Accessibility links
Dave Liebman: What Are You Listening To? : A Blog Supreme We asked great jazz musicians what's been catching their ears lately. The soprano saxophonist and newly-named NEA Jazz Master says he reliably returns to John Coltrane's "Crescent," which he calls "pure poetry."

A Blog Supreme

From NPR Jazz

A Blog Supreme

Dave Liebman: What Are You Listening To?

Crescent

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/131229588/131225847" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Enlarge this image

Dave Liebman. Chuck Koton hide caption

toggle caption
Chuck Koton

Dave Liebman.

Chuck Koton

He writes:

It's actually quite simple. For a reminder of why I do what I do, I will listen to [John] Coltrane's "Crescent" on occasion. It's pure poetry melodically and harmonically; it swings beyond belief; it is understated but yet declarative; and it is an affirmation of the tragedy and ecstasy of life, not to mention that four master musicians are speaking as one. We should all be so lucky to be able to access real truth and beauty as one wishes.

David Liebman is a soprano saxophonist and a 2011 NEA Jazz Master. He has several albums out this year: As Always, with his big band; Turnaround: The Music of Ornette Coleman, with the Dave Liebman group; Quest for Freedom, with Richie Beirach and the HR Big Band; Re-Dial (Live In Hamburg), with the quartet Quest; and Lieb Plays The Blues A La Trane, with his trio. He wrote in recently via e-mail.

Crescent

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/131229588/131225847" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Purchase: Amazon / Amazon MP3 / iTunes

A Blog Supreme

From NPR Jazz