The Blessing of the Old, Long Sound

Issued in 1989, the pairing of saxophonist and composer David Liebman with an Italian jazz trio would seem to signal an exercise in the deep, lush lyricism that jazzmen from Italy express no matter what side of the in/out fence they are on. But this set is more an exploration of tone, drone, and mode. These pieces are like mantras that come from time immemorial, whether they be Liebman's compositions or those of his collaborators Alberto and Carlo Mariani, Tiziano Tononi, or special guest Dionigi Burranca. Even John Coltrane's classic "Africa" is re-envisioned according to these age-old techniques and observances of sound as tone and tone as drone, with the drone being the most primordial of all sound objects and syntaxes. The strange exotic delight that takes place in the articulation of these frameworks, where melody is not a factor but harmony and interval become central, is almost pre-linguistic musically, yet it is advanced and very sophisticated — particularly in the improvisational passages by Liebman and Alberto Mariani on saxophones against the traditional Italian launeddas. While many jazz fans might have a hard time with this, those open-minded enough to try something outside the shop will find this album not only fascinating, but compelling listening as well.