Search - Dave Liebman :: Back on the Corner

Dave Liebman--our most versatile jazz sax player alive?

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 03/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm beginning to think so, what with his impeccable collection of recent discs, including, not only this one, but Saxophone Summit, featuring Joe Lovano and Mike Brecker (on one of his last recordings); Flashpoint, featuring Aydin Essen, Anthony Jackson, and Steve Smith; Three for All, comprising Liebman, Steve Swallow, and Adam Nussbaum; To Music, featuring Jim Robitaille, winner of the Ninth Annual Thelonius Monk International Composers Competition, and so many and varied performances that he certainly deserves the title of most accomplished and selfless contributor to contemporary jazz recordings. His generosity of spirit, his willingness to subordinate his monster chops to whatever vibe is going down, bear witness to a man who cares a lot more about making whatever session he's on work optimally than stamping the proceedings with his own, admittedly, high-powered chops and conception.



The thing that amazes about Liebman is the consistently high level of his contributions, no matter how arcane or quotidian the session. Here, in this highly charged fusionistic setting, he never ceases to amaze, whether spinning off brilliantly conceived solo flights of fancy, or plying his unique wooden flute stylings.



Liebman, having recruited fusion monsters Mike Stern (guitar) and Anthony Jackson (bass) to his regular working outfit (Tony Morino, bass; Vic Juris, guitar; and Marko Marcinko, drums), shows not only his respect for his core band members, but a willingness to expand his musical palette to energize the fusion vibe inherent to a project such as this.



Personally, I don't pick up on that much of an electric Miles vibe going down here. But the killer fusionistic vibe conjured by these outstanding musicians maps out a territory entirely apposite to that which Miles evoked in the late eighties and early nineties, and gloriously extends that sensibility into the new millennium.



Music of great power and vision."

Liebman standing proud on the corner

Anthony Cooper | Louisville, KY United States | 05/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Miles Davis CD "On The Corner" is still a controversial disc. Miles wanted to appeal to a younger generation, but its radical sound and Columbia's lackluster marketing combined to ensure it wasn't a hit. David Liebman played on "On The Corner" and some of the '70's Davis albums. For "Back On The Corner" he gets his usual band, plus Anthony Jackson and Mike Stern to pay homage to "On The Corner". The CD starts with a Liebman original. It fuses together 70's and contemporary jazz sensibilities. Next is "Ife" and the highlight, "Black Satin". "Black Satin" is my favorite part of "On The Corner", and the Davis composition is the best song on "Back On The Corner". "Bela" and "Mesa D'Espana" are two soft tunes, and "New Mambo" is more upbeat. Those three are more contemporary jazz than groovy fusion. The funky final song channels the spirit Davis was going for by going to his influences, and is a fun way to end the CD. Like the best jazz tribute albums, it pays tribute without trying copy what once was.

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