Michael Zilber

Originals for the Originals

Origin 82729

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...one of the premier releases of all time on Origin. I think it's going to go down as a historically important recording. (Zilber's) passion and love for those "originals" shines through in his playing on this one.
Dr. Brad Stone, The Creative Source

The Bay Area saxophonist / composer's 11th recording as leader or co-leader is a labor of love that reflects both his keen sense of the history of the music and his infinite capacity to SWING. Citing the profound influence of seven sax masters - Michael Brecker, Sonny Rollins, Dave Liebman, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, John Coltrane and Paul Desmond - Zilber, along with New York greats Dave Kikoski on piano, bassist James Genus, and drummer Clarence Penn, has fashioned a potent homage that is infused with all-knowing nods to his heroes. "...art music of the highest order performed with passion, wit and verve." JAZZTIMES.


Track Listing:

1 BRECKERFAST CLUB 5:57
2 LEAVES (FOR MIKE BRECKER) 6:20
3 PARTLY SONNY 4:22
4 AUTUMN LIEB 6:56
5 WEATHER WAYNE 5:12
6 PASTEL BLUES (FOR WAYNE SHORTER) 4:58
7 HEN HOUSE 5:31
8 LATE NIGHT TRANE (IN THE DISTANCE) 5:39
9 LIEB DICH 7:15
10 COLTRANING DAZE 6:57
11 ST. PAUL (DESMOND) 10:49

Performers:

Michael Zilber - Tenor & Soprano Saxes
David Kikoski - Piano
James Genus - Bass
Clarence Penn - Drums
Matt Clark - Piano (7)
Peter Barshay - Bass (7)
Akira Tana - Drums (7)

Production Info:

Produced by Michael Zilber
Recorded March 29, 2016 by Todd Carder at The Bunker, Brooklyn, NY
and September 23, 2016 by Dan Feiszli at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA
Mixed & Mastered by Dan Feiszli at What's For Lunch Studios, El Cerrito, CA
Liner notes by Bill Milkowski
Photos by Scott Chernis, Nancy Shallman
Cover design & layout by John Bishop


Reviews of Originals for the Originals

Berkeleyside (Andrew Gilbert)
Over the past 15 years or so the Albany saxophonist Michael Zilber has recorded a series of critically hailed collaborations, joining forces with an imposing array of master improvisers like drum maestro Steve Smith, saxophone legend Dave Liebman, and the painterly guitar explorer John Stowell. But Zilber's latest album Originals for the Origina ...

Midwest Record (Chris Spector)
In which we find the sax ace going full metal daddio playing tribute to 7 of his sax heroes with originals that have some manner of sly reference to the original daddios. A high octane, swinging set, this is sure to reach the inner recidivist daddio in any jazzbo that wants to jump on board the eternal groove to Groovesville. Snazzy stuff through ...

KUCI - Irvine, CA (Hobart Taylor)
Lets start out by saying that these are incredible melodies. The compositions are deeply engaging and the ensemble beautifully supports Zilber's intensely personal voice on tenor and soprano saxes. The tunes are homages to other jazz greats, Wayne Shorter, Michael Brecker,Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson Dave Liebman, John Coltrane and Paul Desmond, bu ...

Vento Azul (Japan) (Editor)
Michael Zilber's eleventh album as a leader, he's a talented tenor saxophonist who has been active since the 1980s. A one-horn quartet working with contemporary NY's top rhythm players such as David Kikoski, James Genus and Clarence Penn. The originals are dedicated to the saxophonists he has been strongly influenced by, including Michael Brecker, ...

Jazz Weekly (George Harris)
Michael Zilber uses his compositional skills as well as his soprano and tenor saxes to give tribute to some of his musical inspirations. The core team of David Kikoski/p, James Genus/b and Clarence Penn/dr is used for all of the songs except one, the darkly swinging "Hen House" dedicated to Joe Henderson. Other Selmer stars include a Wayne Shorter, ...

WTJU, Richmond (Dave Rogers)
Leader Michael Zilber (tenor, soprano sax) pays homage to jazz greats Mike Brecker, Sonny Rollins, Dave Liebman, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, John Coltrane and Paul Desmond with his own compositions dedicated to each player's spirit and Zilber's own deeply felt connection to each. Zilber is supported by David Kikoski (piano), James Genus (Bass), C ...

Jazz Scan (Ric Bang)
Instrumentalist/composer Michael Zilber is better known by fellow musicians than by jazz fans. Born in Vancouver, B.C., he moved to Boston in his late teens, then to New York City about five years later. It didn't take long for his talents to be recognized by artists who frequented that area. Zilber performed or recorded with giants such as Dizzy G ...

New York City Jazz Record (Scott Yanow)
Kikoski is a sideman on saxophonist Michael Zilber's Originals for the Originals, a tribute to seven of the leaders's favorite saxophonists (Michael Brecker, Sonny Rollins, Dave Liebman, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, John Coltrane and Paul Desmond) via wittily-titled originals hinting at their musical spirits. It is an intriguing set, with Zilb ...

Audiophile Audition (Robbie Gerson)
5-STARS Saxophonist Michael Zilber has an unusual geographic history. He was born in Vancouver, Canada before moving to Boston as a teenager. He moved to New York and worked with Sonny Sitt, Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Liebman, Dave Douglas, Rachel Z and Narada Michael Walden among many. While In New York, he recorded two critically acclaimed albums, Th ...

All About Jazz (Paul Rauch)
4 1/2 STARS Saxophonist/composer Michael Zilber is better known by fellow musicians than by the jazz public, this is an unfortunate truth. The Vancouver, B.C., native moved to Boston in his late teens, then to New York City to begin his musical odyssey. Musicians there recognized his prodigious talent, resulting in recordings with jazz royalty suc ...

Jazz Trail (Filipe Freitas)
Vancouver-born, San Francisco-based Michael Zilber, a talent of the saxophone, a dexterous composer, and a respected educator, exhibited his impressive skills side by side with jazz luminaries such as Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt, Dave Liebman, Miroslav Vitous, and Dave Douglas. Now, leading an elastic quartet whose reliable rhythm section inclu ...



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