"Furious Rubato," was
recorded the summer of 2006 in Seattle. The second in the
series of Galper's "Rubato" explorations, it was a joyful
reunion with Hal's trio bassist for six years, Jeff Johnson
and a great introduction to drummer John Bishop's verile
playing. The trio's radar-like interaction and instantaneous
responses are stunning, acheiving degree of rapprt on a
level akin to mind reading. The CD contains four
Galper originals: "Valse Cool," "Figurine," "Chromatic
Fantasy," and "Other Days," as well as Jeff Johnson's
plaintif original "Zen" and new interpretations of the jazz
classics "Milestones," "Naima," and "Miles Ahead."
The album is scheduled
for a March 2007 release on Origin
Records
Veteran jazz pianist
Hal Galper is back. With fellow bandmates Billy Mintz on
drums and Tony Marino on bass, his latest recording "Agents
Of Change" is a startling departure from his previous
recordings. Disbanding his trio in
2000 after ten years touring internationally Hal spent the
following six years "in the shed" studying, practicing and
developing his uniquely personal style of playing. He and
his trio have fashioned an ultra-modern musical approach
that embodies the qualities of surprise, unpredictably,
shifting textures, group improvisation and freedom, all
within the context of a deeply swinging groove. Often
episodic, the trio's "off the top of your head" spontaneity
and intuitive interaction spans the lexicon of jazz
history. Playing in what is
called the "Rubato" style, they have fashioned a unique
approach to interpreting an eclectic mix that includes three
Galper originals "Waiting For Chet," "Sonar," and "Liquid
Audio," as well as unexpected versions of the Tin Pan Alley
evergreens "How Deep Is The Ocean" and "On Green Dolphin
Street." A super-melodic version of Wayne Shorter's "E.S.P."
opens the album and tucked away in the middle of it all is
their rendition of the old Swedish folk tune "Dear Old
Stockholm."
