Jazz Articles about John O'Gallagher

About John O'Gallagher

Album Review

Michael Formanek has never been content to anchor a bandstand and call it a career. Over decades of work--from sideman stints with Stan Getz and Joe Henderson to the long-running Thumbscrew trio with Mary Halvorson and Tomas Fujiwara--he has operated as a composer and architect, building rooms rather than merely inhabiting them. New Digs recorded over two days in Torres Vedras, Portugal, stands as an ambitious project via this seven-piece trans-Atlantic ensemble shaped by a precise sonic design.

Radio & Podcasts

John O'Gallagher, Flora Purim, And Lena Bloch

by Jerome Wilson
December 31, 2025

This program features recent releases by John O'Gallagher and Lena Bloch as well as older music from Flora Purim, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and The Art Ensemble of Chicago. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 Franz Koglmann “A White Line" from A White Line (Hat Hut) 00:57 Steven Feifke Big Band “Word Travels Fast" from Kinetic (Outside In) 8:20 Host ...

Radio & Podcasts

Meet John O'Gallagher

by Cheryl K.
November 17, 2025

In this hour, an interview with saxophonist, composer, and educator John O'Gallagher. His release Ancestral on Whirlwind Recordings is with drummers Andrew Cyrille and Billy Hart and guitar Ben Monder. Plus, selections from new releases by pianist Pat Thomas and the Brooklyn, NY-based trio Prawntail.Playlist Louis Stewart-Brian Dunning “West Coast Blues" from Alone Together (Livia) 4:38 Russ Macklem “Theme for Detroit" from Introducing The Russ Macklem Quintet (TQM Recording Co.) 8:32 [excerpt] John O'Gallagher “Profess" from Ancestral (Whirlwind ...

Album Review

John O'Gallagher: Ancestral

Read "Ancestral" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
November 9, 2025

Saxophonist John O'Gallagher keeps moving east in his search for musical expression. Born in Anaheim, California, before relocating to New York City and living there for thirty years, he finds himself (in 2025) in Lisbon, Portugal. He boasts a played with/recorded with resume to knock the proverbial socks off (Joe Henderson, Tony Malaby, Maria Schneider, Kenny Wheeler, and more). He also dived John Coltrane's late period explorations--Interstellar Space (Impulse!, 1974) and Stellar Regions (Impulse Records, 1967), From this Coltrane-ian immersion, ...

Radio & Podcasts

John O’Gallagher, Ivo Perelman, Jon Irabagon & Tomas Fujiwara

by Maurice Hogue
August 18, 2025

Three of today's premier saxophonists share this edition's spotlight, as all have new releases--John O'Gallagher, Ivo Perelman & Jon Irabagon. O'Gallagher, now living in Portugal, reunites with guitarist Ben Monder on his new Ancestral and pulls off a first for master drummers Billy Hart and {{m: Andrew Cyrille who had never played together. Perelman, on the other hand, brings together musicians he knows well for his new A Modicum Of The Blues: Nate Wooley, Matt Moran, Mark Helias & Tom ...

Album Review

Sentient Beings: Truth Is Not The Enemy

Read "Truth Is Not The Enemy" reviewed by John Sharpe

by John Sharpe
October 29, 2024

"Hills And Valleys," “Valleys And Hills." The titles of the two lengthy tracks on Truth Is Not The Enemy furnish oft-used metaphors for the flowing changes in intensity, volume and dynamics of long-form improvisations. However, on this occasion the hills seem more like summit plateau while the valleys are narrow and deep, as the four piece Sentient Beings maintains an almost unbroken stream of engaging high-energy interplay. At the heart of the outfit lies the pre-existing duo of British violinist ...

Album Review

Noah Preminger: Zigsaw: Music of Steve Lampert

Read "Zigsaw: Music of Steve Lampert" reviewed by Neri Pollastri

by Neri Pollastri
January 18, 2021

Noah Preminger prosegue nella pubblicazione di lavori estremamente interessanti, stavolta dirigendo e interpretando un'opera non sua, ma da lui commissionata al trombettista e compositore Steve Lampert—esperienze vastissime a partire da quelle giovanili con Lionel Hampton e Gerry Mulligan, fino a maturare una personale concezione dell'improvvisazione. Si tratta di un singolare brano unico, lungo oltre quarantotto minuti, fittamente strutturato, ma al tempo stesso illuminato dalle improvvisazioni dei singoli. Il titolo, Zigsaw, rimanda da un lato all'andamento zigzagante della musica, ...