make most musicians’ mouths water.”
-Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton, Massachusetts
“While Lieberman may use the tenor sax to fit into the walking-bass groove of “Medium Rare,” his persuasive vocal- like sound approaching that of Stanley Turrentine, he allows the alto flute to express the understated undercurrent of joy arising from Harold Land’s ‘Rapture’.”
-Jazz Improv Magazine
“... ’Toni’, a ballad made to order for the lyricism of Lieberman’s [alto] sax... ”
-Folha de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
“In ‘R.J.’ Lieberman controls a solo of rare continuity on the piccolo... ’Pure Silk’ has interventions by Lieberman of great lyricism... ”
-Jornal do Brasil
“[Jeff] Holmes has done some great arranging for his band. Examples of this included Fever, a tune that featured an amazing tenor saxophone “duel” from Paul Lieberman and Geoff Vidal... The saxophone section was superb in every way. The entire section doubled on many different instruments and soloed with excellent things to say to the audience and to each other. What great fun for all concerned!
-International Trumpet Guild Journal
“Using the rarely heard piccolo to great effect, Paul Lieberman prances through this rhythmic-centered tune. ... The music builds to a beautifully rhapsodic pinnacle of tension as Lieberman's pointillistic piccolo meshes precisely with Sullivan's wistful piano. They provide a complementary call and response that codifies into a swirling, almost classical break before returning to the original melody line, commandingly followed by a crescendo- building finale to break the spell.”
“With a freewheeling sense of joy elicited by Paul Lieberman's delightful flute work...”
-www.jazz.com
Primary Instrument:
Reeds
Location:
wakefield, MA
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
Credentials/Background:
Flute/saxophone technique, & jazz improvisation for any
instrument. BA in Music from Yale University, MM in Jazz
Composition and Arranging at UMass Amherst. I have taught
private lessons during the last 30 years, have made
Featured Artist and Master Class appearances at area
colleges, and was hired by UMass as full-time faculty in
the African-American Music and Jazz Studies Program, where taught Jazz Theory/Improv, Graduate Jazz Analysis, led a big band, and coached chamber ensembles.
Lessons are on a sliding scale of $30-50 per hour.
Clinic/Workshop Information:
Big band, small group, and individual improv. Sax and
flute. Brazilian music and its African and European roots.
References:
"Paul Lieberman’s clinic proved to be a highlight of the 2012 Syracuse Jazz Fest Education Program. Drawing on his experience in music education, Paul was able to get right down to the level of the students in the audience and deliver meaningful, relevant, and eminently useable information designed to improve their understanding and performance of America’s music; jazz. For over an hour, he held the students in rapt attention as he both challenged and motivated them on their journey toward becoming better musicians. It was a thrill for me to see the student’s reactions: many told me afterward that they were truly inspired and “charged up” by Paul’s presentation. My only regret is that we only had an hour to give him!"
- Steve Frank, Syracuse Jazz Fest Education Program Director(Jul 05, 2012)
"I was privileged to work with Paul Lieberman on planning and implementing a professional development day for thirty K-12 educators on Brazilian culture, music and dance and its African and European roots. Paul played a vital role in designing the program and inviting other musicians. He masterfully introduced Brazilian history, musical forms and multiple traditions in a well-organized professional manner. What impressed the participants the most was that this person who had just provided a scholarly presentation, also was an incredible musician who interacted with two Brazilian musicians in their native Portuguese and with the teachers to bring alive so many styles of music and to demonstrate unfamiliar instruments. I can honestly recommend Paul regardless of whether you are seeking a musical performance, a lecture or both. Paul also created an online site so they will be able to easily take their new knowledge back to their schools. Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, Creative"
- Peter Gilmartin, Program Director at Primary Source, LinkedIn recommendation (May 17, 2012)
