<i> Glasnost </i> Opens Soviet Ears, Saxman Moody Discovers

Through glasnost ‘s open-travel policies, San Diego saxophonist James Moody has become a big fan of the Soviet Union. Moody, who opened five nights at Elario’s last night--probably his only San Diego appearance this year--experienced the Soviet Union first-hand last October while touring with the Phillip Morris All-Star Big Band.

Soviets, he said, seem to appreciate American jazz more than Americans.

“Now that Gorbachev has opened up Russia, they are listening more and more to modern jazz, which they like,” he said. “They listen to rock and cowboy music too, and they like jeans. To be subject to what they have for so long, you’d think they’d be heartless, but they are soulful, wonderful people.”

Moody moved to San Diego last year after marrying a local real estate agent, but he spends much of his time on the road. He played the Santa Fe Jazz Party Memorial Day weekend with Spike Robinson, Eddie Daniels, Milt Hinton, Doc Cheatham and others. Later this year, he’ll hit the road with Dizzy Gillespie, a longtime friend.

People like Gillespie and Quincy Jones are about the only musicians able to lure Moody away from his solo projects. Moody played on Jones’ new album, and he appears in a video for the song “Birdland.”

On his last two albums, Moody, equally adept at tenor and alto saxes and flute, used synthesizer players, but his music at Elario’s is strictly acoustic, with Bob Magnusson on bass, Jim Plank on drums and the superb piano work of Harry Pickens.

Last September, Santa Fe, N.M., guitarist Ottmar Liebert released a limited edition CD of his nouveau flamenco guitar music, with the financial backing of a Santa Fe artist who wanted a special gift for a few friends. A copy found its way to KTWV-FM (94.7), “The Wave,” in Los Angeles, which placed several songs on its play list. Then the master tapes were bought by the small Higher Octave label in Los Angeles, which re-released the album in March.

It’s been moving fast, rising on various music charts, and Liebert said sales could soon top 100,000.

Not bad for a guy who, until a few months ago, was happy to play solo guitar in a Santa Fe restaurant for $20 and a meal.

Liebert, 30, was born in Cologne, Germany, and studied classical guitar in a government-backed program. Because he had little exposure to popular music while growing up, he brings a fresh angle to guitar. Django Reinhardt, Paco de Lucia and Gypsy music are among his influences, but he names Miles Davis as a major force behind his career.

“It’s ironic, because I think my playing is more like a horn, and I just read that Miles tries to play like a guitar player.”

Liebert opened for Davis in Seattle in April, but didn’t get to meet the superstar, who arrived by limo just in time to take the stage and left immediately after the show.

Sunday night, Liebert shares a bill at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay with guitarist Michael Hedges for one show at 7:30. This week, he signed on as the opening act on a tour with Basia, who plays San Diego July 19.

In the 1930s and ‘40s, clarinetist Jack Aldridge toured the Midwest with his big band, but when he got married in 1947 and started a family, he went into contracting to make a living.

He retired last year and in November organized a new big band consisting mostly of original Swing-era musicians, veterans of work with Harry James, Nelson Riddle, Glenn Miller and others.

This Sunday afternoon, Aldridge’s band plays the latest in a series of swing dance concerts in the War Memorial Building in Balboa Park. The music lasts from 2 to 5 p.m. Admission is $5.

San Diego saxophonist Gary LeFebvre and his big band, which hopes to reprise its standing-room-only performance of last April this Monday night at the Salmon House, want to hit the road--to Russia. The strong Soviet response to jazzman Dizzy Gillespie’s concerts there last month prompted LeFebvre to apply to the U.S. State Department to take his band over as part of a U.S. government goodwill program.

RIFFS: Nigerian percussionist Najite plays for the “Jazz Live” concert at San Diego City College this Tuesday from 8 to 10 p.m, with a simulcast on KSDS-FM (88.3). . . . Bluesy jazzmen Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff are featured on KPBS-TV’s “Club Date” program Saturday night at 11, repeating Monday night at 11:30. . . . Guitarist Jim Storey’s band Open Channel, with Steve Feierabend on tenor sax, Alan Eicher on keyboards, Chris Connor on bass and Danny Campbell on drums plays Sunday, 7 p.m., at Diego’s Loft in Pacific Beach. . . .

Former Chet Baker sidemen Michel Grailler (piano) and Ricardo Del Fra (bass) can be heard Sunday night at 7 on the KSDS-FM (88.3) “Le Jazz Club” program. . . . Sergio Mendes’ singer Kevyn Lettau and local guitarist Peter Sprague team up this Saturday night, June 16, at Words & Music bookstore in Hillcrest. Reservations are recommended (298-4011). . . . Sprague plays the Full Moon Cafe in Encinitas tonight from 7 to 10 in a trio also including bassist Kevin Hennesy and drummer Duncan Moore. . . . Guitarist Dan Papaila plays the Beach House restaurant in Mission Beach Thursday night, followed by solo pianists Tommy Gannan and Al Daniels Friday and Saturday. . . .

Sam Riney plays the regular “Rising Star Concert” next Wednesday at the Catamaran Resort Hotel in Pacific Beach. . . . Light jazz quartet Uncle Festive plays Sunday brunch cruises aboard The Entertainer, leaving at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. from 1066 N. Harbor Drive downtown. . . . Hot Vazquez serves up Latin jazz at Croce’s downtown Friday night; Saturday, saxophonist Daniel Jackson’s Real Jazz Band plays. . . . Flutist Holly Hofmann duos with guitarist-vocalist Ron Satterfield, a founder of Checkfield, this Friday and Saturday nights in the Horton Grand Hotel’s Palace Bar downtown.