Ebullient mainstream Jazz on original compositions. Piano Trio with Paul Henry on bass, David McDonald on drums, and special guest Walt Weiskopf on tenor. (Go ahead, look up "Ebullient")

8 MP3 Songs in this album (54:55) !
Related styles: JAZZ: Mainstream Jazz, JAZZ: Traditional Jazz Combo

People who are interested in Herbie Hancock Keith Jarrett Bill Evans should consider this download.


Details:
Considering how long I have focused professionally on performing as a jazz pianist, it might be surprising to many that I have not produced a serious recording project before now. But many challenges and obstacles can stand in the way of a project like this. Finding the right people to play with, the right piano to play on, the right material to play, and capable people to record, edit and master it (and the time and money to make it all happen) can be a significant challenge.

So I am very pleased to offer this recording as my debut album as leader and writer. Many significant parts have come together to make this happen. I feel very fortunate to have had some fabulous players to work with me on this project: David McDonald on drums, Paul Henry on bass, and one of the greatest tenor players around, Walt Weiskopf. In many ways, Waltâs playing, writing, style and sound represent a model of the ideal for me. I am profoundly grateful to him for agreeing to work with me on this CD.

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From my liner notes:

A few times in my life, music has affected me in profound ways, so much that it seems inadequate to say I was âmovedâ or âtouched.â Sometimes it has energized me from head to toe, or brought me a sense of an immense pure joy. It might sound like the kind of thing a person may call a âreligious experience,â except that I have experienced it through a range of diverse musical styles from Bach to the Beatles, and performers from Horowitz to Herbie Hancock.

When I have experiences like these, life seems to be fresh and new, and free from the concerns, burdens and boredom that accumulate during the daily routine. It is like the world has turned and it is a fresh start in life, a brand new day.

These experiences are the core reason that I have struggled (for 40 years now) to become a pianist and musician. It has been a hope and dream of mine to make music that brings to people experiences such as the ones I have had.

Since we are not able to directly share and compare our experiences with others, I may never know if this music produces the desired result in even one person. Nevertheless, I offer it in the hope that you may be lifted a little from the cares of your life and feel, as I have sometimes felt, that today is a Brand New Day.

Steve Erickson