larger opportunities as a composer and arranger." Musical style Liston's musical style reflects bebop and post-bop sensibilities learned from Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie, and Art Blakey. Her earliest recorded work—such as Gordon's "Mischievous Lady" a tribute to her—her solos show a blend of motivic and linear improvisation, though they seem to make less use of extended harmonies and alterations. Her arrangements, especially those with Weston, show a flexibility that transcends her musical upbringing in the bebop 1940s, whether working in the styles of swing, post-bop, African musics, or Motown. Her command of rhythmic gestures, grooves, and polyrhythms is particularly notable (as illustrated in Uhuru Afrika and Highlife). Her instrumental parts demonstrate an active use of harmonic possibilities; although her arrangements suggest relatively subdued interest in the explorations of free jazz ensembles, they use an extended tonal vocabulary, rich with altered harmonic voicings, thick layering, and dissonance. Her work throughout her career has been well received by both critics and audiences alike. Discography As leader Melba Liston and Her 'Bones (MetroJazz, 1959) Volcano Blues with Randy Weston (Antilles, 1993) As sidewoman or guest With Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers 1957: Art Blakey Big Band 1957: Theory of Art 1965: Hold On, I'm Coming With Betty Carter 1958: Out There with Betty Carter 1961: I Can't Help It With Ray Charles 1959: The Genius of Ray Charles 1962: The Ray Charles Story, Vol. 2 With Dizzy Gillespie 1955: Jazz Recital 1956: World Statesman 1957: Dizzy Gillespie at Newport 1957: Birks' Works 1957: Dizzy in Greece With Quincy Jones 1959: The Birth of a Band! 1960: Swiss Radio Days Jazz Series, Vol. 1 1960: I Dig Dancers 1961: Newport '61 1961: The Great Wide World of Quincy Jones: Live! 1962: The Quintessence 1963: Plays Hip Hits 1965: I/We Had a Ball 1965: Quincy Plays for Pussycats With Jimmy Smith 1963: Any Number Can Win 1966: Jimmy & Wes 1966: The Further Adventures of Jimmy and Wes 1966: Hoochie Coochie Man 1969: Jimmy Smith Plays the Blues With Dinah Washington 1957: Dinah Washington Sings Fats Waller 1958: Dinah Washington Sings Bessie Smith With Randy Weston 1958: Little Niles 1959: Destry Rides Again 1959: Live at the Five Spot 1961: Uhuru Afrika 1963: Highlife - Music from the new African nations featuring the Highlife 1973: Tanjah 1992: The Spirits of Our Ancestors 1993: Volcano Blues 1997: Earth Birth 1998: Khepera With others 1957: Last