Jazz vet David Liebman wisely keeps it fresh by surrounding himself with younger artists on this rewarding and wide ranging set. The team of Bobby Avey/p-key, Alex Ritz/dr, Matt Vashishan/reeds and Tony Marino/b are versatile enough to fit any mood, and there are plenty here. The reeds and piano play peek-a-boo on a playful “ Off and Off” while Ritz’s aggressive drumming propels the reeds on “The Puzzle” and the tribal “Danse De La Fureur.” Avey’s piano is delicate as some lovely woodwinds float on “Vendetta” and “Sailing” and the team joyfully bops on Tadd Dameron’s “Good Bait.” A bit of rocking on the drums underscores “Continues to Ignore” and Marino teams well with Avey on the clippety clop of “For J.A.” Liebman’s is doing a yeoman’s job making his wooden recorder accessible to the jazz mode, and has carved out an impressive niche for himself in that category, along with being one of the Wise Masters of the modal genre.
Whaling City Sound
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