Back On The Corner

 

1-5^th Street-soloists: David Liebman on tenor sax, Mike Stern on guitar; Tony Marino is playing stick bass

2-Ife-soloists:Vic Juris on guitar;David Liebman on soprano sax; Tony Marino is playing stick bass

3-Bass interlude

4-Black Satin-soloists: David Liebman on soprano sax;Mike Stern on guitar; Tony Marino plays electric bass

5-Bela-soloists:David Liebman on piano and synthesizer;Tony Marino on acoustic bass; Vic Juris and Mike Stern trade phrases on guitar

6-Drum interlude

7-New Mambo-soloists:Marko Marcinko on drums;Mike Stern on guitar; David Liebman on tenor sax; Tony Marino plays stick bass

8-Acoustic guitar interlude-Vic Juris

9-Mesa D’Espana-soloists:David Liebman on wooden flute and soprano sax; Vic Juris on acoustic guitar; Mike Stern on guitar; Tony Marino plays stick bass

10-Electric guitar interlude-Mike Stern

11-J.B. Meets Sly/5^th Street Reprise-soloists:Vic Juris on guitar;David Liebman on soprano sax; Mike Stern on guitar; Tony Marino plays electric bass

 

Personnel:

David Liebman-tenor, soprano sax, piano, synthesizer,wooden flute

Vic Juris-electric and acoustic guitar

Miek Stern-electric guitar

Anthony Jackson-contrabass guitar

Tony Marino-acoustic, electric and stick basses

Marko Marcinko-drums, percussion

 

Notes:

            By the grace of the spirit, my first experience with Miles Davis was
recording a few tracks on the seminal "On the Corner" record in 1973. That
day is a story unto itself, but it lead to my working with him for an 18
month period. You don't travel and play nightly with Miles Davis without it
having a huge effect on oneself, musically as well as personally. The music from that period was stylistically different from the late 60’s "Silent Way" and "Bitches Brew" breakthrough recordings (which basically set the course for the fusion style to come in the 1970s). This music was more elemental coming out of Sly Stone, Sun Ra, even James Brown with a great deal of improvisation and spontaneity still central to the performance. The main premise was the rhythm and texture (electric guitars, percussion, electronic organ, electrified trumpet and saxes) with the elements of harmony and melody taking
a back seat.

 

             It happens to be that the first music I liked as a kid growing
up in Brooklyn, NY was '50’s rock 'n roll with the tenor sax front and center as the main soloing instrument(stylistically bowing with more than a nod to the rhythm and blues honking style), before I heard Coltrane and jazz. So playing Miles' music was sort of a natural extension for me. This recording celebrates those musical roots as well as a look
back to the "On the Corner" recording. To make it a bit different and unique
I decided to double up the bass and guitar chairs, adding Anthony Jackson
and former Miles sideman, Mike Stern to my regular working unit of the past
fifteen years (Tony Marino on bass, Vic Juris on guitar and Marko Marcinko on
drums). Each tune is based on a particular rhythmical feel or texture:
shuffle, latin, funk, Spanish, even 20th century classical colors as well as
featuring two of Miles' songs from my time with him-"Ife" and "Black
Satin"-the latter from "On the Corner." This recording is at the same time a
look back and a view of the present. Enjoy!!

 

Recorded at Bennett Studios, Tenafly N.J. June 12,14 2006

Recorded and mixed by John Fishel

All compositions by David Liebman (Liebstone Music) except “Ife” and “Black Satin” by Miles Davis

Produced by David Liebman

 

Credits:

Anthony Jackson uses Fodera Presentation Contrabass Guitar;Meyer Sound Self Powered loud speaker

 

Mike Stern uses Yamaha guitar and Fender strings and appears courtesy of Heads Up Records International

 

Vic Juris uses D’Angelico guitars and LaVella Strings

 

Marko Marcinko uses Zildjian Cymbals,Vater Sticks and Aquarian drum heads

 

David Liebman uses Keilwirth saxophones, Alexander Superial Reeds and AMT wireless microphone

Keyboard programming on “Bela” by Marko Marcinko

 

Thanks to Bob Visentin for his help and to John Fishel who went beyond the call of duty.