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Jazz Articles about John O'Gallagher
Andrew Rathbun Large Ensemble: Atwood Suites
by Jerome Wilson
Andrew Rathbun is a Canadian saxophonist who has made a major musical statement here with this collection of suites, two of which are based on the poetry of author Margaret Atwood. Rathbun's writing shows the influence of another Canadian, Kenny Wheeler, in its lush sonority, the frequent gorgeous flugelhorn solos by Tim Hagans and the role of Luciana Souza, who both sings Atwood's poetry with gentle forcefulness and moans wordlessly within the orchestral ensembles, the same way Wheeler often utilized ...
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by Paul Rauch
The mingling of jazz music and poetry is not a new concept. It has always been an amiable, yet at times, uncomfortable fit. From a verse standpoint, it is in many ways liberating. While most vocalized lyrics and spoken word forms rely on rhyme to speak to cadence and rhythm, free verse poetry liberates the narrative from the confinements of structure, and much like an improvising instrumentalist, takes spoken language into a intertwining duality with the melody within harmonic dimension. ...
Continue ReadingAndrew Rathbun: Atwood Suites
by Friedrich Kunzmann
In a way, the Atwood Suites have been in the works for almost two decades. When Kenny Wheeler approached Toronto native Andrew Rathbun in search for a band in 2001, the former furthermore inquired if the latter would like a composition of his own penning to be performed beside Wheeler's “Suite Time Suite." Consequently, the “Power Politics Suite," which makes for the second half of the first CD, was born, with Wheeler's and vocalist Luciana Souza's sound specifically in mind. ...
Continue ReadingAndrew Rathbun Large Ensemble: Atwood Suites
by Dan Bilawsky
The marriage between jazz and poetry is having a true moment in the present artistic sphere. The two have long mixed and mingled, oft proving sympathetic and symbiotic in their multidirectional moves, unique cadences, and improvisational capacities. But never before has the connection been so strong and centralized. With drummer Matt Wilson's triumphant encounter with the work of Carl Sandburg, soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom's exploration of Emily Dickinson's writing, saxophonist Benjamin Boone's collaboration with Philip Levine, and a handful ...
Continue ReadingJohn O'Gallagher Trio: Live In Brooklyn
by Roger Farbey
Over the past 25 years, altoist and New York resident, John O'Gallagher has worked with the likes of Joe Henderson, Maria Schneider, Kenny Wheeler, Billy Hart and Chris Cheek amongst many others. German born but long-time New Yorker bassist Johannes Weidenmueller has played with the Hank Jones trio, the John Abercrombie quartet, Joe Lovano and many others. Born in California, in-demand drummer Mark Ferber has worked with Lee Konitz, Don Byron, Fred Hersch, Norah Jones and Steve Swallow to name ...
Continue ReadingJohn O’ Gallagher: The Honeycomb
by Maurizio Zerbo
Da Charlie Parker ad Ornette Coleman, fino al jazz groove contemporaneo. Si potrebbe definire così l'itinerario del viaggio sonoro proposto dall'alto sassofonista newyorchese John O'Gallagher. Il free-bop messo in atto dal suo affiatatissimo trio è sintetizzato da “Extralogical Railman," che rielabora un celebre standard ("Relaxin' at Camarillo") di Bird. Del nucleo tematico preesistente viene cambiato tutto o quasi dopo averne enunciato brevemente la melodia. Con un tempo dinamicamente serratissimo, la nuova versione viaggia ad altezze, velocità ed ...
Continue ReadingJohn O'Gallagher: The Honeycomb
by Mark Corroto
What if jazz was rock-and-roll? Not the corporate-halftime show-American Idol rock, but the dangerous music your parents (maybe grandparents) were afraid of. Remember, there was a time when jazz was threatening. Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie startled listeners with their revolutionary 'bebop,' before Ornette Coleman and Albert Ayler caused fist fights and mini-riots. Jazz has since been tamed and put on display in Lincoln Center, safe for listeners to consume unscathed. Be warned, there still are some wild ...
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