David Liebman: The Elements: Water (Arkadia Jazz 71043).(Review)

David Liebman: The Elements: Water (Arkadia Jazz 71043)

With support from Billy Hart on drums, Cecil McBee on bass, and Pat Metheny on a variety of guitars, Dave Liebman has put together a series of compositions on which he plays soprano sax, tenor sax, and wood flute. The liner notes explain that over the next few years, Liebman plans to make recordings celebrating all the elements. The concept is an interesting one; however, at least on this first disc, Water, the execution seems a bit, well, dry. One would expect jazz music about water to be flowing and supple, but many of these pieces seem stiff and formal, with even the moments of "cutting loose" seeming …