LIEB PLAYS WEILL

Featuring David Liebman, Eric Ineke, Marius Beets

 and special guest Jesse van Ruller

Kurt Weill could be considered one of the first great eclectic musicians of the 20th century. He did it all-from twelve tone Schoenbergian music to Broadway; from  “Mac the Knife” to operas; from Brecht to Lotte Lenya; he was as prolific and contemporary as anyone. This is even more remarkable if you take into account the dramatic period of history and upheavals he experienced as a German and then an expatriate in the U.S. through the first half of the 20th century.

As jazz musicians we all have played “Speak Low” countless times and on rarer occasions “September Song” and “This Is New” (used to play that with Pete LaRoca and Chick Corea).  “My Ship” was my flute ballad feature when I was with Elvin Jones in the early ‘70s and who can forget what Gil and Miles did with that tune on “Miles Ahead.” I have done a lot of repertoire over the years, from Porter to Monk to Puccini, etc.; Weill has been on my list for decades.

Following up our Alec Wilder tribute in concept (Lieb Plays Wilder – Daybreak DBCHR75214), I reharmonized and reorganized the music as I saw fit, of course retaining the melodies and important harmonic highlights. In Weill’s case in fact, the harmony was so rich and full of surprises, it was like working with a brother in arms! “Liebeslied” which I have recorded before is one of my all time favorite tunes and in my research I found some gems I did not know (“This Time Next Year” for example).

Needless to say Eric and Marius love to swing out and as well are completely adaptable to any of the many stylistic turns I like to take. They know the roots and are great interpreters of any written page. A surprise was Jesse van Ruller, a first place award winner in the Thelonious Monk Competition, who played so wonderfully and with whom I hope to work in the future.

Thanks to Fred for letting this happen and Marius for a really excellent job on the sound. And to Eric -my soul brother- (ELVIS LIVES!!).

And most of all, to Kurt Weill who left the world so much great music and art.

September 17, 2008

Stroudsburg, PA USA

Return to the Recent Discography
Return to David Liebman's Main Page