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George Colligan
George Colligan is a New York based pianist, organist,drummer, trumpeter, teacher, and bandleader, who is one of the most original and compelling jazz artists of his generation. An award-winning composer (Chamber Music America/Doris Duke Foundation grant recipient, RACC Grant Winner) and player (winner, Jazzconnect.com Jazz Competition, DownBeat Critics Poll Winner), Colligan is highly in demand as a sideman, having worked with players like Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Cassandra Wilson, Ravi Coltrane, and many others, both on the bandstand and in recording sessions (appearing on over 150 CDs). He has released 31 recordings full of his intelligent writing and impressive technique. His latest CD on the Ubuntu Label is called”Live in Arklow” and features Darren Beckett and Dave Redmond. Colligan’s musical style incorporates everything from showtunes to funk, from free improvisation to 20th century classical music. His performances include dazzling technique as well as mature restraint. Colligan was on the faculty of the Juilliard School for two years and is currently an Assistant Professor at Portland State University. He is currently a member of Jack DeJohnette’s New Quintet.Recently, Colligan started playing the Hammond 44 Melodion(melodica). He also started a popular blog called jazztruth(jazztruth.blogspot.com).
“Colligan is an equally deserving torch-carrier of the piano trio tradition….” John Kelman , All About Jazz
“One of the best kept secrets in jazz….” Chris Hoven, All About Jazz
“As a creative artist, he’s really up there…. In terms of technique, knowledge of music and improvisational creativity, there aren’t a whole lot of cats from his generation that are any better than him. As a matter of fact, I can’t think of any.”– Don Braden in a blindfold test for Jazz Times
“Pianist George Colligan stole the set with a display of technique that inspired a standing ovation.”-Harvey Siders, Jazz Times, in a review of a Ravi Coltrane concert.
George Colligan has toured, recorded ,and/or performed as a sideman with Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Cassandra Wilson, Buster Williams, Don Byron, Lonnie Plaxico, Gary Bartz, Benny Golson, Gary Thomas, Miguel Zenon, Tom Harrell, Steve Coleman, Eddie Henderson, Ralph Peterson, Vanessa Rubin, Steve Wilson, Dave Weckl, Richard Bona, Jane Monheit, Ravi Coltrane, Lenny White, Michael Brecker, Mike Clark, Nicholas Payton, Sheila Jordan, Janis Siegel, Christian McBride, Billy Hart, Charles Fambrough, Mingus Big Band, AL Foster, Mark Turner, Don Braden, Lew Soloff, Gunther Schuller, Carl Allen, Rodney Whitaker, Lee Konitz, Jamie Baum, Michal Urbaniak, Ron McClure, DJ Logic, Randy Brecker and Stefon Harris, among others.
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George Colligan Quartet at Chris’ Jazz Café
by Victor L. Schermer
George Colligan Quartet Chris' Jazz Café jny:Philadelphia. PA March 29, 2024 Chris Hove of All About Jazz once wrote that pianist and multi-instrumentalist George Colligan is “one of the best kept secrets in jazz." It's not clear why he is such a secret, since. as saxophonist Don Braden once said, “As a creative artist, he's really up there... In terms of technique, knowledge of music and improvisational creativity, there aren't a ...
read moreGeorge Colligan: Ultimatum
by C. Andrew Hovan
Unlike classical music, where so much of the performance is based on an authentic interpretation of the material, jazz has always been more about inventiveness and the musician's quest to find an original voice. Additionally, some of the most innovative artists in the genre have been known not only for their instrumental prowess, but also for great bodies of work that have substantially contributed to the jazz annals. Men like Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, and Thad Jones, to name only ...
read moreMachado Mijiga: Gradient
by Paul Rauch
Machado Mijiga is a Portland born and raised multi- instrumentalist, producer, audio engineer and educator, still based in his city of origin. His 2022 release, Gradient, turns his focus to his creative strengths as a drummer and composer, taking in tunes written over the course of the past decade. Mijiga has mild synesthesia, hearing sounds as colors, shapes or more specifically, colors seen through the spectrum, or color groups. This is similar to the recently passed pianist, Jessica Williams, who ...
read moreNicole McCabe: Introducing Nicole McCabe
by Paul Rauch
If you were a young and talented jazz musician in Portland, Oregon, you would make yourself highly visible on the local scene to gain invaluable experience playing with the best the city had to offer. In addition to your more formal studies, you would extend your musical outreach from post-bop modernism to the avant-garde. Most importantly, you would constantly be rubbing musical shoulders with the elders who have mentored you to the point of having professional aspirations. This ...
read moreGeorge Colligan: More Powerful
by Roger Farbey
Pianist George Colligan's twenty eighth album as leader sees him joined by long-time colleague Rudy Royston on drums, bassist Linda May Han Oh and newcomer Nicole Glover, Colligan's former student at Portland, on reeds. Colligan has a long career in jazz and, in addition to teaching at Portland State University where he's the Jazz Area Coordinator, he has collaborated with the likes of Jack DeJohnette, Larry Grenadier, Don Byron and Cassandra Wilson. This set of sprightly numbers all ...
read moreGeorge Colligan: The Endless Mysteries
by John Kelman
While music fans often think of the artists they love as gifted people whose lives are consumed by the pursuit of their art, all-too-often they ignore equally important, if seemingly more mundane, needs: making a living, perhaps having a family...things to which most people aspire. With music sales on the decline, most musicians pay the rent by touring and, in some cases, teaching, but for those who've failed to achieve greater recognition, that needn't imply they're anything less than top-tier. ...
read moreGeorge Colligan: Come Together
by Edward Blanco
Pianist/composer/educator George Colligan decided to record Come Together after a successful ten-day tour of Japan in October 2008. Receiving an invitation for 2009, the hope was to return with a document of the trio's music. With much in-demand bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer Donald Edwards, Colligan presents slices of funk, blues, bebop, fusion and light classical-tinged ballads, all neatly packaged and coming together superbly. Except for the opening title piece and oft-recorded standard, “The Shadow of Your Smile," the remaining ...
read morePianist-Composer George Colligan's 'King's Dream,' His 36th Album As A Leader & 5th As A Solo Pianist, Due November 11 On PJCE Records
Source:
Terri Hinte Publicity
George Colligan expresses the complexities and conflicting emotions of our confusing, sometimes chaotic times with the November 11 release of King’s Dream (PJCE). Though not quite a sequel, the album builds on many of the themes presented on his previous solo album, 2018’s Nation Divided. The 11 original compositions on King’s Dream (Colligan’s 36th album as a leader) are not all new: Some of them go as far back as 2008. But like all the best improvised jazz, the tunes ...
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Tenor Saxophonist Mike Lee New Release February 18th Song For All Of Us Featuring Lenny White, George Colligan, Dave Stryker & More!
Source:
Scott Thompson Public Relations
With his new release, Song For All of Us (IYOUWE Records), veteran saxophonist Mike Lee shows the breadth of his musical pallet. Lee works with his wide-ranging musical associations and weaves them together with innovative compositions as well as standard repertoire. There are several different band configurations within this offering. From the core trio of tenor saxophone, bass, and drums, to several different quartet and quintet settings each grouping contributes to the unified sound. Drummer Lenny White, bassist Ed Howard ...
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Firehouse 12 to Present the George Colligan Trio April 10th
Source:
Improvised Communications
On Friday, April 10th, Firehouse 12 will present a two-set performance by New York-based pianist/composer George Colligan and his trio featuring bassist Josh Ginsburg and drummer E.J. Strickland. Colligan, who is known to critics as “an advanced jazz pianist and composer who has done high-ranking work as a sideman and a leader" (David R. Adler, All Music Guide), will lead the group in performances of original music from his 2008 release, Runaway (Sunnyside Records).
“George Colligan is a pianist who ...
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The George Colligan Trio Live at Smalls/NYC
Source:
Two for the Show Media
Pianist/Composer George Colligan will be performing with his Trio at Smalls in NYC on September 24th, 2008. Set Times: 9:00pm & 10:30pm “One of the best kept secrets in jazz..." --Chris Hoven, All About Jazz George Colligan Trio George Colligan - Piano Josh Ginsburg on Bass Rudy Royston on Drums About George Colligan If you've listened to Cassandra Wilson, Don Byron, Buster Williams, the Mingus Big Band, or Christian McBride, you have heard a ...
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Keyboardist George Colligan Interviewed at AAJ
Source:
All About Jazz
Although George Colligan is a wildly in-demand musician whose piano, organ and Fender Rhodes have graced the recordings and performances of clarinetist Don Byron, bassist Buster Williams, vocalist Cassandra Wilson, and many other artists, he's also managed to produce a pretty sizable discography as a band leader. While his chops and imagination--coupled with a consistent clarity of thought and touch--make his playing a consistent pleasure to the jazz listener, he's just as good a composer, having written for Chamber Music ...
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George Colligan Quartet Tue March 6 at the Jazz Standard
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
TUESDAY, MARCH 6th Sets at 7:30 & 9:30 GEORGE COLLIGAN QUARTET CD Release Party for Blood Pressure (Ultimatum Records)
The Jazz Standard 116 E. 27th St. NYC (betw Park and Lex) 212-576-2232 http://www.jazzstandard.net/
Featuring George Colligan - piano Steve Wilson - alto & soprano saxophones Vicente Archer - bass EJ Strickland - drums
Award-winning composer and player George Colligan first displayed his ...
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George Colligan and Mad Science at the Ace Of Clubs July 1st at 10pm
Source:
All About Jazz
George Colligan and Mad Science Rare New York Appearance at the Ace Of Clubs July 1st at 10pm one show Ace Of Clubs 9 Great Jones Street (between Broadway & Lafayette) 212 677 6963 Starting Lineup: George Colligan--keyboards, laptop Tom Guarna--guitars Kenny Grohowski--Drums, Cymbals New CD Realization will be on sale
George Colligan, an ...
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George Colligan Quartet with Special Guest Mark Turner Fri. & Sat. Sept. 23 and 24th at Sweet Rhythm
Source:
All About Jazz
September 23, 2005 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected] Friday & Saturday September 23 and 24th at Sweet Rhythm George Colligan Quartet with Special Guest Mark Turner Boris Kazlov on Bass Johnathan Blake on Drums George's 2 new CDs,Past Present Future (Criss Cross) and Realization (Sirocco) will be available for purchase. Sweet Rhythm is 88 Seventh Avenue South 212 255 3626 Shows are 8, 10, and 12 Pianist,organist,and composer George Colligan has appeared on more ...
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"Colligan is an equally deserving torch-carrier of the piano trio tradition...." —John Kelman, All About Jazz "One of the best kept secrets in jazz...." —Chris Hoven, All About Jazz "Couple that sensitivity, that ability to be both supportive and assertive when need be, with strong chops and knowing one's way around the keyboard, and you get a picture of George Colligan , one of those fine young talents bubbling just below the collective periscopes of the jazz critical and presenting fraternities. Keep an ear on George Colligan ." —Willard Jenkins, from Jazztimes
Photos
Music
Tayamisha
From: UnalomeBy George Colligan
Spring Day
From: In a HeartbeatBy George Colligan
If the Mountain Was Smooth, You Couldn't Climb It
From: The Endless MysteriesBy George Colligan
Videos
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George Colligan
Instrument: Multi-instrumentalist
Born: December 29, 1969
