Dave Liebman, Richie Beirach, Jeff Williams, Frank Tusa - Lookout Farm Live 1974 - 1975 (2010)

Unquestionably, the specific influences which led to the band’s formation and style derived from the music of the John Coltrane Classic Quartet and my apprenticeship with Miles Davis in the ‘70s, playing music referred to as the “On the Corner” sound. This was the time of fusion where jazz musicians versed in bebop, post bop, modalism and free jazz were turning to rock and funk rhythms as a resource as well as electronic and synthesized textures with shades of “world” music. It was a truly eclectic period meaning a typical set might have an acoustic rendering of a standard ballad like “Lover Man” played next to a tune featuring a roaring funk oriented back beat feel with electric piano and electric bass, followed by an Indian sounding line featuring tablaist Badal Roy and myself on flute. There were no holds barred and Lookout Farm unabashedly performed in this manner as revealed on these live recordings. This is definitely music of a particular time period.
Dave Liebman