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Hal Galper And the Youngbloods: Live At The Cota Jazz Festival
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The trio recordings released by pianist Hal Galper between 2006 and 2014six discs, all but one on Origin Recordsplowed fresh ground. Each disc dug deeply into the "Rubato" form. Taken as a wholefrom 2006's Agents Of Change (Fabola Records) through 2014's O's Time (Origin Records)the full series represents a monumental, sharply focused project that, for those who listened, redefined the piano trio.
Live At The Cota Jazz Festival features Galper still riding the wave of a fifty year-plus career that has included serious mainstream work with trumpeter Chet Baker and alto saxophonists Phil Woods and Cannonball Adderley. Now he has a new group, the Youngbloods, a new generation of musicians whom Galper encountered originally as his students at the Purchase Conservatory.
If Galper's protégés had any problem adjusting to rubato playinga style in which time, tempo and melody are highly flexibleit doesn't show. On four extended, malleable piecesthree Galper originals and Gordon Jenkin's Great American Songbook gem, "Goodbye"the group of adventurists roam with Galper's stretched out pianism, veering often into individualistic eddies.
"Freewheeling" is a word meant for this sound. No one's keeping time; everyone's keeping time (in their own fashion); and time here is a concept relative to each player. Run that one by Einstein.
Bassist Dean Torrey and drummer David Frazier craft jumbled rhythmic landscapes, while addition of another melodic voice to Galper's trio conceptin this case alto saxophonist Nathan Bellottopens up new paths through a labyrinthine trail system. Bellott's tone is tart, Jackie McLean-esque. His approach is confident to the point of audaciousness. Jazz thrives on audaciousness. And in the middle of it all, Hal Galper pushes his concept of brimming-with-surprises rubato piano artistry ahead. Still innovating after all these years.
Live At The Cota Jazz Festival features Galper still riding the wave of a fifty year-plus career that has included serious mainstream work with trumpeter Chet Baker and alto saxophonists Phil Woods and Cannonball Adderley. Now he has a new group, the Youngbloods, a new generation of musicians whom Galper encountered originally as his students at the Purchase Conservatory.
If Galper's protégés had any problem adjusting to rubato playinga style in which time, tempo and melody are highly flexibleit doesn't show. On four extended, malleable piecesthree Galper originals and Gordon Jenkin's Great American Songbook gem, "Goodbye"the group of adventurists roam with Galper's stretched out pianism, veering often into individualistic eddies.
"Freewheeling" is a word meant for this sound. No one's keeping time; everyone's keeping time (in their own fashion); and time here is a concept relative to each player. Run that one by Einstein.
Bassist Dean Torrey and drummer David Frazier craft jumbled rhythmic landscapes, while addition of another melodic voice to Galper's trio conceptin this case alto saxophonist Nathan Bellottopens up new paths through a labyrinthine trail system. Bellott's tone is tart, Jackie McLean-esque. His approach is confident to the point of audaciousness. Jazz thrives on audaciousness. And in the middle of it all, Hal Galper pushes his concept of brimming-with-surprises rubato piano artistry ahead. Still innovating after all these years.
Track Listing
Speak With A Single Voice; O's Time; Goodbye; Scufflin'.
Personnel
Hal Galper
pianoHal Galper: piano; Nathan Bellott: alto saxophone; Dean Torrey: bass; David Frazier: drums.
Album information
Title: Live At The Cota Jazz Festival | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Origin Records
Comments
Tags
Hal Galper And the Youngbloods
CD/LP/Track Review
Dan McClenaghan
Live At The Cota Jazz Festival
Origin Records
Hal Galper
Chet Baker
Phil Woods
Cannonball Adderley
Dean Torrey
David Frazier
Nathan Bellott