ABOUT

The Liberté Big Band is a 17-piece big band based in NYC (and newly in Montreal, more on that below), and formed in 2013. Led by Liberté-Anne Lymberiou, this modern, multi-generational ensemble plays compositions by Lymberiou and her contemporaries.

As it’s name would indicate, the band’s broad mission is to constantly perform new works while maintaining the all-encompassing creativity and communality of the jazz tradition. You’ll hear pieces ranging from afro-latin to free-jazz, bebop to funk, and lots more that even the bandleader has yet to anticipate.

Greatly influenced by Charles Mingus, Lymberiou captures the spontaneity and unpredictability of jazz through extended compositions. The moods of the music swing as much as the rhythms do, and inevitably move her audiences, both inside and out.

Liberté-Anne Lymberiou spent nearly 5 years in New York City since 2012. However, in a strange and unfortunate turn of events, after paying a quick visit back to family in Montreal, she was forced by US immigration laws to remain in her native land. Having said this, the bandleader has managed to find a silver lining in this shocking and absurd situation, and is now taking up the challenge to build a Montreal edition of the Liberté Big Band, which already performed to a numerous and welcoming audience in May 2017.

For the time being, the New York band is continuing its development and performances under the watchful gaze of Ms. Lymberiou, and led practically by drummer Zack O’Farrill, who has been in the band since its’ inception.

Lymberiou plans to eventually return to the States, but for now is focusing on growing the Montreal Formation, as well as developing new works through a research and development  grant provided by the Canada Council for the Arts.