What distinguishes this album is the way in which the duo of
Dave Liebman (on soprano sax) and
Franco D'Andrea (on piano) dissect and reconstruct popular tunes to produce entirely new creations. The song titles are totally familiar, including "Autumn Leaves," "Caravan," "Sweet Georgia Brown," and "Freedom Jazz Dance." By turning them inside out and making them their own,
Liebman and
D'Andrea serve themselves and the tunes well. Sometimes, the melodies are barely recognizable at first, but by digging into the chords, the two masters make them sound fresh and modern.
D'Andrea is one of the most underrated players on the scene, his romantic style spreading perfectly into the saxophonist's sensitive and delicate improvisations. While few of these interpretations call attention to themselves, the whole leaves a satisfying taste. ~ Steve Loewy