David Liebman - Light'n Up, Please! (1976) [re-rip]

Along with mainstay Pee Wee Ellis, Dave Liebman turns his hand to funk. Many admirers of his Post-Bop adventures may not at first be impressed but with further appraisals this LP is still a solid bit of well-crafted jazz and not to be so easily written off as a less important album within his now vast discography. He is joined by some mighty fine players including the poorly acknowledged Link Chamberland. Others include the splendid pianist Richie Beirach, drummer Al Foster and percussionists Juma Santos and Sonny Brown. Not to overlook the mighty voice of Leon Thomas on three tunes. Overall Liebman still continues to showcase his multi-instrumental talents with great prowess. A highlight is his soprano mastery on “Tranquility Of The Protective Aura.” Enjoy!

Horizon Records, SP-721, 1977

Recorded May, 1976 at the Record Plant, Sausalito, California
and September, 1976 at Electric Lady Studio, New York City

Personnel:

David Liebman - Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, C Flute, Alto Flute,
Electric Piano, Talking Drum, Percussion, Vocals

Pee Wee Ellis - Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Electric Piano, Percussion, Vocals

Harold Williams - Electric Piano, Minimoog, Vocals (#A3,B2,B3,B5)

Richie Beirach - Acoustic Piano (#B4)

Link Chamberland - Electric Guitar (#A1,A3,B1-B3,B5)

Chris Hayes - Electric Guitar (#A1,A2,A4,B1)

Jeff Berlin - Electric Bass (#A3,B2,B3,B5)

Tony Saunders - Electric Bass (#A1,A2,A4,B1)

Jimmy Strassburg - Drums, Percussion

Al Foster - Drums (#A3,B2,B3,B5)

Juma Santos - Congas, Percussion (#A1,A3,B1-B3,B5)

Sonny Brown - Percussion (#B2)

Leon Thomas - Vocals, Percussion (#A1,B1,B2)

Tracks:

A1. Light'n Up, Please! {David Liebman} (6:39)

A2. Children Of The Ghetto {David Liebman, Leon Thomas, Eleana Steinberg, Pee Wee Ellis} (3:44)

A3. Tranquility Of The Protective Aura {Harold Williams} (5:54)

A4. The Fonz's Strut {David Liebman, Pee Wee Ellis} (5:55)

B1. Got To Work {David Liebman, Pee Wee Ellis, Leon Thomas} (3:17)

B2. Chicken Soup {David Liebman, Pee Wee Ellis} (3:52)

B3. Exquisite Torture {David Liebman} (5:05)

B4. Win Your Love {David Liebman} (1:31)

B5. Slow Dance On The Killing Ground {David Liebman} (4:24)

Credits:

Producer - David Liebman, John Snyder, Pee Wee Ellis

Engineer - Skip Juriad , Assistant - Jerry Soloman [Electric Lady]

Engineer - Tom Anderson [The Record Plant]

Mixing - Bob Edwards, Assistant - Eric Schilling [The Record Plant]

Photography - James Fee [Front], Benno Friedman [Back]

Photography - Barbara Ellis

Art Direction - Roland Young

Design - Phil Shima

Sax boffin and one-time Miles Davis sideman, David Liebman, and James Brown's sax man Pee Wee Ellis get together for a light-hearted rhythm workout. On two tracks ("Light'n Up Please!" and "Got To Work") they lock swords with their tenors and Ellis plays electric piano and tenor on the others. Liebman tries his hand at funky stuff on side one, and although the whole album sounds hastily produced rather than spontaneous, we are treated to some wonderfully creative and searching soprano solos on "Slow Dance On The Killing Ground", "Exquisite Torture" and "Tranquility Of The Protective Aura". ~ vitalwill, RYM.

Richard Davis - With Understanding (1975) [vinyl>flac]

Pure brilliance from the brief flowering of Richard Davis as a leader - that great time when he was stepping out of his role as a sideman in the 60s, and making some really wonderful 70s albums for Muse! This album's got a really well-crafted feel - a spiritual, somewhat mellow approach that's laidback, and nicely understated - drawing strongly on Richard's work with other great players over the years, yet never pushing its own presence too strongly. The group features Chick Corea on piano, Sam Brown on guitar, Sonny Brown on drums, Frankie Dunlop on percussion and Bill Lee as a second bassist. Corea's piano is nicely restrained, and he gives the set a good mellow edge, but the real highlight is the writing - as Bill Lee contributed an entire set of beautiful compositions that stand among his best work from the 70s. Tracks include "The Rabbi", "Oh My God", "Juan Valdez", "Baby Sweets", and "Monica". ~ Dusty Groove, Inc.

This album runs in a similar vein to that of "Dealin'" and "Harvest", whereby Davis continues to explore the use of bowing an arco bass across an assortment of compositions. According to one reviewer: "But the preponderance of arco bass makes the music a bit too bottom-heavy. The same can be said of the selections from “With Understanding”. The band is better, however. It includes Chick Corea, at a time when the pianist wasn't playing a great deal of acoustic music. Unfortunately, the piano is not recorded very well. Sam Brown's acoustic guitar adds a nice dimension, and Bill Lee again plays second bass but is utilized with more subtlety. Lee's three originals, "Monica," "The Rabbi," and "Baby Sweets," are varied and rewarding." ~ David R. Adler [cduniverse.com].

Muse Records, MR 5083, 1975

Recorded November, 1971, New York City

Musicians:

Richard Davis - Bass

Chick Corea - Piano

Sam Brown - Guitar

Bill Lee - Bass

Sonny Brown - Drums

Frankie Dunlop - Percussion

Tracks:

A1. Dear Old Stockholm {Traditional} (5:36)

A2. Monica {Bill Lee} (4:05)

A3. Oh My God {Nadi Koma} (9:31)

B1. The Rabbi {Bill Lee} (7:17)

B2. Baby Sweets {Bill Lee} (6:14)

B3. Juan Valdez {Bill Lee} (5:04)

Credits:

Producer - Larry Fallon

Executive Producer - Joe Fields

Engineer - B. Arthur

Liner Notes - Doug Ramsey

Art Direction, Photography -  Hal Wilson

David Liebman - Light'n Up, Please! (1976) [vinyl>flac]

Allied with Pee Wee King of James Brown fame, Dave Liebman plunges headlong into funk in the wake of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, but his heart doesn't seem to be in it. At times, he sounds bored playing R&B riffs that he seemed to have outgrown at the time, lapsing into free-jazz flurries in an effort to stay interested, and the rhythm section is leaden. The whole thing is recorded with a dry, airless ambience, possibly emulating Headhunters and its sought-after riches -- but no, it didn't translate into anything close to a gold record. Leon Thomas makes some fairly ridiculous vocal appearances on the energetic but mindless funk of "Children of the Ghetto" and the pale imitation of a JB groove, "Got to Work." Yet there are a few moments, particularly on "Tranquility of the Protective Aura," where Liebman's lovely soprano is permitted to soar unimpeded. The title of the album refers either to photography or cigarettes, depending upon which side of the cover you're looking at. ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide.

Horizon Records, SP-721, 1977

Recorded May 1976 at the Record Plant, Sausalito, California;
and September 1976 at Electric Lady Studio, New York City

Personnel:

David Liebman - Tenor & Soprano Saxes, Alto & C Flutes, Electric Piano,
Talking Drum, Vocals, Handclaps

Pee Wee Ellis - Tenor & Soprano Saxes, Electric Piano, Vocals, Handclaps

Harold "Ivory" Williams - Synthesizer [Mini Moog], Electric Piano, Vocals

Link Chamberland - Electric Guitars

Chris Hayes - Electric Guitar

Jeff Berlin - Bass

Tony Saunders - Bass

Al Foster - Drums

Jimmy Strassburg - Percussion

Jumma Santos - Congas, Handclaps

Sonny Brown - Percussion

Richard Beirach - Piano [Acoustic]

Leon Thomas – Vocals

[See included Info.txt file for specific details]

Track Listing:

A1. Light'n Up, Please! {David Liebman} (6:39)

A2. Children Of The Ghetto {Liebman, Thomas, Steinberg, Ellis} (3:44)

A3. Tranquility Of The Protective Aura {Harold Williams} (5:54)

A4. The Fonz's Strut {David Liebman, Pee Wee Ellis} (5:55)

B1. Got To Work {Liebman, Ellis, Leon Thomas} (3:17)

B2. Chicken Soup {David Liebman, Pee Wee Ellis} (3:52)

B3. Exquisite Torture {David Liebman} (5:05)

B4. Win Your Love {David Liebman} (1:31)

B5. Slow Dance On The Killing Ground {David Liebman} (4:24)

Like many appraisals they can be quite subjective to a reviewer’s preferences and prejudices. Although not the usual side you would expect from David Liebman, it is however a major attempt to fashion a pleasurable jazz funk album. He is helped by a myriad of sophisticated players and performers. If the listener overlooks some of the dated riffs and concentrates on some of the artists solos they will soon realise a high standard of music. It is also an opportunity to hear the elusive Link Chamberland in action. Overall Liebman demonstrates some wonderful virtuosity across a broad range of instruments, in particular when he swaps to soprano. Pee-Wee Ellis’ contribution as musician, writer and producer is also impressive. Apart from a couple of rambling moments, this LP sets up some very funky grooves. Ripped from a well loved vinyl the resulting music makes for an enjoyable listen.