Artist description Utilizing a vast rhythmic vocabulary, fresh angular phrases and strikingly lyrical melodic ideas, Liberty's music has a sound refreshingly his own, which is amply demonstrated on his debut CD, ORTHODOXY. Seven of the 8 tracks are originals, ranging from the dirge like title track to the playful bopishness of Out Of A Jazz Coma. On the opening track, Translator, Liberty brings together drum set, djembe and turntables. "With turntables DJ's have introduced an instrument that can be played just as expressively as other percussion instruments. Pause's ability to improvise in this context shows me a common ground between the music of my generation and the music of our elders. Aesthetics will always change, but in many ways the musical vocabulary stays the same." The performance of the closing cut, a piano-guitar duet version of Billy Strayhorn's Blood Count, was deemed "exquisite" by Derk Richardson in the San Francisco Bay Guardian.

Music Style Modern Jazz

Musical Influences John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Steve Coleman, Grant Green, Jimi Hendrix, Pat Martino, Miles Davis

Similar Artists Pat Martino, Steve Coleman, Greg Osby, Medeski Martin and Wood

Artist History Guitarist, composer, and band-leader Liberty Ellman has worked on many important projects with the likes of Hip-Hop groups Midnight Voices and the Coup, pianists Vijay Iyer and Omar Sosa, saxophonists Rudresh Mahanthappa and Greg Osby, and composed for and performed internationally with the Tony award winning political theater company The San Francisco Mime Troupe. Most recently Liberty has been working with Henry Threadgill's new project ZOOID. His regular Trio gig at the Ciel Rouge in NY has become quite a popular hang.

Group Members Liberty Ellman, guitar; Vijay Iyer, piano; Eric Crystal, saxophone; Kevin Mingus, bass; E.W. Wainwright, drums; Brad Hargreaves, drums; D.J. Pause, Turntables; Hillel Familant, bass; Rahsaan Fredericks, bass; Babou Sagna, djembe

Instruments guitar, bass, drums, turntables, piano, saxophone

Albums Orthodoxy

Press Reviews Talk about talent deserving wider recognition. Guitarist Liberty Ellman has been placed in the M-BASE camp by some, but it's not quite so easy to pin him down. His highly enjoyable debut, Orthodoxy, is an ultra-hip mix of abstract swing and spacey but intense groove-call it Greg Osby meets In a Silent Way by way of The Sorceror. The slow, odd-metered funk and seductive melody of "Psi Missing" is a standout. Some of the tunes are rather long and take on the feel of a loose jam, making the album a bit repetitive. But you can't blame Ellman for giving his bandmates so much solo room. Saxophonist Eric Crystal and pianist Vijay Iyer are phenomenal players-Ellman's Wayne and Herbie. High marks also go to the rhythm section members: bassists Hillel Familant, K. Ellington Mingus, and Rahsaan Fredericks and drummers Brad Hargreaves and E.W. Wainwright. Ellman carves out an understated, almost modest niche for himself. Chops are not his bag, but he never fails to generate ideas and energy. And he gets plenty of mileage from a clean, fat, straightahead tone. He doesn't need effects to sound contemporary. Closing the record with a piano/guitar duo rendition of the Billy Strayhorn ballad "Blood Count," Ellman shows that he can take material from jazz's classic era and transform it into something downright futuristic. His interest in blending influences from different eras is also evident in his inclusion of turntables, courtesy of DJ Pause, on the opening track, "Translator." (Babou Sagna on djembe adds additional rhythmic color to the tune.) Ellman is not afraid to travel outside the jazz universe and take advantage of new musical frontiers. Sometimes this sort of genre-hopping can sound contrived, but Ellman manages not to lose his way. It's been a couple of years since the release of Orthodoxy. Let's hope there's a lot more to come from Liberty Ellman. David R. Adler - AllAboutJazz.com 11/99

Additional Info Liberty Ellman performs regularly in New York and elsewhere.

Location New York, New York - USA

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