Andy LaVerne, a veteran of over five decades in performing, composing and educating often teaches master classes at the famed Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop. At this workshop in 2019 Andy LaVerne met and performed with Zak Brock for the first time. The Grammy Award Winning violinist Zak Brock left huge impression on the pianist. Andy invited Zak to record together three months later. The collaboration between LaVerne the master of reharmonization and contrafacts and Zak the star member of the crossover group Snarky Puppy turned out to be a true Rhapsody with an intriguing program. “The album is filled with stimulating originals, most of which seem to be newly written for the session…. Shangri-La is another valuable addition to Andy LaVerne’s discography.” (Ken Dryden – NYCJR on Shangri-La SCCD 31872)

Bud's Beautiful

Nosmo King

Veteran pianist/composer/educator Andy LaVerne has been a stalwart of SteepleChase Label for almost four decades. His latest album here is the sequel to “Live At The Kitano” with his unique piano/organ trio named One Of A Kind, which aptly describes its out-of-the-ordinary nature of the ensemble. C. Andrew Hovan of AAJ commented on the first SteepleChase release of the group Intelligent Design (SCCD 31618), “Really one of the most welcomed surprises of the season, Intelligent Design lives up to its name as one of LaVerne's best efforts thus far and one of the finest jazz releases of the year.”

SteepleChase opens a new century with one of its favourite genre, piano trio, with the label’s long time contributor Andy LaVerne. This LaVerne’s 20th entry on the label features recent originals by the pianist including title tune “Know More”.

Severe Clear

One of the earlier entries of Andy LaVerne’s discography on this label was a highly acclaimed duo recording with vibraphonist Dave Samuels “Fountainhead” (SCCD 31261). Nine years later the two artists got together again in the studio with an addition of bass by Jay Anderson this time. The unique trio format of piano, vibes and bass offers a refreshing trip to a less travelled universe.

Fountainhead

Andy LaVerne’s unique ensemble of piano/organ/drums wraps up the two-night engagement at New York’s prominent jazz lounge at the Kitano Hotel with this last volume of intriguing original compositions by LaVerne and a handful of appealing standard titles. “In hindsight, it's surprising that the piano and organ format has been so rarely utilized in jazz because it makes so much sense. The B3 is able to provide a bass line and a unique textural counterpoint that can complement as well as step forward ... it's Andy's superb originals that supply the fodder for this most rewarding collection…” (Andrew Hovan – AAJ on “Intelligent Design” SCCD 31618

On this his latest solo recording the composer / performer Andy LaVerne states, “This CD, as a personal statement, is one of the most important I have made since I began recording for SteepleChase 30 years ago. It demonstrates and documents how my writing has evolved over the years.”

Trombone-piano duo may sound unlikely but if it concerns with the two masters of the respective instruments here, the result is a total delight. “… It isn’t the instruments that determine the outcome of this intimate collaboration, but the musicians, their skills, interplay, sensitivity and consummate artistry which are the decisive factors.” (Mark Gardner)

To quote Danish critic Niels Overgaard, Andy LaVerne is “one of jazz’s analytical workmen”. The enormous body of his work as pianist, composer and educator over the five decades does not stop LaVerne from being creative to add new dimension to his artistry as evidenced in this new album. “… pianist Andy LaVerne possesses talent that should be commensurate with a much broader public awareness. (C. Andrew Hovan – AAJ) “LaVerne's writing chops are as impressive as his playing.” (Harvey Siders – Jazztimes on Pianissimo SCCD31512)

For Us

In The Mood For A Classic

The instrumentation of piano/organ/drums may be highly unusual but with Andy LaVerne and Gary Versace on the keyboards the format is a sure winner as their earlier collaboration in “All Ways” (SCCD 31569) – “(LaVerne and Versace) sound absolutely natural and complementing together….two equally appealing keyboard voices…” (Thomas Conrad – JazzTimes)

Stan Getz In Chappaqua

For Us

Andy LaVerne continues to explore the path he set out with his previous critically acclaimed release “Genesis” (SCCD 31818), this time with an added voice in trumpet/flugelhorn by Alex Sipiagin as well as Mike Richmond’s overdubbed cello over his bass-line. As in the previous album all titles are new originals by LaVerne, who, to quote Neil Tesser, Grammy Award winning American journalist, is a committed melodist, with truly individualistic tone. “… Intelligent Design lives up to its name as one of LaVerne's best efforts thus far and one of the finest jazz releases of the year.” (C. Andrew Hovan – AAJ on SCCD 31618 Intelligent Design)

“Frozen Music” was recorded in New York City 32 years ago and like most of Andy LaVerne’s releases this album has not lost its original energy and charm. Tenor and soprano saxophonist Rick Margitza was then a young rising star under contract with Blue Note. Andy was already a prolific composer who penned all the tunes of this album. Bassist Marc Johnson who was a member of Bill Evans’s last trio gave graceful and subtle coloring to LaVerne’s compositions. “Frozen Music, Andy LaVerne’s third album for SteepleChase, is a solid, modern blowing session...he makes skilful use of suspensions, pedal points, and ostinatos, which along with the music’s floating harmonies, give the soloists a wealth of elbow room...” (Mark Stryker, Cadence) “un disque du plus haut niveau musical.” (Henri Marchal – Spectacles)

The “Three” of “The Three Is Not A Crowd” goes way back to 1977 when Andy LaVerne, Mike Richmond and Billy Hart comprised the rhythm section for the great Stan Getz quartet. Andy LaVerne cut his debut album with Richmond and Hart that year in Copenhagen which was released as “Another World” (SteepleChase SCCD 31086). 35 years later the “Three” convened in a NJ studio to record. The result here is not just a reunion but a new world of creative outpouring by the three mature artists.

Another World

Andy LaVerne’s ongoing duo projects find the pianist this time in the company of his contemporary (both Bergonzi and LaVerne were born in 1947). Sharing the common taste and experience in music their mutual respect and admiration are evident throughout this album. Saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi is also a renowned educator whose work is vastly appreciated and respected by his numerous students and colleagues. “… There is never any shortage of momentum in these performances which are deftly swinging and never give the slightest impression of being forced or in any sense incomplete … ! (Mark Gardner)

Andy LaVerne's association with SteepleChase dates back nearly a quarter of a century. He has been a prolific contributor to the catalogue. This marks his 16th effort as a leader and he has made numerous appearances as a sideman for the label. This CD contains four new compositions by LaVerne along with renditions of Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge" and Duke Pearson's "You Know I Care". Andy's last 3 CDs for SteepleChase are "Highly recommended for fans of jazz piano" by Ken Dryden of The All Music Guide. LaVerne's music "is quiet, contemplative, and smart." - Richard Kamins, Cadence.

40 years ago Bill Evans and Jim Hall recorded two brilliant duo albums called “Intermodulations” and “Undercurrent”. Andy Laverne and John Abercrombie whose collaboration dates back to the late 1960s have been inspired by the Evans-Hall recordings and have been experimenting with the format. Andy LaVerne remarks, "Over the years we have collaborated as a duo many times in concerts, club dates, workshop sessions. I guess Bill and Jim set a wonderful example to us of what could be achieved by the piano/guitar instrumentation”. This CD, though it is neither re-creation nor copying of the original material, is an evolution of the predecessors. have been inspired by the Evans-Hall recordings and have been experimenting with the format. Andy LaVerne remarks, "Over the years we have collaborated as a duo many times in concerts, club dates, workshop sessions. I guess Bill and Jim set a wonderful example to us of what could be achieved by the piano/guitar instrumentation”. This CD, though it is neither re-creation nor copying of the original material, is an evolution of the predecessors.

Piano/organ/drums is an uncommon combination, but how well it works in the hands (and feet) of such sensitive performers! (Mark Gardner) In this strikingly unusual “Trio” format Andy LaVerne finds a most tasteful and brilliant partner in organist Gary Versace and a new musical horizon to explore.

Glass Ceiling

The so-called “unusual” set up of Andy LaVerne’s piano and organ trio formed a several years ago is no longer unusual after its tremendous success with the critics such as JazzTimes’ Thomas Conrad: “Andy LaVerne on piano and Gary Versace on organ sound absolutely natural and complementary together.” – on SCCD 31596 All Ways and Allaboutjazz’s C. Andrew Hovan: “Really one of the most welcomed surprises of the season, Intelligent Design lives up to its name as one of LaVerne’s best efforts thus far and one of the finest jazz releases of the year. “ – on SCCD 31618 Intelligent Design Andy Laverne this time took his trio to the excited audiences at the posh jazz bar of The Kitano Hotel on Park Avenue, NY, NY.

Tadd's Delight

The follow-up set to the 2002 homage to Evans and Hall, Timeline (SteepleChase SCCD 31538) continues to illustrate the astonishing empathy and interplay between Abercrombie and LaVerne and to concentrate on conveying the spirit of the Evans/Hall sound. “… Abercrombie and LaVerne bring their own values and sensibilities to bear throughout the set… ” (Jim Ferguson, JazzTimes)

Abercrombie/LaVerne partnership goes back in the 60s when both musicians studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston. The duo released a number of studio sessions on SteepleChase in the past decades but this time their exciting concert from Baruch University, NY is captured live. JazzTimes’ Jim Ferguson commented on their earlier release SCCD 31538 “Timeline”: “Although John Abercrombie has done his fair share of experimentation over the years, at the heart of his work is a musicality-as evident throughout Timeline… pianist Andy LaVerne joins Abercrombie for a musical celebration of the influential, historic collaborations between Jim Hall and Bill Evans,… Abercrombie and LaVerne bring their own values and sensibilities to bear throughout the set .… ”