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Marc Copland: Impressions
By
Marc Copland
pianob.1948

Dave Liebman
saxophoneb.1946
"I've done a lot of duos," says Liebman, "and duo is the most challenging, because you really have to be concerned with very specific nuances that are particular to a wind instrument: the beginning of a note, the intonation, the vibrato, the expressive device you use...everything is exposed and you're really naked in front of the microphones. Playing duoand especially with someone as sensitive harmonically, and as far as touch goes, as Marcis really a great challenge and I love doing it because it raises my game."
Liebman should know, as he's shared intimate musical relationships with a number of significant pianists in addition to Copland, in particular

Phil Markowitz
piano
Richie Beirach
pianob.1947
Copland's relationship with Liebman predates his days at the piano, when he was still a working saxophonist, and he shares a similar respect. "I've played with a lot of musicians over the years, but I don't think I've ever worked with one as hardworking and dedicated as Dave; he's really into it, and it's wonderful to play with musicians with that kind of a commitment. From the beginning, even when we were both playing sax, the thing I think we shared in common, which makes the whole thing go, is an interest in understanding the outer reaches of harmony and the outer possibilities of harmony, so that when there's a certain chord symbol written on a page, it's just immediately understood that this is not a directive, this is a doorway. Dave, he totally gets that."
In a mixed program of standards and originals, nowhere is this more obvious than Impressions' opener, a take on

Jimmy Giuffre
clarinet1921 - 2008

Herbie Hancock
pianob.1940
Words like "unpredictable" are bantered about often in jazz, mainly because of its improvisational nature; but even A-list musicians fall prey to the trappings of safety and personal convention, which is what makes this set so compelling. Copland and Liebman may occupy a general space along a very broad continuum, but they're each capable of stretching their own personal boundaries to the breaking pointand those of their partners, as well. Liebman's upper register multiphonics and stretching of the melody to

John Coltrane
saxophone1926 - 1967
Liebman subsequently brought "WTC"one of two originals on Impressions' (the other is Copland's ethereally re-harmonized blues, "Blackboard")to the set list played during a 2005 reunion of Quest, his longstanding group with Beirach, bassist

Ron McClure
bassb.1941

Billy Hart
drumsb.1940
Following the conclusion of "WTC," the set adopts a more positive, even direct tone, with versions of

Miles Davis
trumpet1926 - 1991

Bill Evans
piano1929 - 1980

Lester Young
saxophone1909 - 1959
"The beauty of the standard, as any good listener knows," Liebman continues, "is that because it's a known quantity that's been done so many times, you have a certain standard that you have to come up to. Also, you have the choice to say, 'Let's look at this in a different light.' We don't really sit down and discuss the harmony, or the exact arrangement; we really leave that to be in the momentmore so than the originals. With the originals, I really want to know what Marc means. But the standard? This is jazz, and we should just be able to say 'hello,' and talk about the weather."
The two may have done little more than talk about the weather before they began playing the largely standards-focused Impressions, but from such mundane chitchat comes a performance that exemplifies the best of what each of these fine musicians doesbut also, with the push-and-pull of two different musical personalities, demonstrates the ability and willingness of each to be drawn outside their normal predispositions, to create music that's the best of both, and something a little more, and a lot special.
Liner Notes copyright ? 2025 John Kelman.
Impressions can be purchased here.
Contact John Kelman at All About Jazz.
With the realization that there will always be more music coming at him than he can keep up with, John wonders why anyone would think that jazz is dead or dying.
Track Listing
Cry Want; Maiden Voyage; Impressions; WTC; Blue in Green; Lester Leaps In; When You’re Smiling; Blackbeard.
Personnel
Marc Copland
pianoDave Liebman
saxophoneAdditional Instrumentation
David Liebman: soprano and tenor saxophones; Marc Copland: piano.
Album information
Title: Impressions | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Hat Hut Records
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