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Jazz Articles about John O'Gallagher
Michael Formanek: New Digs
by Glenn Astarita
Michael Formanek has never been content to anchor a bandstand and call it a career. Over decades of work--from sideman stints with Stan Getz and Joe Henderson to the long-running Thumbscrew trio with Mary Halvorson and Tomas Fujiwara--he has operated as a composer and architect, building rooms rather than merely inhabiting them. New Digs recorded over two days in Torres Vedras, Portugal, stands as an ambitious project via this seven-piece trans-Atlantic ensemble shaped by a precise sonic design.
Continue ReadingJohn O'Gallagher, Flora Purim, And Lena Bloch
by Jerome Wilson
This program features recent releases by John O'Gallagher and Lena Bloch as well as older music from Flora Purim, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and The Art Ensemble of Chicago. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 Franz Koglmann “A White Line" from A White Line (Hat Hut) 00:57 Steven Feifke Big Band “Word Travels Fast" from Kinetic (Outside In) 8:20 Host ...
Continue ReadingMeet John O'Gallagher
by Cheryl K.
In this hour, an interview with saxophonist, composer, and educator John O'Gallagher. His release Ancestral on Whirlwind Recordings is with drummers Andrew Cyrille and Billy Hart and guitar Ben Monder. Plus, selections from new releases by pianist Pat Thomas and the Brooklyn, NY-based trio Prawntail.Playlist Louis Stewart-Brian Dunning “West Coast Blues" from Alone Together (Livia) 4:38 Russ Macklem “Theme for Detroit" from Introducing The Russ Macklem Quintet (TQM Recording Co.) 8:32 [excerpt] John O'Gallagher “Profess" from Ancestral (Whirlwind ...
Continue ReadingJohn O'Gallagher: Ancestral
by Dan McClenaghan
Saxophonist John O'Gallagher keeps moving east in his search for musical expression. Born in Anaheim, California, before relocating to New York City and living there for thirty years, he finds himself (in 2025) in Lisbon, Portugal. He boasts a played with/recorded with resume to knock the proverbial socks off (Joe Henderson, Tony Malaby, Maria Schneider, Kenny Wheeler, and more). He also dived John Coltrane's late period explorations--Interstellar Space (Impulse!, 1974) and Stellar Regions (Impulse Records, 1967), From this Coltrane-ian immersion, ...
Continue ReadingJohn O’Gallagher, Ivo Perelman, Jon Irabagon & Tomas Fujiwara
by Maurice Hogue
Three of today's premier saxophonists share this edition's spotlight, as all have new releases--John O'Gallagher, Ivo Perelman & Jon Irabagon. O'Gallagher, now living in Portugal, reunites with guitarist Ben Monder on his new Ancestral and pulls off a first for master drummers Billy Hart and {{m: Andrew Cyrille who had never played together. Perelman, on the other hand, brings together musicians he knows well for his new A Modicum Of The Blues: Nate Wooley, Matt Moran, Mark Helias & Tom ...
Continue ReadingSentient Beings: Truth Is Not The Enemy
by John Sharpe
"Hills And Valleys," “Valleys And Hills." The titles of the two lengthy tracks on Truth Is Not The Enemy furnish oft-used metaphors for the flowing changes in intensity, volume and dynamics of long-form improvisations. However, on this occasion the hills seem more like summit plateau while the valleys are narrow and deep, as the four piece Sentient Beings maintains an almost unbroken stream of engaging high-energy interplay. At the heart of the outfit lies the pre-existing duo of British violinist ...
Continue ReadingNoah Preminger: Zigsaw: Music of Steve Lampert
by Neri Pollastri
Noah Preminger prosegue nella pubblicazione di lavori estremamente interessanti, stavolta dirigendo e interpretando un'opera non sua, ma da lui commissionata al trombettista e compositore Steve Lampert—esperienze vastissime a partire da quelle giovanili con Lionel Hampton e Gerry Mulligan, fino a maturare una personale concezione dell'improvvisazione. Si tratta di un singolare brano unico, lungo oltre quarantotto minuti, fittamente strutturato, ma al tempo stesso illuminato dalle improvvisazioni dei singoli. Il titolo, Zigsaw, rimanda da un lato all'andamento zigzagante della musica, ...
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