Montauk—the easternmost point of Long Island—has enjoyed a reputation as an idyllic land of the lotus and poppy but now is fully woven in to the Hamptons summer scene. The charms and views associated with that coastal existence served as a backdrop for the creation of this recording. Notable for a number of reasons—as the first live band date in a lengthy discography, and a first on-record meeting with drumming icon Billy Hart—this Bill O’Connell session stands out. Recorded live at the Hamptons Jazz Fest, with an outfit of top-flight artists including saxophonist Craig Handy and bassist Santi Debriano, the performance was further heightened by the appearance of ebullient trumpeter Randy Brecker and the enthusiasm of attentive and engaged listeners. “Playing live brings out different things in each musician,”observes O'Connell. “So I was very happy to do this and I think it was a great night with everybody on their A-game.”
Bill O’Connell: piano
Craig Handy: tenor saxophone
Santi Debriano: bass
Billy Hart: drums
Bill O’Connell: piano
Craig Handy: tenor saxophone
Santi Debriano: bass
Billy Hart: drums
Special Guest
Randy Brecker: trumpet (tracks 1 & 7)Track List
- Do Nothing till You Hear from Me
- Sparks
- Moanin'
- No Rhyme or Reason
- One Finger Snap
- Ripty Boom
- Tip Toes
Tour Dates
- June 17-18: Bill O'Connell Latin Jazz Quartet with Craig Handy at Dazzle, Denver, CO
- July 10: Solo piano concert, LTV Studios, Wainscott, NY
- July 23: with drummer Rich Baratta, Jersey City
- July 25: with Andrea Brachfeld Quartet in Asbury Park
- July 30: with The Paul Bollenback Quartet in Montauk, NY (Hamptons Jazz Fest)
- August 10: with Rich Baratta at the Hopper House in Nyack, NY
- August 11-12: with Greg Abate at Small's
- August 13: with Greg Abate at The Jazz Forum in Tarrytown, NY
- August 20: Bill O'Connell Quartet with Billy Hart in Montauk, NY (Hampton's Jazz Fest)
- August 23: with Andrea Brachfeld Quartet, Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, NYC
For more information contact Scott Thompson Public Relations.
