Jazz takes the stage Feb. 23 at Orange Hall Theater in Middletown

Middletown - The Dave Liebman Big Band, with its creative collaborations of improvised music, will perform on Friday, Feb. 23, at 8 p.m., at Orange County Community College’s Orange Hall Theater. The theater is a great setting for a concert by the 17-member ensemble of experienced New York-based jazz musicians. The group is under the musical direction of Gunnar Mossblad, who Jazz Times’ Harvey Siders wrote: “has translated Liebman’s eclectic wishes as if he were the saxophonist’s musical alter ego.” Featuring original compositions of Liebman, every tune is arranged by a different band member, with the common denominator being Liebman’s compositional style, his trademark soprano saxophone style, the prominent voice of longtime Liebman sideman, guitarist Vic Juris, and the band itself. Dave Liebman’s broad spectrum of musical interests comes from his life experiences. He grew up in Brooklyn where he learned both piano and saxophone as a boy but had no formal jazz education. He went on to graduate from New York University with a degree in American History. Soon after graduation in the late 1960s, he worked with Pete La Roca, Chick Corea, Dave Holland and Steve Swallow before joining Elvin Jones’ band. Then in 1972 he was asked to join Miles Davis’ group. He has played tenor saxophone, but his main instrument is the soprano saxophone, which he has played exclusively since 1980. Liebman is a master player in the modern style of John Coltrane, and considers himself a disciple of tenorman Hank Mobley. Admission is $10 adults, $8 senior citizens and SUNY Orange alumni, faculty, staff. All students are admitted free, and there are group rates. Tickets are available at the George F. Shepard Student Center, by calling 341-4015; the box office in Orange Hall will open at 7 p.m. the evening of the performance. In addition to the concert, an open rehearsal/master class, which is free and open to the public, will take place in Orange Hall Theater from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 23. Orange Hall is located at the corner of Grandview and Wawayanda avenues, Middletown. This Lyceum event is presented by Cultural Affairs; for information, call 341-4891 or visit www.sunyorange.edu/lyceum.