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Paul Lieberman

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” reached multiple best of the year lists and generated nominations for Latin Jazz Flutist of the Year & Brazilian Jazz Album of the Year. It looks at Brazilian music and Jazz as twin children of Mother Africa separated at birth, raised in distant parts of the world and now reunited, with the stellar support 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” 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.”

Similarly with his clinics: “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!”


Among Paul's other recent activities: performance in an All-Star tribute band at NJPAC’s James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival alongside George Benson, The Manhattan Transfer, Jimmy Heath, Kenny Barron, Paquito D’Rivera, Jon Faddis, Adam Nussbaum, Renee Rosnes, and Todd Coolman, a commission from Yale University to create big-band arrangements of music from “Ibeji” to perform as Guest Artist in February, 2014, a two week concert tour by the Paul Lieberman Quartet of the Czech Republic, headlining the Chapada in Jazz Festival in Brazil with “Ibeji Live!” following two days of university master class and performance, a saxophone quartet co-founded with Gary Smulyan, Marty Ehrlich, and Jason Robinson, touring with The Gregg Allman Band and Jaimoe's Jasssz Band in the US and Europe, recording on Ali Ryerson’s 2013 Jazz Flute Big Band album as a soloist alongside Hubert Laws, Maraca, and Nestor Torres, 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”, clinician appearances at the Syracuse Jazz Fest and the St. Lawrence County Music Educators Association, and receipt of various grants. 
 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. 


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247
Album Review

Paul Lieberman: Ibeji

Read "Ibeji" reviewed by Greg Simmons


Paul Lieberman attempts to blend the distinctions between American jazz and Brazilian music--two streams he regards as twins separated at birth--on Ibeji. In his explorations, the woodwind specialist, playing flutes and saxophones, wears his appreciation for both forms on his sleeve. Ibeji employs two distinct lineups: the first plays American music in the Brazilian style and features the brilliant drummer Duduka da Fonseca, working his brushes and sticks in tight swirls and subtle reverberations. The second lineup does ...

229
Take Five With...

Take Five With Paul Lieberman

Read "Take Five With Paul Lieberman" reviewed by Paul Lieberman


Meet Paul Lieberman: After a session at Mickey Hart's, Gil Evans noted to Airto Moreira: “everything he plays sounds right," and David Sanborn responded to a show in New York with a surprise kiss. Saxophonist and flutist Paul Lieberman's 2011 CD ibeji features a number of legendary musicians: Rufus Reid and 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.

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95

Award / Grant

Paul Lieberman's "Ibeji" Chosen As All About Jazz Download of the Day Highlight

Paul Lieberman's "Ibeji" Chosen As All About Jazz Download of the Day Highlight

Source: Paul Lieberman

The opening track from Paul Lieberman's new CD Ibeji has been selected one of only 12 selections by All About Jazz in celebration of their 7 millionth free download. This puts Paul in the company of Avishai Cohen and Bill Frisell among others. A Big Thank You to Michael Ricci & Dave Sumner at All About Jazz for the honor, and for all of their tireless work to help keep the music flowing, and to Joel A. Martin, Rufus Reid, ...

182

Recording

Paul Lieberman's new 2011 CD "ibeji" released!

Paul Lieberman's new 2011 CD "ibeji" released!

Source: Paul Lieberman

ibeji features a number of legendary musicians: Rufus Reid & Nilson Matta on bass, Duduka da Fonseca, Tim Horner, and Allman Brothers co-founder and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jaimoe on drums, Joel A. Martin on piano, and Eugene Friesen on cello. The CD looks at Brazilian music and American jazz as twin children of Mother Africa separated at birth, raised in distant parts of the world, and now reunited, and showcases Paul's playing, composition and arranging. Paul Lieberman ...

219

Award / Grant

Paul Lieberman CD "Ibeji" Receives Grant

Paul Lieberman CD "Ibeji" Receives Grant

Source: Michael Ricci

A generous grant has been awarded by the Northampton (Mass.) Arts Council in partial support of the recording of a new CD from saxophonist and flutist Paul Lieberman. With a working title of Ibeji, the CD will be an artistic exploration of musical “nature vs. nurture," looking at the musics of Brazil and the United States as twin children of Mother Africa, who were separated at birth and sent off to live and grow in different parts of the world. ...

"...swinging...authentic...beautiful..." - Bill Milkowski, Jazz Times (Jan 11, 2012)

"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)

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Primary Instrument

Woodwinds

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

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

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Ibeji

Self Produced
2011

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Azul No Verde E Amarelo

From: Ibeji
By Paul Lieberman

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