28th February 2025: Pre Order George Colligan’s ‘Live at the Jazz Standard’ featuring the legendary Jack DeJohnette, from today…
Announcing the pre order today for
George Colligan’s Live at the Jazz Standard click here for ordering
Worldwide Release Date: May 2nd – CD / DL / 180 gram, 2x LP, gatefold artwork
ABOUT THE ALBUM
Pianist and composer George Colligan has enjoyed a long association with drum legend Jack DeJohnette, playing in Jack’s own band for six years. Jack returned the favor on George’s acclaimed 2013 release The Endless Mysteries with Larry Grenadier rounding out the trio. A year later, George and Jack performed the music live at Manhattan’s legendary, but now closed, Jazz Standard club, this time featuring Linda May Han Oh on bass. This exclusive one-off performance entered into legend, equaling and perhaps surpassing the studio album in intensity and excitement. Now the recordings from that gig are released on Whirlwind Recordings as Live At The Jazz Standard. It’s a compelling snapshot of a moment in the lives of three master musicians, all at different stages in their journey with the music, but all coming together in perfect accord to deliver a set of performances that dazzle with their power, empathy and utter conviction.
George and Jack’s relationship stretches back fifteen years to a chance encounter at a rehearsal for 
Don Byron’s big band. George turned up early that day to find the rest of the band absent, but Jack already set up and waiting: “We just started playing: he showed me some of his tunes, and we had a great time. Jack took my number, and two years later I got a call to join his band. Jack was an idol of mine for so many years; not only because I’m a pianist who also plays drums, and he’s a drummer who also plays piano. He’s had such an impact on the music and has played on so many of the best albums ever. More than a drummer, he’s a premium interpreter of music.” George has played with Linda Oh already at this earlier stage in her career and had no hesitation in calling her to fill Larry Grenadier’s chair. “Linda is amazing – she always brings her A game, and she really brought her double A game for this. It almost sounds like her album. Such a tremendous musician.”
‘Waiting For Solitude’ opens with a tension building ostinato vamp: “It’s perfect playing with Jack because you can do a lot with very little,” before exploring the Bill Evans-inspired melody in an extended improvisation that switches meters effortlessly. ‘Song For the Tarahumara’ was inspired by the long-distance runners of the Tarahumara People and begins with a powerful statement by Jack before exploding into an intense up-tempo swing, with George flying high over the driving rhythm. ‘Her Majesty’ was written for George’s wife (and fellow pianist) Kerry Politzer. The afoxé inspired rhythm was chosen to reflect Kerry’s love of the music of Brazil. Linda Oh excels in her solo exploration of the stately melody. For ‘Liam’s Lament’, written for his infant son, George swaps the piano for the melodica to lead a freely creative exploration of sound and texture in which the whole trio participate with gusto. Finally ‘If The Mountain Was Smooth’ has a wonderfully uplifting, anthem-like quality, and a Gospel inspired groove reminiscent of some of Keith Jarrett’s classic excursions into the genre.
George says “Playing with Jack and his amazing rhythmic feel, you never want to stop and you never have to stop. With him, every chorus just gets better. He supports every idea – if you want to keep going up and up, he’ll go there with you, never running out of things to play. And Linda was right there with him – her playing was truly incredible. The live club experience was the perfect environment to let this music stretch and breathe, and I believe that the result we captured on these recordings was even more exciting than the studio album.”