Full Review

David Liebman, Quint5T Review

David Liebman is a jazz educator, saxophonist, flautist, author, and composer. His career spans nearly five decades, beginning in the early 1970s as the saxophone/flutist in both the Elvin Jones and Miles Davis Groups. The NEA Jazz Master (2011) has played on over five hundred recordings, with nearly two hundred under his leadership and co-leadership. As a jazz educator, Liebman is known as an author of several milestone books: Self Portrait Of A Jazz Artist, A Chromatic Approach To Jazz Harmony And Melody, and Developing A Personal Saxophone Sound (translated into multiple languages), in addition to teaching DVDs, journalistic contributions to periodicals and published chamber music. His ensembles have included: John Scofield, Richie Beirach, Bob Moses, Billy Hart, and others. Liebman is the Founder and Artistic Director of the International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ), existing since 1989, a worldwide network of schools from nearly 40 countries. He is currently teaching at the Manhattan School of Music and a guest lecturer at Berklee College of Music. Liebman is now releasing, Quint5T.

Bottom Line: Quint5T may be led by David Liebman, but it is undoubtedly a group effort more than a leader project. The ensemble is Liebman, saxophone; Randy Brecker, trumpet; Marc Copland, piano; Drew Gress, bass; and Joey Baron, drums. All the members contribute tunes to the band’s repertoire. The album opens with a Duke Ellington composition called “Mystery Song.” Copland’s piano intro over Gress’ and Baron’s feel is terrific. The ensemble is very interactive; Liebman’s soprano saxophone sings on the first solo. Gress’ bowed solo is rich in melody as Brecker’s solo builds to the song’s highlight and climax. Baron’s original “Broken Time” is a relaxed medium swinger that displays the ensemble’s historical roots. Brecker sounds impressive as he builds from his lower register to his upper register with modern and bebop melodic devices. Liebman and Copland are engaged in a beautiful conversation on this one. “Child at Play” is a fun melody by Liebman. Brecker’s “There’s a Mingus Amonk Us” will delight jazz fans with its many references. The form has an exciting set of changes, too, and it is enjoyable to hear Brecker, Liebman, and Copland dig into the harmony and Liebman on tenor saxophone. The trading with Baron is also a listening adventure of well-played jazz. Overall, Quint5T is an outstanding ensemble playing through a set of creative tunes. The ensemble interaction is always a blast to listen to, and Brecker is on fire throughout the album. That’s the short of it!