David Liebman Group, The Unknown Jobim

Jobim was one of the great songwriters of the century. Is this true? I'm not sure. I suppose it depends on your affinity to Latin American music and particularly bossa nova. For me, it's always been that cheesy music in the background at cocktail parties in Peter Sellars films from the 1960's. The popularity of The Girl from Ipanema didn't help. Because of Jobim's jazz leanings, the all pervading happy happy sound easily seeped from pop into jazz and soon we all had a rhythm to dance to. Thankfully Liebman does not regurgitate this tired style but instead produces here pleasing interpretations of lesser known Jobim compositions mainly in hard bop.

There's not much more to add. Liebman chose a straight ahead jazz format rather than a Brazilian reinterpretation. Thus, hard bop is the overarching form employed with a minor excursion into other territory by use of a Bamboo flute. The effect is nice enough but because bebop is so characteristic, the songs take on a degree of anonymity. The heart of the music, its exotic pulse is gone, and one has to question Liebman's decision.

Liebman writes in the cover notes that his appreciation of Jobim comes from studying him as a composer. I think this gives us some insight into the approach to this album. It is not a passionate affair, but a well executed translation of melody from one form to another. An interesting musical exercise that produced attractive, but unremarkable, results.