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A Major Rediscovery

Stephen Silberman | SF, CA USA | 01/05/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Richard Beirach is one of the most underrated and original pianists in jazz. It hasn't helped Beirach's recognition that his best work, with the John Abercrombie Quartet on ECM, has never been released on CD domestically. He's one of the very best of Bill Evans' dharma heirs, and infinitely more interesting than the two players usually accorded that distinction, Andy Laverne and Warren Bernhardt. He's a very muscular player, informed by 20th century classical and contemporary composition as well as jazz. His trio album "Eon," also on ECM, is a masterpiece, and his recordings with Stan Getz, John Scofield, and others -- mostly on small European labels -- are excellent. Leibman is a sax player who was in Miles Davis' band circa "On the Corner," and a highly prolific member of the NY loft-jazz scene in the '70s and beyond. Frankly, I've never loved Liebman's playing; it strikes me as a bit hollow and histrionic, though it's certainly energetic; but he and Beirach -- in many duo recordings, in a group called Lookout Farm, and in their more recent quartet, Quest -- have a deep thing together. This limited-edition Mosaic set is a very fine collection of their work together in quartet and duo settings. Liebman's understated, Indian-influenced alto flute playing on "Leaving" is as beautiful a recording as he's ever made, and a golden example of the two men's collective empathy.



While Beirach's diamond-edged acoustic playing always shines, his Fender Rhodes work has been virtually forgotten, which is too bad, because he's one of the best jazz players who ever touched that instrument; a much more effective player in that regard than even Bill Evans himself. The first of these three CDs features Beirach's Rhodes, and it's a major rediscovery of a lost chapter of fusion, in the vein of Joe Henderson's mindblowing "Power to the People," also sadly out of print. Liebman and Beirach are definitely under the spell of Miles on the first disc here, and it kicks major ass. Beirach's signature tune is called "Elm," and he has recorded it maybe six times, but the epic version on the third disc of this set is undoubtedly the best. Another rediscovery on this set is the astonishing bassist Frank Tusa, who was a major force on "Eon," but is virtually unknown. He's a monster.



This set, compiled from live recordings over a couple of decades, is another masterwork from Beirach, who deserves a much wider audience."

Buy it from mosaic

Michael Morical | Brooklyn, NY USA | 12/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a fine set, no doubt. Though I want more of disc two and three and less of disc one, I'm happy to have it. Oh, and Mosaic sells it for $39 plus postage. Cheers."