Spontaneous Songs From The Soul!

Freebird, formerly a trio has become a quartet, and oh what a quartet! See the bios below.

We will debut the new act Sunday June 24 here’s details:

Freebird – Jazz In The Now

Marmalade At Smokebrush

219 West Colorado Ave., Ste. 210  Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 444-1012

Sunday June 24 7 – 8:30 PM

It’s blues, it’s funk, it’s rock, it’s samba, it’s freestyle jazz, it’s stimulating fun!

Joseph “FluteDaddy” Liberti, Lee Gardner, Jana Lee Ross and Dick Cunico use flutes, keyboard, bass, drums, voices and electronic effects, in collective improvisation, to transform familiar melodies, bluesy harmonies and syncopated rhythms into new songs, in the moment. Expressing freely, suddenly, four become one. Surprise! Delight!

Here’s some bios on the group:

FluteDaddy: “I’m Joseph Liberti and I organized Freebird to be a band in which members could go beyond form, express themselves freely and come together in extraordinary synergy. Most folks know that I spent most of my years in business and as an occasional hobbyist musician.  Why I submerged my greatest love for so long is another story, but in the autumn of my life I let my passion free. In the past several years I have transformed my musical ability and my life. I played sax as a kid but in later life I became fascinated with flute. I really wanted to be like Frank Sinatra but didn’t have the pipes. Paying flute is the closest thing you can get to singing. I studied classical flute with Julie Mynet, in Colorado Springs for three years. I was then blessed to meet  jazz flute recording artist Ali Ryerson and studied with her for three years. Over the last two years I have had the great pleasure of performing as “FluteDaddy” with many of Colorado’s finest jazz players who I learned more from.  In 2012 I created two new groups SambaNova, a Brazilian jazz group and Freebird a freestyle jazz group and have concerts scheduled for both.”

Jana: Jana Lee Ross has worked for 20 years as a professional freelance pianist, arranger, music director and singer in a variety of venues including jazz combos, theatre productions, large and small choral ensembles, pop bands and classical chamber ensembles.   Her education includes a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Colorado in Boulder, with a minor in Piano Performance and private instruction from Eric Gunnison, Univ. of Denver and Sam Pannunzio at CSU Pueblo.   She is a regular performer in the Colorado Springs area as a vocalist and pianist. She has appeared in productions at the Denver Civic Theatre, the LIDA Project, Chicken Lips Comedy Theatre and UCCS Theatreworks and is a music instructor at the Colorado Springs Conservatory. Most recently she served as music director for productions with Pueblo County High School, Ormao Dance Company, and Cabaret ModBo.

Dick: Dick Cunico is our drummer and his music education includes studies at Western State College in Gunnison Colorado, Dick Grove Music Workshop in Studio City, California, Los Angeles Valley College in Van Nuys California and the LA Jazz Workshop in Los Angeles, California. He studied privately with Alex Acuna (of the group Weather Report), Allen Carter (LA Jazz Workshop), Mark Converse (The Freddie Gruber Method) and Casey Schurelle (LA studio musician). His professional music career spans 40 years and includes performances and/or recordings with numerous jazz greats such as Skitch Henderson Howard Levy, Eric Marienthal, Steve Bailey, Louis Conte and many more. Concert experience includes performances at over 900 cities in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan Europe and The Philippines.

Lee: Lee Gardner plays bass and he humbly says he’s just an ordinary guy. I beg to differ. He is an educated musician with extraordinary ability to listen and spontaneously create. His experience playing with experimental groups becomes evident when you play with him or better yet, listen to him. Here’s what he says about himself: “Music is my first love! I love all music, especially new music – Music that pushes boundaries, and makes people feel. Music that has a spontaneous quality to it. That counts for something in my book, creativity that is. I’ve been a musician for more years that I can really think of, certainly more than 25. I lived in New York City from 1998 to 2009. I tried to become the next Dave Holland or the next Marcus Miller or the next whoever. It didn’t really work out in New York, and I eventually put it aside for a moment. Once I moved out of the City, my musical spark came back.

Dont Miss It.

Freebird is stimulating fun! Come join us Sunday the 24.

Tickets $15: Smokebrush 444-1012

OR Click here to reserve online