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Gary Versace

Since basing himself in New York City in June of 2002, jazz organist, pianist, and accordionist Gary Versace has quickly become one of the busiest and most versatile musicians on the scene, often featured in bands led by musicians such as John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Maria Schneider, Matt Wilson, Lee Konitz, Eliot Zigmund, Scott Wendholt, Joe Magnarelli, Danny Gottlieb, Seamus Blake, John Hollenbeck, Andy LaVerne, Adam Nussbaum, Brad Shepik, Ingrid Jensen, Tim Ries and many others.

Versace was voted a "rising star" on the Hammond organ in the last three Downbeat critics polls, and was the subject of a feature article in the July 2004 issue of Keyboard magazine.

Versace has been a featured soloist on several critically acclaimed recordings of recent years: accordionist on Maria Schneider's Grammy-winning recordings "Concert in the Garden" and "Sky Blue" and as the pianist on John Hollenbeck's Grammy-nominated large ensemble recording, "A Blessing."

Over the past five years, Versace has appeared as a leader for the Criss Cross and SteepleChase labels, and as a sideman on over 50 recordings with artists on various labels including Palmetto, ACT, Omnitone, Songlines, Pirouet, High Note, Justin Time, ArtistShare, Fresh Sound, Kind of Blue, and many others.

As a pianist, Versace performed in a two-piano recital with Marian McPartland, and in April of 1999 appeared on her acclaimed National Public Radio program, "Piano Jazz." McPartland has called him "...endlessly inventive...(Versace) really has an extraordinary talent."

Gary Versace has a masters degree in music performance from the Eastman School of Music, and spent eight years as a tenured associate professor in the jazz studies department at the University of Oregon. He remains active as a clinician and guest soloist both nationally and around the world.

Ellery Eskelin: About (or On), First Visit

Read "About (or On), First Visit" reviewed by Stefano Merighi

by Stefano Merighi
July 3, 2025

All'interno di un catalogo variegato ma di sicuro assottigliato negli ultimi anni, il tenorsassofonista Ellery Eskelin ha dato prova di controllare una cultura musicale ampia e sofisticata, nutrita sia dalla tradizione gospel e blues che dalle decostruzioni postmoderne. I due dischi di cui la ezzthetics stavolta meritoriamente cura la riedizione, pubblicati nel 2011 e nel 2013 dalla Prime Source Recordings, stanno un po' per conto loro nella discografia del compositore, ma brillano per inventiva, maestria e originale sonorità, ...

Album Review

Ellery Eskelin Trio New York: About (or On), First Visit

Read "About (or On), First Visit" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
May 25, 2025

It might be tempted to say that Ellery Eskelin's Trio New York is deconstructing the eleven standards on the two-disc set About (or On) First Visit. But that would be a misreading. This is not a breakdown of classic material in search of alternative meanings or structural analysis. Rather, Eskelin, alongside organist Gary Versace and drummer Gerald Cleaver, channels something more elusive--what ancient philosophy once called the fifth element, or aether. Their interpretations evoke the atmospheric essence of these songs, ...

Album Review

Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra: Harbour

Read "Harbour" reviewed by Scott Lichtman

by Scott Lichtman
August 8, 2024

There's something special about Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra's Harbour. Foremost, the album builds on Jensen's acknowledged talent as master composer for over 25 years. She writes songs that stimulate the emotions as well as the intellect, and she arranges them using rich, cross-instrumental blends and fresh, punctuated motifs. While Jensen already has won JUNO awards in Canada for best jazz album, Harbour raises the bar. That is because it is inspired by deeply personal themes and because her ...

Album Review

Rudy Royston: DAY

by Vic Albani
July 12, 2024

Rudy Royston, batterista di prima classe (Bill Frisell, Dave Douglas, JD Allen, Ben Allison, Rudresh Mahanthappa e molti altri), approda con Day alla sua quinta uscita per l'etichetta del signor Dave Douglas, Greenleaf. Day è la seconda uscita dei Flatbed Buggy, vale a dire dell'avventuroso combo creato dal batterista con l'aiuto delle bass lines di Joe Martin, dei clarinetti di John Ellis, del violoncello di Hank Roberts e della fisarmonica di Gary Versace. L'idea base del lavoro omaggia la giovinezza ...

Album Review

Luzia von Wyl Ensemble: Frakmont

Read "Frakmont" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
March 11, 2024

Frakmont, the latest offering from Swiss composer/pianist Luzia von Wyl and her ensemble, stands as a remarkable fusion of avant-garde jazz and classical finesse, crafting a sound universe that is at once groundbreaking and eternal. Each track unfolds like a story, told with meticulous care and fervent emotion, under the ensemble's cohesive unity and von Wyl's inspired direction. The musicians navigate through a variety of emotional terrains and sonic vistas, solidifying the ensemble's expertise in creating music that ...

Liner Notes

Joe Magnarelli: Hoop Dreams

by C. Andrew Hovan
January 8, 2024

As Duke Ellington would often remind us, music comes in two varieties, that which is good and that which is bad. This suggests that genre and category are really of little concern and that overall quality is really the defining factor in considering the validity of any musical expression. Taking this axiom one step further, let me suggest that good music comes in assorted varieties. On one end of the spectrum you have music brimming with complex structures and technical ...

Album Review

Andrew Rathbun: The Speed Of Time

Read "The Speed Of Time" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
December 5, 2023

Not one to avoid concepts and ambitious outings, Andrew Rathbun's to-date masterpiece, The Atwood Suites (Origin Records, 2018), explored the poetry of his countrywoman, writer Margaret Atwood. In 2023, he tackles time. Time is a funny thing. Its perceived speed is malleable. It tends toward an increasing velocity as one moves into middle age and beyond. It can crawl at a snail's pace (during a root canal treatment, for example) and it can race ahead with wild abandon--that ...

Recording

Guitarist John Basile Releases 'Satisfied' with Gary Versace and Carmen Intorre, Jr.

Source: John Basile
September 3, 2023

Jazz enthusiasts are in for a treat as the highly-acclaimed jazz guitarist John Basile announces his 11th, much anticipated new release, Satisfied. The project brings together a stellar trio featuring the incomparable Gary Versace on Hammond B3 organ, and driving the rhythm forward is the impeccable Carmen Intorre Jr. on drums. The session features a captivating mix of original compositions and reinterpretations of classic jazz standards, each track meticulously crafted to evoke a full spectrum of emotion. “The chemistry and ...
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348

Recording

The Claudia Quintet + Gary Versace - Royal Toast (2010)

Source: Something Else!
August 8, 2010

By PicoThe Claudia Quintet is an ensemble that goes by its own set of rules. With its slightly weird combination of vibes, accordion, sax, double-bass and drums, and songs that don't follow the script of how songs go (but avoids skronkery and dissonance), the five piece band is an anomaly of an anomaly. It all comes for the deviously clever composing mind of its drummer and leader, John Hollenbeck. Drummers from Art Blakey to Matt Wilson have led ...
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267

Performance / Tour

Refuge Trio with Theo Bleckmann, John Hollenbeck and Gary Versace at Joe's Pub 1/13/07 at 7PM

Source: All About Jazz
December 17, 2006

"Expect the unexpected with the refuge trio, featuring the vocalist Theo Bleckmann, the drummer John Hollenbeck, and the keyboardist Gary Versace. Bleckmann and Hollenbeck have enough new-music, cabaret, and jazz chops to move the music in any direction they want, while Versace has lately been making big noise on his Hammond organ." - The New Yorker Refuge Trio takes its name from the Joni Mitchell song “Refuge of the Roads". The collaborative trio was formed to play at the 2002 ...
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108

Performance / Tour

Will Sellenraad & Root Down LIVE @ Detour feat: Victor Lewis, Abraham Burton, Gary Versace(fri), Gary Wang(sat)

Source: All About Jazz
May 20, 2005

get down... Friday, May 20th 9:30pm 1:30am Detour 349 East 13th Street @ 1st Ave. NYC :: 212.533.6212 ***Will Sellenraad & Root Down*** **Abraham Burton- saxophone** **Will Sellenraad- guitar** **Gary Versace- organ** **Victor Lewis- drums** *** Saturday, May 21st 9:30pm 1:30am Detour 349 East 13th Street @ 1st Ave. NYC :: 212.533.6212 ***Will Sellenraad & Root Down***
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103

Performance / Tour

Will Sellenraad & Root Down weekend extravaganza @ DETOUR NYC Feat: Eric McPherson & Gary Versace

Source: All About Jazz
January 28, 2005

***Will Sellenraad & Root Down*** **Will Sellenraad- guitar** **Gary Versace- organ** **Eric McPherson- drums** *** get down... Friday, January 28th 9:30pm 1:30am & Saturday, January 29th 9:30pm 1:30am Detour 349 East 13th Street @ 1st Ave. NYC :: 212.533.6212 *** Hey folks, please join us for a very special winter weekend engagement at our favorite spot in NYC! ...
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256

Recording

Guitarist Sheryl Bailey Releases "Bull's Eye!" with Gary Versace and Ian Froman

Source: All About Jazz
September 28, 2004

Bull's Eye! - the newest release from guitarist, Sheryl Bailey. The much-anticipated follow up to her trio's smash debut, The Power of 3!.

Nine new compositions that allow the band to create their unique sound, and develop their special rapport and interaction. This is not your typical groove-based guitar/organ trio; this is a modern jazz power trio dedicated to expanding the post-bop language, from the lineage of the Grant Green/Larry Young/Elvin Jones sound.

Here she opens up with, “Old and ...
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110

Performance / Tour

Will Sellenraad & Root Down, FRI & SAT @ Detour NYC. Feat... Gary Versace & Darren Beckett

Source: All About Jazz
September 17, 2004

***Will Sellenraad & Root Down*** **Will Sellenraad- guitar** **Gary Versace- organ** **Darren Beckett- drums** *** get down... Friday, September 17th 9:30pm 1:30am Saturday, September 18th 9:30pm 1:30am Detour 349 East 13th Street @ 1st Ave. NYC :: 212.533.6212 *** Hey folks, please join us for a very special fall weekend engagement at our favorite spot in NYC! We ...
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111

Performance / Tour

Will Sellenraad & Root Down feat: Victor Lewis & Gary Versace, Tonight at Detour NYC

Source: All About Jazz
July 8, 2004

"...(Versace) has recently been making big noise around town (NYC) with his Hammond organ..." - The New Yorker.

"I love unusual harmony, and (Versace) has got some very thoughtful and different ideas about chord structure. He is endlessly inventive. He does a lot of fresh things - he really has an extraordinary talent." - jazz pianist and NPR radio host Marian McPartland.

"...a star on the rise - clearly someone to watch..." - All About Jazz.

"Versace is a member of that new breed of organists extending the tradition in their own personal way." - Cadence Magazine.

"...adventurous, joyous...Versace's very light, deft touch was featured sufficiently to showcase his wide ranging influences and phenomenal technique." - Times Colonist (Victoria, B.C.)