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A quartet called Quest reunites at Birdland, February 6-9 |
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Written by Ronaldo Oregano
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Monday, 04 February 2008 |
 Billy Hart © Andrea Canter
Quest reunites again for four nights of exciting jazz at Birdland in New York from Wednesday, February 6th through Saturday, February 9th with sets at 8:30 and 11:00 pm. Quest features David Liebman (soprano and tenor saxophone, wood flute), Richie Beirach (piano), Billy Hart (drums), and Ron McCLure (bass). For reservations call (212) 581-308 or visit www.birdlandjazz.com.
For a nearly ten year period in the 1980s, the group Quest played some of the most intense interactive group music of the decade. With the cumulative experience of four contemporaries whose dossier is a virtue history of jazz of the past forty years, the group was widely respected by critics and fans alike. They reunited for an engagement at New York’s Birdland and a European tour in the fall of 2005 from which a live recording “Redemption” (Hatology) was released. Another European tour followed in 2007. Serious jazz listeners found themselves once again listening to a band that displays the power and skills of four of the most respected musicians in jazz, who play together as one with a repertoire ranging form originals to freshly conceived versions of standards.
 David Liebman
David Liebman’s career has spanned over three decades, beginning with his apprenticeship years in the early 1970s as the saxophonist in both the Elvin Jones and Miles Davis Groups. Since then he has lead his own groups featuring musicians of the stature of John Scofield, Adam Nussbaum, Richie Beirach, Billy Hart and others notables. Lieb has consistently placed among the top five soprano saxophonists in this category of the Downbeat Critic’s Poll since his tenure with Miles Davis (1973).
David has played on nearly three hundred recordings with one hundred under his leadership or co-leadership. The repertoire has featured several hundred original compositions in many different idioms including reworkings of jazz standards, free jazz, chamber music, big band, fusion and piano/saxophone duos. In the jazz education field he is a renowned lecturer and author of several milestone books (Self Portrait Of A Jazz Artist; A Chromatic Approach To Jazz Harmony And Melody; Developing A Personal Saxophone Sound, etc..) which have been translated into other languages in addition to teaching videos and published chamber music.
Liebman is the Founder (1989) and Artistic Director of the International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ), an organization of jazz schools from over 40 countries. Awards include two NEA performance and composition grants; Honorary Doctorate from the Sibelius Academy (Helsinki, Finland) in 1997; Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Solo in 1998 and Best Big Band arrangement in 2004; induction into the International Association of Jazz Educators Hall of Fame in 2000; Pennsylvania Council of the Arts grant in 2005. He teaches in the Graduate Division for Jazz at the Manhattan School of Music. www.daveliebman..com
Richie Beirach is renowned as the leading jazz pianist who has absorbed European classical music, especially of the 20th century. His ability to meld those influences with the jazz legacy is legendary. He has worked and recorded with artists like Freddie Hubbard, Lee Konitz, Chet Baker, John Abercrombie, Jack DeJohnette as well as a several decade relationship with saxophonist David Liebman, both in the duo format and as a member of the famous groups, “Quest” and “Lookout Farm”. He has written hundreds of compositions, several of which (“Elm”, “Leaving” and “Broken Wing” to name a few) have been recorded often by other jazz artists. Richie’s musical interests range from interpretations of Bartok pieces, jazz standards and of course his own original compositions. His reputation as a teacher has attracted students from all over the world; currently he is a professor at the Conservatory in Leipzig, Germany www.richiebeirach.com
Billiy Hart is one of the most established drummers in jazz combining an incredible sense of lyricisim and color with inexhaustible energy and technique. His ability to make his instrument an element of the melodic line has lead to collaborations with countless legendary artists and made Billy a part of jazz history: Shirley Horn, Miles Davis, Pharoah Saunders, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Jimmie Smith, Wes Montgomery, Stan Getz and others. Under his own leadership and in collaboration with contemporary artists, Billy is the first call for countless artists as part of the Saxophone Summit with Dave Liebman, Mike Brecker and Joe Lovano; with Don Byron and Geri Allen; as a member of “Quest” with Richie Beirach and Dave Liebman; as well as with Chris Potter, Eddie Henderson, Sonny Fortune, Dave Holland and once again dozens of more names. Billy’s vision has always placed musical concepts over personal goals, therefore he is in demand by so many musicians, past and present. As well, Hart is a renowned educator and on the faculty of several prestigious universities including Oberlin and the New England Conservatory. www.billyhartmusic.com
Bassist Ron McCLure is known as a stellar sideman to a long list of greats from Thelonius Monk and Charles Lloyd to some of the original fusion groups, Blood, Sweat and Tears and the Fourth Way. He has also performed with the Pointer Sisters, Joe Henderson, Paul Bley, Michel Petrucciani, George Russell and Wynton Kelly. As well, Ron has many recordings under his own leadership featuring dozens of original compositions. McCLure’s versatility and ability to adapt to so many musical environments has placed him very high among musicians in the know. He is a member of the jazz faculty at New York University and has been nominated for a Grammy in the Best Instrumental Arrangement category for a composition written for Blood, Sweat and Tears. www.ronmcclure.com
Quest Reunited- David Liebman (soprano and tenor saxophone, wood flute)
- Richie Beirach (piano)
- Billy Hart (drums)
- Ron McCLure (bass)
Feb. 6-9
At Birdland
315 W 44th St (btw 8 & 9 avs)
New York, NY 10036
(212) 581-308
www.birdlandjazz.com
Sets @ 8:30 & 11pm
Music Charge: $30 general admission; $40 orchestra |
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 Tuesday, 07 October 2008
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