Liberated State was formed in the spring of 2010 when trumpeter Sean Smith and vibraphonist Jason DeCristofaro met one another at a jazz jam in Asheville.
“Sean and I played a version of Butterfly together at the jam, and upon hearing each other’s musical approach we both realized we had similar musical views,” says DeCristofaro. “Instantly, we formed a close friendship and musical collaboration.”
The first show was at the now closed Rocket Club in West Asheville, where two of the band’s current members first joined the group. Jason knew that Matt Getman and Micah Thomas were the logical choices to fill the saxophone and drum set positions.
“Matt has a unique and beautiful sound that provided a perfect contrast to Sean’s aggressive playing. Immediately, I knew Micah was the drummer for the group with his fearless, creative and energetic approach.” By the end of that summer, Daniel Iannucci rounded out the ensemble by becoming its bassist. “Daniel is one of the most intuitive musicians I’ve ever met and is the heart beat of the whole ensemble, plus he’s written some excellent compositions for the group.”
The band’s sound is a unique one which was no accident. “Sean and I revere the Miles Davis Quintet – they’re the group that we continue to aspire to be like. The sound of a trumpet and tenor saxophone playing the melody, supported by aggressive and exciting drums and bass was something we firmly decided upon from the onset. The only difference was that that we had a vibraphone playing chords instead of a piano.”
To expand the sound palette, the band often features conguero/percussionist Isaac Wells and guitarist Shane Perlowin, known for his work with the Ahleuchatistas.
“The band’s popularity has wildly exceeded our expectations,” says Jason. “Sean and I started the group as a way of playing our compositions with an ensemble, and we never imagined doing anything more than a couple of shows at local galleries annually. The praise the group has received has been a pleasant surprise!”
The success of Liberated State is surprising considering its purpose as an ensemble. “Nothing is off limits – Sean and I are mad scientists taking aspects of all the different genres we’re inspired by to create something that’s entirely new.”
Among the fused works are Smith’s compositions “Moonbloom,” a minimalist/aleatoric work in the style of Steve Reich, as well as “Dervish,” which combines melodic aspects of Middle Eastern music with Afro-beat rhythms.
DeCristofaro’s “Anansi,” is based on West African rhythmic groupings and his composition “Pop Hit,” is a combination of R&B and Gospel melodies altered by very dissonant and impressionistic harmonies.
“Some of the music the band does is jazz, but Sean and I have very eclectic tastes, so many of our compositions are influenced by other genres, notably world music, R&B and contemporary classical idioms.” The ensemble is dedicated to discovering new musical ideas, creating a global and hybridized sound for the 21st century.
“Humanity is at a unique point in its history right now – we’re experiencing the effects of a truly global culture. It’s our hope that our music represents a melting pot of ideas where something new is created. Creating something entirely new that doesn’t neatly fit into a category is always risky, and it was the reason Sean and I initially never saw the group being as successful as it’s become. Ironically enough though, I think this is the very thing that’s drawn so many people to our music.”
DeCristofaro adds, “Being in a city like Asheville that’s so rich in culture has allowed us to create our art in a supportive environment that appreciates and understands what we’re setting out to accomplish.”
“I’ve been following this band for over a year as a lover of jazz and as a photographer shooting live music in WNC. Liberated State simply gets better and better each time I hear them. These musicians form a tight group who love to play music with each other, and their fans can feel the energy they generate with each piece of original music they perform.” ~ Frank Zipperer, The Music Shooter