Jazz / Post-Bop
Recorded May 1974
David Liebman soprano and tenor saxophones, alto flute
Richard Beirach electric piano
Gene Perla basses
John Abercrombie guitars
Jeff Williams drums
Bob Moses drums
Patato Valdez congas
Steven Satten percussion
Barry Altschul percussion
Badal Roy tablas
Collin Walcott tablas
Ray Armando bongos
Eleana Steinberg vocal
A thunderous recording by saxophonist Liebman from the year 1974. Here the American saxophonist - and friends Abercrombie and Beirach - are flanked by no less than eight drummers and percussionists. To listen to "Drum Ode" is to swim in waves of rhythms, cross-rhythms, polyrhythms, to be carried along by tidal beats. At the time when he made "Drum Ode", Liebman was playing with the Miles Davis Group in its most electric/tribal groove period, and Miles's influence is clearly discernible here.
David Liebman
Active Decades: '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: Sep 04, 1946 in New York, NY
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Modern Creative, Progressive Jazz
Dave Liebman has developed through time to become one of the top soprano saxophonists in jazz. A highly individual and explorative (yet versatile) improviser who can stretch from bop to free, Liebman studied early on with Lennie Tristano and Charles Lloyd. He gained important experience playing with Ten Wheel Drive (1970), Elvin Jones (1971-1973), and Miles Davis' fusion group (1973-1974). Liebman formed Lookout Farm in 1974, the first of several groups (including Quest in the 1980s) that teamed his reeds with pianist Richie Beirach. By the late '80s, he had largely dropped the tenor to concentrate on soprano and occasionally flute, although he made a rare recording on tenor for Double-Time in 1995. Dave Liebman, who is very active in jazz education and has written several books, has recorded for a countless number of labels through the years as a leader, including PM, ECM, Horizon, Timeless, Palo Alto, Impulse, Soul Note, Heads Up, Storyville, Owl, CMP, Red, and Candid.
---Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
