Dave Liebman

David Liebman was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 4, 1946. He began classical piano lessons at the age of nine and saxophone by twelve. His “epiphany” was hearing John Coltrane perform live in New York City clubs such as Birdland, Village Vanguard and Half Note as a teenager. Throughout high school and college, Liebman pursued his jazz interest by studying with saxophone guru Joe Allard as well as jazz musicians Lennie
Tristano and Charles Lloyd. Upon graduation from New York University (with a degree in American History), he began to seriously devote himself to the full time pursuit of being a jazz artist. In the early 1970s, Liebman took the leading organizational role as Founder and President of Free Life Communication, a cooperative of several dozen young cutting edge musicians intent on performing around New York in venues outside the traditional jazz club situation. Free Life became an integral part of the fertile New York "loft" jazz scene in this period and was funded by the New York State Council of the Arts and enjoyed a residency in the “Space for Innovative Development” which was a renovated church funded by the Rubin Foundation as a home for the arts in midtown Manhattan along with several other notable avant-garde performing groups…the Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis ballet companies along with Joe Chaikan’s “Open Theater.”
After one year spent with Ten Wheel Drive, one of the early jazz fusion groups, Liebman secured the coveted saxophone/flute position in the group of John Coltrane’s ex-drummer, Elvin Jones. Within two years, Liebman reached the zenith of his apprenticeship period when the legendary trumpeter Miles Davis hired him. These years from 1970 thru 1974 were filled with tours, recordings and the incredible experience gained by being on the bandstand with two masters of jazz. At the same time, Liebman began exploring his own music-first in the Open Sky Trio with Bob Moses and then with pianist Richie Beirach in the group Lookout Farm. This group recorded for the German based ECM label as well as A&M Records and touring the U.S., Canada, India, Japan and Europe.
In 1977, Liebman did a world tour with pianist Chick Corea followed by the formation of the David Liebman Quintet with John Scofield as featured sideman. After several world tours and recordings by the quintet over three years, he reunited with Richard Beirach forming Quest in 1981. Beginning with bassist George Mraz
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Interview
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Album Review
- Earth by Angelo Leonardi
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- Trust And Honesty by Chris May
Book Review
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- Dave Liebman: Live at Smalls by Mike Jurkovic
Radio & Podcasts
Read more articlesSeptember 04, 2022
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May 05, 2019
Stephans, Liebman, Copland, Gress's Quartette Oblique on Sunnyside
September 04, 2018
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May 31, 2018
In Touch Entertainment Announced Today Its Summer Jazz Series Lineup
September 04, 2017
Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Liebman
April 18, 2016
Music Education Monday: A master class with David Liebman's Expansions
Dave Wilson
saxophoneMichael Stephans
drumsLori Bell
fluteMassimo de Majo
drumsPeter Fraize
saxophoneDaniel Borgegård Älgå
woodwindsChris Coluzzi
drumsFrank Vitolo
saxophone, tenorPhotos
Album Discography
Blues Variant
From: Blues VariantBy Dave Liebman
Inti
From: IntiBy Dave Liebman
The Sky
From: Turnaround: The Music of...By Dave Liebman
A Bright Place
From: Live/As AlwaysBy Dave Liebman
WTC
From: Quest for FreedomBy Dave Liebman
Lost Horizon
From: Five on OneBy Dave Liebman
Standoff
From: Re-DialBy Dave Liebman