# CD review: The Kaleidoscope Quintet – Dancing On The Edge 2020: Video, CD cover

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2020/11/27/cd-review-the-kaleidoscope-quintet-dancing-on-the-edge-2020-video-cd-cover/
- Published: 2020-11-27T23:25:35+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**The Kaleidoscope Quintet, a stellar collaborative project co-led by master saxophonists
Dave Liebman and Joe Lovano (also co-leaders of Saxophone Summit), includes vocalist
Judi Silvano, bassist Tony Marino and drummer Michael Stephans. A memorable, effusive
live performance occurred at Pennsylvania’s Deer Head Inn in 2013 is immortalized
by _Dancing on the Edge_, a recording comprising five exciting compositions – two
from each saxophonist and one beloved jazz standard – delivered in celebratory mode.**

The enthusiastic enjoyment of the group is on display in Lovano’s “**_Topsy Turvy_**”,
a wonderful piece culled from his 1995 album Rush Hour. Silvano’s vocal integration
with the reeds definitely adds extra melodic fuel to the fire, in a piece that relies
on the post-bop expertise of Lovano, the ebullient note sequences of Liebman, and
stuttering rhythmic figures approved by these three soloists. They trade fours with
the drummer, before joining again with the purpose of re-establishing the theme.

Their majestic on-the-fly creativity comes to our attention again on “**_Blackwell’s
Message_**”, another Lovano composition (written for the late drummer Ed Blackwell
in 1993) that starts off with communicative flutes in consonance before exposing
rich unisons over a simple bass pedal. There’s an excellent vocal solo, a change
of pace suggested by Lovano, and curious punctuations in Liebman’s expressionistic
shrieks. All delivered with a phenomenal energy.

The set’s only standard here is “**_There Is No Greater Love_**”, a trio effort 
with Liebman leaning on the avant-garde side over the typical progression laid down
by Marino and rhythmically uphold by Stephans. However, “**_Day and Night_**” is
in fact a Liebman-penned contrafact of “**_Night and Day_**”. Wielding his soprano,
the saxophonist revolves around the melody while the rhythm section encourages him
to expand with well-coordinated movements and occasional arrhythmic provocations.
For a while, we have Lovano’s tenor over bass only, and it’s Stephans who finishes
things off with elaborate drum sketches.

The conclusion comes with Liebman’s “**_Get Me Back to the Apple_**”, an old tune
that serves as a glorious display for the reedmen’s soloing skills. Lovano suggests
the melody of “**_Sentimental Journey_**” in his discourse, and during the animated
conversation with Liebman, a jaw-dropping show of multiphonics and powerful intonations
occur.

The Kaleidoscope Quintet is not a band with recording or touring history. It’s a
moniker adapted by a stellar group of musicians for this special performance captured
live at the historic Deer Head Inn in 2013. That’s not to say they may resurface
again as Dot Time Records is calling this their debut. Even though the two major
draws of the group are saxophonists and kindred spirits **Dave Liebman** and **Joe
Lovano**, _Dancing On the Edge_ owes mostly to the group’s drummer, **Michael Stephans**,
in terms of both the occasion for and the name of the band. The other quintet members
are vocalist **Judi Silvano** (Lovano’s wife) and bassist **Tony Marino**. Silvano
is also a renowned painter whose original painting, commissioned specially for this
project, graces the cover.

Stephans is not only an accomplished four-decade career drummer but he is also an
acclaimed poet and author. It was the publication of his book _Experiencing Jazz:
A Listener’s Companion_ which brought about this performance. Published in 2013,
the book is an expansive survey on the art of listening to and enjoying jazz. Dave
Liebman and Joe Lovano contributed prominently to the volume (Liebman even contributed
the Preface), and so the two musical compatriots joined Stephans for the launch 
party and celebratory performance.

The kaleidoscope has also intrigued Stephans, who sees the instrument as a reflection
of his own artistic endeavors. _“As improvising musicians in performance, our quintet
thrives in a kaleidoscopic world where we are independent “voices” who – while initially
unique in our own identities, come together and become part of a larger sonic entity,
only to shape and re-shape ourselves throughout each performance; that is, we move
to re-assemble sounds and are ephemeral – constantly changing musical shapes and
visions,”_ he explains in the liner notes. And so, the name of this group is a particularly
apt for these five, multifaceted sonic explorers.

The Kaleidoscope Quintet, is without a chordal instrument such as a piano or guitar,
the impetus centered on the front line. They performed a varied set for free, explorative
jazz that night from which five cuts were culled for this recording – “Blackwell’s
Message” and “Topsy Turvy” by Lovano, “Day and Night” and “Get Me Back To The Apple”
by Liebman and a lively rendition of the trusted standard “There Is No Greater Love.”
Silvano joins the frontline, lending her expressive and singular wordless vocals
to the two Lovano-penned compositions, as her voice literally dances through the
changes, almost like a third horn. This is not new for fans of Lovano as Silvano
has appeared on many of his recordings. Likewise, the paring of Liebman and Lovano’s
dueling horns is certainly not new either. The two have appeared together most notably
on their co-led endeavor _Saxophone Summit: Gathering of Spirits _with the late 
Michael Brecker and as co-leaders on _The Music of John Coltrane – Compassion._ 
The two trade solos, share some ensemble work and engage in several great exchanges
with the rhythm section, especially Stephans.

1.Topsy Turvy 10:05
 2.Day and Night 14:06 3.Blackwell’s Message 18:13 4.There Is
No Greater Love 08:04 5.Get Me Back To The Apple 10:14

**JOE LOVANO – Tenor Saxophone, Flute**
 **DAVE LIEBMAN – Tenor and Soprano Saxophones,
Wooden Flute** **TONY MARINO – Bass** **MICHAEL STEPHANS – Drums** **JUDI SILVANO–
Vocals**

![Kaleidoscope Quintet: Dancing On The Edge – Dot Time Records](https://i0.wp.com/
www.dottimerecords.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kaleidoscope-3000x3000-1-scaled.
jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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