The New Hal Galper Trio

Jazz Times magazine calls Origin Records artist & Grammy winning jazz pianist Hal Galper's trio performances " the most complex, daring, exhilarating music of Galper's career." Their cutting edge Rubato style group improvisation emphasizes spontaneity, shifting textures & intuitive interaction

HAL GALPER – piano
Disbanding his trio in 2000 after ten years of touring internationally, Hal spent the following six years "in the shed" studying,practicing and developing his uniquely original style of playing. Often episodic, the trio's "off the top of your head" spontaneity and intuitive interaction spans the lexicon of jazz history.
With over 91 recordings to his credit, 31 as a leader in his own right, pianist, composer, publisher, educator, author and touring artist, Hal Galper is best known for his work with Chet Baker, Cannonball Adderley, John Scofield and the Phil Woods Quintet. His recordings as a leader with Mike and Randy Brecker are considered among the best. Graduating from the Berklee College of Music at the height of the be-bop era, his reputation grew steadily in the changing environment of jazz. He anchored such bands as The Slide Hampton Quartet, The Lee Konitz Duo, The Stan Getz Quartet and many others. His biography is listed in the National Encyclopedia of Jazz and he has 100 original compositions recorded and published. He has won a Grammy nomination and a Grammy for his recordings with the award-winning Phil Woods Quartet and Quintet, was awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Berklee College of Music, multiple awards For outstanding Service to Jazz Education from the IAJE and has been a recipient of grants from the National Endowment of the Arts, The Lila Wallace-Readers Digest Foundation and the New School of New York.

JOHN BISHOP – drums
One of the primary voices in Northwest Jazz for over 25 years, John Bishop's drumming has complemented the performances of jazz greats Bobby McFerrin, Slide Hampton, Benny Golson, George Cables, Kenny Werner, Eddie Daniels, Joanne Brackeen, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Kenny Rankin and countless others. He's appeared on over 75 albums & videos with projects including: CD sessions with Rudy Van Gelder, Ernie Watts, Don Sickler & Teo Macero; a Grammy nominated CD with Mark Murphy for RCA; educational videos for REH/Warner Bros., documentaries for PBS, and recently recorded tracks for "Drumcore," (www.drumcore.com) a library of drum tracks by "world-class drummers."

JEFF JOHNSON – bass
Born In Minneapolis, Jeff Johnson ("Free" to some of his colleagues) left at age 20, spending time in Philadelphia and New York, and has worked with a veritable who's who of great jazz musicians such as Philly Joe Jones, Charlie Rouse, Barney Kessel, Chet Baker, Lew Tabackin, Eddie Daniels, Mark Murphy, Joanne Brackeen, Julian Priester, Jay Clayton, Marlena Shaw, Billy Hart, Annie Ross, George Cables, Bud Shank, Claudio Roditti, Ernestine Anderson, and Michael Wolfe, to name just a few. Since 1993, on the International scene, Jeff has worked in pianist Hal Galper's trios with drummers Steve Ellington and John Bishop. "Origin" records has released their latest trio recording in November, 2011 called "Trip The Light Fanyastic" to great critical acclaim. Jeff has toured the United States and Europe several times with Galper's groupings, playing major venues, festivals, and schools. Jeff has recorded seven CD's on various labels with Galper in trio, quartet, and quintet configurations. (See selected discography). Collaboration with Hal Galper has included gigs and recording sessions with saxophonists, Jerry Bergonzi, Steve Grossman, Dick Oatts, Walt Weiskopf, Ira Sullivan, Gary Foster, and trumpeters Tim Hagans, Jack Walrath, and Franco Ambrosetti.