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Dave Liebman: On the Corner Live!

By Mike Jurkovic
April 9, 2019
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Saxophonist/flautist and 2011 NEA Jazz Master David Liebman knows of what he speaks when he speaks of

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis. He was part of the pack stirring the rock/jazz/electronic/funk fusion cauldron, first working with

" data-original-title="" title="">Elvin Jones and then running with Davis in the studio—first appearing on the original On The Corner, (Columbia, 1972)—and on tour from 1972 to 1974.

And though the electric chapter of Miles Davis and Liebman serves as the historical pivot point, for On The Corner Live: The Music of Miles Davis, the impetus behind both this gig and the recording is the Grammy-winning sax-man

Jeff Coffin

saxophone
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Coffin. Back in 2015, while Liebman was visiting Coffin's home base in Nashville, Coffin, a long standing member of

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Bela Fleck & The Flecktones and resident saxophonist for Dave Matthews, got the idea to explore Miles music. He then assembled fellow Flecktone bassist

Victor Wooten

bass
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Victor Wooten, drummer

Chester Thompson

organ, Hammond B3

" data-original-title="" title="">Chester Thompson (an early

Frank Zappa

guitar, electric
1940 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Zappa,

Weather Report

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Weather Report, and

Genesis

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Genesis alumnus), pianist

Chris Walters

piano and vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Walters and guitarist

James DaSilva

" data-original-title="" title="">James DaSilva.

Perhaps not as dense as any of the material featured on the original or its electric predecessors and successors, the ensemble does find crackling re- invention and vigor, bringing new life to what has to be the umpteenth reincarnation of the music.

Joe Zawinul

keyboards
1932 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Zawinul's defining "In A Silent Way" is taken a tad too solemnly, but it does get the band psyched for the jams to come. "On the Corner" gets funky fast, as Walters flashes some

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea /

Keith Jarrett

piano
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Jarrett deja vu and the reed men trade off Wooten's bubbling antics. The crowd loves it! "Wili (for Dave)" is one of those airy, floating fusion moments that erupts into a jagged guitar-fueled finale. "Black Satin" blisters with more sky-diving horn work, driven by Chester and Wooten. Like the audience and the players, no one walks away from On The Corner Live: The Music of Miles Davis dissatisfied.

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Track Listing

Lieb Talks About Miles; In a Silent Way; On the Corner; Wili (for Dave); Bass Interlude; Black Satin; Selim; Guitar Interlude; Ife; Drum Interlude; Mojo; Jean Pierre.

Personnel

Dave Liebman

saxophone

Dave Liebman: tenor and soprano saxophone, wood flute; Jeff Coffin: tenor, soprano, and electro saxophone, flute, clarinet; Victor Wooten: electric bass; Chester Thompson: drums; Chris Walters: keyboards; James DaSilva: guitar.

Album information

Title: On the Corner Live! | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Ear Up Records

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