Ubuntu Music is proud to announce the signing of US pianist George Colligan, for the worldwide release of his trio album, ‘Live in Arklow’, on 3rd April 2020.

George is not only one of the great jazz pianists of his generation, but he has earned an international reputation as a multi-instrumentalist (drums, trumpet, organ, keyboards), composer, accompanist, teacher and bandleader. Winner of the DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll, he has had a long association with living jazz legend Jack DeJohnette. With over 130 albums to date as an accompanist, Colligan has worked with a long list of jazz greats, including Buster Williams, Cassandra Wilson, Don Byron, Ravi Coltrane and many others. Colligan, a New York resident for 15 years, now resides in Portland, Oregon where he is an Associate Professor at Portland State University.

“Mr. Colligan… favours an earthy, assertive style, putting him in a lineage that includes McCoy Tyner, John Hicks and Mulgrew Miller.”

--The New York Times

George was reunited with a long-time colleague, Irish drummer Darren Beckett, since their extensive recording and playing days in New York, and was joined by Irish bassist David Redmond, to form a gifted trio that performed at the Bray Jazz Festival in 2018, appearing at Arklow Methodist Church. The live performance was recorded and will be released in CD and digital formats.

“One of the best kept secrets in jazz.”

—All About Jazz

Darren Beckett (drums) won the prestigious Bass Ireland Award as a teenager, leaving the emerald isle to study jazz in New York, where he resided for 21 years. Across his career, he has played drums everywhere from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Royal Albert Hall in London. He has performed on over 50 albums recording with notable names like Brandon Flowers, Daniel Lanois, Madeleine Peyroux, Lee Konitz and Kenny Wheeler. Over the years, Darren has worked with Lauryn Hill of The Fugees, James Hunter, jazz pianist Aaron Parks and played festivals all over the world from Austin City Limits to Montreux to NH7 in India.

David Redmond is best known for his collaborations with renowned Irish and International groups, and musicians including the acclaimed American pianist Bill Carrothers as part of the Kevin Brady Trio, Larry Coryell and the UK jazz vocalist Ian Shaw. He is a member of both the Phil Ware Trio and Tommy Halferty Trio. He is also a member of Yurodny (one of Ireland’s leading world music groups).

As George describes this special session in the album’s liner notes, “This album was a magical night in a magical venue with a magical piano and a magical trio and a magical audience. Sometimes, all the parameters are just right and it creates the perfect setting. It doesn’t always happen, in fact, it seems like these days it rarely happens. When it does, I try to savour it. Luckily, the tape was rolling and we captured it forever.

“This concert was part of the Bray Jazz Festival “On The Road” series; the venue was a Methodist Church in Arklow. The piano was one of those instruments so well maintained that you feel like you could sit on the keys or mash your hand down and it would be the most beautiful chord you’ve ever heard. The audience was amazing; it seemed as if they hung on our every phrase. Music is a conversation, not just between the musicians, but with the audience as well. We play, and the positive energy of the people listening makes us play more, and better. Everything was in sync on this night. I hope you can feel that magic when you listen. I’m thrilled to be reunited with Darren Beckett and to be newly acquainted with Dave Redmond for my first Trio release on Ubuntu Music. This is a recording of a magical concert and I hope listeners will hear and feel as amazing as I did while we performed. This is a great Trio and I believe we have a future. Hopefully, this recording will help to facilitate this.”

In describing the new association with Ubuntu, Darren Beckett commented, “I am absolutely thrilled to be working with Ubuntu Music on this trio’s first ever recording. Martin sees the long-term vision and has supported us every step of the way. Ubuntu’s great marketing and distribution will only strengthen that. It’s an honour to be added to an already incredible roster.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music commented, “George is a bit of a jazz institution, hailing from NYC and playing with the best of the best. Combined with two outstanding Irish jazz artists, Darren and Dave, performing at a very special place, created the perfect situation to capture exceptionally special music and to now bring it to the world. We are delighted to have these wonderfully talented musicians join the Ubuntu Music Family.”

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