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Dave Liebman Big Band: A Tribute to Wayne Shorter

By Jack Bowers
October 15, 2014
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Dave Liebman Big Band: A Tribute to Wayne Shorter

In a career spanning almost half a century, soprano saxophonist

Dave Liebman

saxophone
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Liebman has appeared on more than five hundred recordings including seventy as leader of various groups. His latest, A Tribute to

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter by the Dave Liebman Big Band, may well be the best one yet. Why? Because every single component, from choice of material to arrangements, performance to production, is no less than superlative. In other words, there is simply nothing on this brilliantly conceived and splendidly consummated album that warrants censure of any kind.

In saluting one of the twentieth century's most resourceful and respected jazz musicians, Liebman has chosen (wisely) to focus exclusively on Shorter's more temperate and melodic treasure trove from the mid-1960s, a time during which he wrote such classic themes as "Infant Eyes," "Nefertiti," "Black Nile" and others. A second decision, perhaps even wiser than the first, was to assign arranging duties to

Mats Holmquist

" data-original-title="" title="">Mats Holmquist, a Swedish master who leads his own ensemble and has literally written the book (well, a book) on big-band arranging, "Great Band ABZ." Holmquist's charts are, in a word, sublime, renovating Shorter's compositions, originally designed for quartets or quintets, to make them seem as though they'd been written explicitly for full-size bands.

A third decision, to open the album with a ballad ("Infant Eyes"), could have been less rewarding save for the excellence of the band, Holmquist's wonderful arrangement, and bewitching solos by Liebman and pianist

Jim Ridl

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Ridl. Liebman solos on every track, and the thought that arises after listening is "why isn't this guy winning polls?" That's no spur-of-the-moment impression; on soprano sax, Liebman is as sharp and perceptive as anyone you'd care to name. Pay heed, for example, to his dazzling sorties on the fast-paced "Black Nile" and "Yes or No." Improvisation doesn't get much better than that. Speaking of which, there are splendid solos along the way by guitarist

Vic Juris

guitar
1953 - 2019

" data-original-title="" title="">Vic Juris ("Speak No Evil"), trombonist

Tim Sessions

" data-original-title="" title="">Tim Sessions and drummer

Marko Marcinko

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Marko Marcinko ("Yes or No"), trombonist

Jason Jackson

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Jackson ("Nefertiti"), alto / music director Gunnar Mossblad ("El Gaucho"), flugel

Scott Reeves

trombone
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Scott Reeves and bassist

Tony Marino

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Marino ("Iris") and tenor

Dave Riekenberg

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Riekenberg ("Black Nile").

In his liner notes, Liebman affirms "what a pleasure [it is] to play this timeless music with my big band." The pleasure is ours, Dave. Five stars for Dave Liebman, the band, Mats Holmquist and especially Wayne Shorter whose singular talents made this superlative recording possible.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Infant Eyes; Speak No Evil; Yes or No; Nefertiti; El Gaucho; Iris; Black Nile.

Personnel

Dave Liebman

saxophone

Dave Liebman: leader, soprano sax, wooden flute soloist; Mats Holmquist: arranger; Gunnar Mossblad: music director, alto, soprano sax, flute; Bob Millikan: trumpet, flugelhorn; Brian Pareschi: trumpet, flugelhorn; Dave Ballou: trumpet, flugelhorn; Danny Cahn: trumpet, flugelhorn; Patrick Dorian: trumpet, flugelhorn; Tom Christensen: alto sax, flute; Dave Riekenberg: tenor sax, flute, clarinet; Tim Ries: tenor sax, clarinet; Chris Karlic: baritone sax, clarinet; Tim Sessions: trombone; Scott Reeves: trombone, alto flugelhorn; Jason Jackson: trombone; Jeff Nelson: bass trombone; Jim Ridl: piano; Vic Juris: guitar; Tony Marino: bass; Marko Marcinko: drums.

Album information

Title: A Tribute to Wayne Shorter | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Summit Records

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