David Liebman • Colors

 

Sure enough, the title of this record betrays the artist's vision, expressed through tunes inspired by the hues of the rainbow. But Colors is not Liebman Lite, make no mistake. These dozen solo tenor tracks are as serious as they come. But where other adventurous players use the solo setting as an opportunity to get furious and wild, David Liebman mostly respects his limits and pursues timbre and motion instead.

That said, it's important to be aware that control is often a synonym for restraint, witnessed here through a relatively precise approach to the instrument. When Liebman lays out a theme, he fleshes it out beyond skin and bone, adding muscle and heft where necessary, as on the overblown cries of "Black 1." His chops have never been in doubt, but what's most remarkable here is how he exploits every part of his horn. The aptly titled "White 1" gradually climbs out of soft breathing noises and light finger punctuation into stark, barely-voiced cries, only to retreat and ascend the gradual slope once again.

At quiet times like this you can fully appreciate the rich acoustics of the Banff Center, where the disc was recorded in the summer of 1998. The abundant bouncing reverations may put some listeners off, and fairly so, because they superimpose a layer of sound beyond what Liebman pulls out of his horn. But if you look at the big picture, it's apparent that he is fully aware of his acoustic environment, exploiting it as he rounds out phrases and pauses between notes.

As for the colors on the disc, the most memorable include the appropriately soulful strains of "Blue 1," with a touch of vibrato, a thick tone, and faint echoes of Ben Webster. "Red 2" has a decidedly swinging edge, pushing a relatively clean theme through successive rounds of embellishment and change, fluttering and trilling along. "Black 2" takes off where "Black 1" left off, starkly anguished and sharply blown. Its shrill, honking closure leads off abruptly into a second white field comprised of bare minimum blowing and popping sounds. It's somewhat ironic that Liebman never really hits full overdrive until the very end, a heated ball of energy called "Yellow 2." His pulses here again emphasize the hall's acoustics.

Liebman considers this record a companion to his soprano solo disc The Tree (Soul Note, 1990), and those in the know may find some interesting parallels. But Colors is by all means a stand-alone work, some of the most inventive and involving music Dave Liebman has ever recorded.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/colors-hat-hut-records-review-by-aaj-staff
By AAJ Staff
November 25, 2003 
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/colors-hat-hut-records-review-by-aaj-staff

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Efectivamente, el título de este disco revela la visión del artista, expresada a través de melodías inspiradas en los colores del arcoíris. Pero que no quepa duda: Colors no es un Liebman light. Estas doce pistas para saxo tenor solista son de una seriedad absoluta. Sin embargo, mientras que otros intérpretes audaces aprovechan el solo para dar rienda suelta a su ímpetu y desenfreno, David Liebman respeta sus límites y se centra en el timbre y el movimiento.

Dicho esto, es importante tener en cuenta que el control suele ser sinónimo de moderación, como se observa aquí en su enfoque relativamente preciso del instrumento. Cuando Liebman desarrolla un tema, lo hace crecer más allá de lo superficial, añadiendo fuerza y ​​contundencia donde es necesario, como en los intensos gritos de "Black 1". Su virtuosismo nunca ha estado en duda, pero lo más destacable aquí es cómo explota cada matiz de su saxo. El acertadamente titulado "White 1" asciende gradualmente desde suaves respiraciones y ligeros toques de dedos hasta gritos desgarradores, apenas audibles, para luego retroceder y volver a ascender por la pendiente suave.

En momentos de calma como este, se puede apreciar plenamente la rica acústica del Banff Center, donde se grabó el disco en el verano de 1998. Las abundantes reverberaciones pueden resultar molestas para algunos oyentes, y con razón, ya que superponen una capa de sonido más allá de lo que Liebman extrae de su saxofón. Pero si se observa el panorama general, resulta evidente que es plenamente consciente de su entorno acústico, aprovechándolo al máximo para completar frases y crear pausas entre notas.

En cuanto a los matices del disco, destacan los acordes conmovedores de "Blue 1", con un toque de vibrato, un tono denso y sutiles ecos de Ben Webster. "Red 2" tiene un ritmo decididamente rítmico, llevando un tema relativamente limpio a través de sucesivas rondas de ornamentación y cambios, revoloteando y trinando. "Black 2" retoma donde "Black 1" lo dejó, con una angustia cruda y un sonido agudo e intenso. Su cierre estridente y resonante da paso abruptamente a un segundo campo sonoro compuesto por sonidos mínimos de soplidos y chasquidos. Resulta un tanto irónico que Liebman no alcance su máximo potencial hasta el final, una explosión de energía llamada "Yellow 2". Sus pulsaciones aquí vuelven a enfatizar la acústica de la sala.

Liebman considera este disco un complemento de su disco solista de soprano The Tree (Soul Note, 1990), y quienes conozcan su obra podrán encontrar algunos paralelismos interesantes. Pero Colors es, sin duda, una obra independiente, una de las piezas musicales más ingeniosas y envolventes que Dave Liebman ha grabado jamás. https://www.allaboutjazz.com/colors-hat-hut-records-review-by-aaj-staff
By AAJ Staff
November 25, 2003 
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/colors-hat-hut-records-review-by-aaj-staff

Tracks:
1 - Red 1 - 4:13
2 - Black 1 - 4:46
3 - White 1 - 4:37
4 - Gray 1 - 5:48
5 - Blue 1 - 4:40
6 - Yellow 1 - 4:55
7 - Red 2 - 3:40
8 - Black 2 - 3:56
9 - White 2 - 3:40
10 - Gray 2 - 4:43
11 - Blue 2 - 3:14
12 - Yellow 2 - 3:23


Credits:
    Design Concept [Graphic Concept] – fuhrer vienna
    Executive-Producer – Werner X. Uehlinger
    Liner Notes – Joe Lovano, Michael Brecker
    Mastered By [CD Master By] – Peter Pfister
    Photography By [Cover Photo By] – Louise Murray (3)
    Recorded By – Reid Kruger
    Tenor Saxophone, Producer, Sleeve Notes – David Liebman

Recorded at the Banff Center-Canada Summer 1998.

Label:    hatOLOGY – hatOLOGY 600
Country:    Switzerland
Released:    2003
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Free Jazz, Free Improvisation
https://www.discogs.com/release/427609-David-Liebman-Colors?srsltid=AfmBOoqgh4qSj8-Duve5sUjMxAi3UDO-ZoHgfSUYI3K589u3DLZeAC4_

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