Marquee sax legend Dave Liebman and soon-to-be legends Don Braden and Dan
Moretti front the stellar Latin Genesis, accompanied by a rhythm section of
Oscar Stagnaro (bass), Mark Walker (drums), and Jorge Najaro (percussion). The
party for the release of their self-titled debut record takes place this Friday
at Chan's in Woonsocket.
The seeds for Latin Genesis were sown in 1971. Back then young Liebman was
making his first recording with legendary drummer Elvin Jones in Rudy Van
Gelder's Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey studio. The project, called
Genesis, also featured a front line of three saxes, and yielded a
handful of classic tunes, propelled by Jones's orchestral drumming and the bass
playing of Gene Perla. Liebman recalls that nerve-wracking first day: "Needless
to say, it was one of the high points of my musical life."
Today, with the able assistance of two of jazz's young sax lions in Moretti
and Braden, Liebman attempts to recreate and reinvent that storied
configuration. Latin Genesis, an obvious detour when considering the slight
name change, features scorching funk, melodic hooks, and solos as only these
pros can play them. The collection is rich with excitement, bursting with
exuberance, and colored by the accents of a truly inspired rhythm section.
"Meeting and playing with Dave Liebman has been a fulfillment of my jazz
roots," says Moretti. "Dave's music, especially his time with Elvin Jones, has
always influenced me and my perspective on jazz."
Along with four of the songs from that first Genesis recordin, the trio
has written originals combining the elan of that original, three-sax session
with a Latin jazz approach. With the absence of a chordal instrument up front,
the rhythm section steps up, bringing a raw, high-energy combination of classic
jazz and Latin grooves. The music feels fresh. The harmonic and rhythmic
improvisations reach vibrant heights.
The genesis of Latin Genesis came when Moretti -- who, like Liebman, endorses
Keilwerth saxophones -- told Liebman he had the original Genesis
sessions transcribed and ready to play. Excited by the idea of revisiting the
project, they settled on a lineup and played a few successful dates. Says
Liebman: "For me as a jazz player with little experience in the Latin field, I
was very impressed with the complex language these musicians use and the
ability to communicate with each other in their own shorthand." Liebman also
credits the bright inventiveness of the rhythm section as one huge reason why
Latin Genesis truly soars. "Above all, the feeling swings and oozes with
energy. With the addition of a few originals, the rounding out of the horn
section with the lyrical and swinging Don Braden, I think the listener will not
only get a feeling of an important recording from the jazz repertoire, but also
something entirely new and refreshing."
Latin Genesis was recorded at the Power Station New England by Alec
Head and assisted by Jon Duva, with additional tracks engineered by Dan
Moretti, who also edited and mastered it (with the help of Dave Correia) at
Celebration Sounds in Warren. It was mixed by Alec Head and Moretti at the
Sonalysts/Power Station New England and assisted by Duva.
The Latin Genesis CD release party takes place at Chan's on Friday,
February 8 at 8 p.m.
THE POOR MINSTRELS. When a band plays fiddle, guitar, cello, strumstick,
shruti box, tamboura, and magnetic tape, well, you know you're gonna have a
hard time getting your songs played on the radio. In fact, you may even have a
hard time finding an audience to come see you play. So the experimental folkies
in the Iditarod took matters into their own hands and decided to book a tour of
Europe, where the countries are small and the money is different, but the minds
are vastly more open to all kinds of musical expression.
The Iditarod, led by Jeffrey Alexander, is an avant-folk bunch, primarily
acoustic, rooted in traditional British, American, and Scandinavian folk. Along
with a loose collective of other American and Scandinavian musicians, they will
be touring together as the Poor Minstrels. The caravan will make stops in
Scandinavia, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and that chilly bastion of
liberal musicality, Iceland. Pack the parkas.
The Iditarod, featuring Margie Wienk on cello and string bass, Carin Wagner on
acoustic guitar, percussion and lead vocals, Alexander on acoustic guitar,
phonograph, and Matthew Everett on fiddle, spearheaded the Minstrels concept.
Though they base their work on tradition, they enjoy an edgy manipulation of
sounds virtually unheard of within that tradition.
The first time the Iditarod and the Minstrels took their show on the road,
they collaborated with some like-minded friends and cavorted mainly Stateside.
This time, they've found simpatico musical brethren and likely a good reception
in northern Europe. The show will also include Indiana-based strangers Drekka;
dark folk singer Peter Scion of Gothenburg; and Ring (banjo balladeer Filip
Ring Andersen) of Kristiansand, who both played with the Iditarod when the
group toured Scandinavia back in October 2000. There will be eight musicians in
all on Poor Minstrels 2, traveling together in two cars throughout northern
Europe. With such an adventurous array of talent, you can count on hearing
everything from Middle Eastern to Medieval to musique concrete. The four bands
plan to function more as an ensemble than as separate acts, which should up the
whimsy factor considerably. Plan on some inspired improvisation.
It all gets kicked off at AS220 on February 16, where you'll be able to pick
up a special advance copy of the upcoming Iditarod disc, The Ghost, The Elf,
The Cat and the Angel, as well as the Poor Minstrels 2 compilation. There
will be music by New Jersey oddities the DanielsonFamily and the Iditarod. The
show, which costs $5 and begins at 9 p.m., will be hosted by "the eminent
mentalist and mind reader" Rory Raven. Like many nights at said venue, this one
will be pleasantly unpredictable.
WANDERING EYE. There's a very cool show coming down the pike at Lupo's
on Friday. You can catch Bo Diddley playing with locals Entrain, the
Fabulous Itchies, and the Itchies spin-off the Wild Card DJs. I
don't know how this lineup came together, but it sounds like lots of
fun, and for many different reasons.
If you'd like to be considered for this column, why not e-mail me with some
information? b_gulla@yahoo.com is where you'll find an attentive ear, maybe
even some constructive criticism.
Issue Date: February 8 - 14, 2002
