Hal Galper Quartet (feat. Jerry Bergonzi) - Cubist (ORIGIN RECORDS February 16, 2018)

With his focus on ‘the art of the trio’ since moving on from the Phil Woods Quintet in the late ’80s – the last decade incorporating his innovative development of trio ‘Rubato‘ playing into 7 albums on Origin Records – pianist Hal Galper made a major, personal musical statement in adding his old friend and saxophone titan Jerry Bergonzi to a late 2016 tour and live recording.

Diving into the ‘Rubato’ deep end with the trio, Bergonzi provided another dimension and added spark, opening unforeseen avenues to the trio and quickly becoming an integral part of Galper’s musical concepts going into the future. Thus, the Hal Galper Quartet, featuring Jerry Bergonzi! Recorded at Cleveland’s Tri-C, Tommy LiPuma Center for Creative Arts, the quartet recorded live in an open session format with a small but involved audience.

Bassist Jeff Johnson contributed much of the music for the tour and four of the tracks for the recording. His tune title ‘Cubist,’ provided the implied visual of a subject with many parts out of place or overly-dramatized, offering new perspectives on a familiar image, and a fine metaphor for the music.

Scenes - Destinations (ORIGIN RECORDS 2017)

"After 15 years of performing together, the rapport between the legendary Portland guitarist John Stowell, and Seattlites, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop, has reached such a level of intimacy and connectedness, they transcend the traditional concept of a "guitar trio." Whether performing their intriguing originals or the thoughtful reimaginings of less-done classics, each piece is a ticket to somewhere unique, like a travelogue of where the trio's members have been and where they would like to go. Documented on five albums for Origin Records, their music continually inspires comments from reviewers bordering on the poetic: "Whispers of intelligent messages." Jazz Weekly 

"A long standing guitar trio of Portland/Seattle cross pollination, their sound and vibe only deepens with each outing. A solidly burnished set that stands toe to toe with any modern genre highlight, this is sitting down jazz that gets you standing up and cheering. Smart, angular stuff that'll more than bring out the high tone, up market listener in you." CHRIS SPECTOR, MIDWEST RECORD

1. The Mandy Walk (4:40)

2. Long Prairie (5:18)

3. Solar (6:27)

4. Für Heide (5:25)

5. Pretty Boy Floyd (5:03)

6. T.I.O. (6:34)

7. Psalm (7:15)

8. You And The Night And The Music (6:48)

9. Simple Pleasures (5:55)

10. Tapioca Time (4:27)

John Stowell - guitar 

Jeff Johnson - bass 

John Bishop - drums

Produced by Scenes 

Recorded & mixed by Floyd Reitsma at Studio Litho, Seattle, WA 

on September 8, 2016 & March 9, 2017 

Mastered by Dan Dean at DDP Studio, Mercer Island, WA 

Cover Art by Rudy Bagozzi 

Photography by Eric Malfait, Carlos Pinto 

Cover design & layout by John Bishop