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Dave Liebman

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Dave Liebman · David Liebman was born in 1946 in Brooklyn. He is an American saxophonist, flautist, bandleader, composer and jazz educator, best known for his work on soprano saxophone. He contracted polio as a child, in 1949. From the age of nine he studied classical piano and from twelve, saxophone. Hearing John Coltrane in New York clubs such as Birdland, the Village Vanguard and the Half Note was decisive. He studied with Joe Allard, Lennie Tristano and Charles Lloyd and took a degree in American history at New York University.

Music and breakthrough

In the early 1970s he helped set up the musicians' collective Free Life Communication, a hub of the New York loft jazz scene. He then played in the group of the drummer Elvin Jones. In 1973 he became a member of Miles Davis's ensemble in its electric period, and he can be heard on the live album Dark Magus and on the double album Get Up with It. He also appeared on On the Corner. At the same time he began groups of his own, first the Open Sky Trio and then Lookout Farm with the pianist Richie Beirach. The debut Lookout Farm appeared in 1974 on ECM. In 1981 he formed the group Quest with Beirach. With Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano and later Ravi Coltrane he led Saxophone Summit.

Influence

Liebman has played on more than five hundred recordings, about two hundred of them as leader. His work ranges from straight-ahead jazz through fusion and avant-garde to chamber music, with projects on Monk, Coltrane, Kurt Weill, Cole Porter, Jobim, Puccini and the Beatles. In 2011 he became an NEA Jazz Master. He founded and runs the International Association of Schools of Jazz. In this way he is both a performer and a teacher of jazz.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Lookout Farm from 1974 and notice the interplay between Liebman's saxophone and Richie Beirach's piano. Who leads and who follows?

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: Artists