George Colligan’s debut album Activism returns in a newly pressed 180g LP edition (G1382), celebrating its 1996 arrival as one of the most confident first statements of its era. At just 25, Colligan emerged as one of New York’s most in demand pianists, and this trio recording captures the full force of that promise. Joined by bassist Dwayne Burno and drummer Ralph Peterson, he approaches works by Wayne Shorter, Duke Pearson, Horace Silver, Thelonious Monk, Fats Waller, and Freddie Hubbard with the assurance of a seasoned bandleader. Critics immediately recognized the album’s vitality—its positive, vigorous, and resourceful spirit—and The Washington Post praised Colligan’s commanding touch and fearless conception. Nearly three decades later, Activism stands as a remarkable debut from a musician whose artistic voice arrived fully formed.
“....this album is all about a remarkable arrival of a musician whose conception epitomises Activism in the best sense - positive, vigorous, outgoing and resourceful....” (Mark Gardner)
More than a decade ago critic C. Andrew Hovan cited Colligan “One of New York’s finest”. George Colligan has since evolved into a matured and yet adventurous artist on the world stage.
This latest album showcases his new New York trio performing all Colligan originals.
“His own intelligent and emotional talents create room for the best to play at their very own best…..With George Colligan at the helm, the horizon is not the limit.”
(Travis Rogers - JazzTimes on “The Facts” SCCD 31752)
Pianist /composer George Colligan is no longer “new on the scene” as Chuck Berg of JazzTimes referred to George several years ago but the rest of Berg’s remarks: “George Colligan is one of the brightest and most articulate pianists on today’s scene” holds true to this day.
On this latest album Colligan streamlined a quartet with the choice sidemen who he shares the same creative vibes.
Colligan’s previous release “Living or The City” (SCCD 31727) received four stars from DownBeat magazine with comments by John Murph, “…The trio brings plenty of subtle inventiveness and, more important, crisp euphoria to the fore…”
Chuck Berg of JazzTimes remarked several years ago, “SteepleChase producer Nils Winther apparently liked what he heard when first checking out George Colligan because he gave the pianist a chance to cultivate his original voice as a vital SteepleChase artist. …..Colligan shows signs of becoming one of the best pianists and composers of his generation.” Colligan indeed became “one of the brightest and most articulate new pianists on today’s scene”.
With this 2011 album George begins a new collaboration with the label where he made his debut album “Activism” (SCCD 31382) 15 years ago.
Since his recording debut (1995) with Activism (SCCD 31382), George Colligan has proven to be a leading instrumentalist / composer of the younger generation, whose prolific outputs since received international acclaim from both critics and public.
On this new release – third solo album on the label, Mark Gardner remarks, “…this particular release, to my ears, is of greater significance as it reveals the unalloyed core of his music and the man's ultimate self-reliance.“
After presenting a program of gnarly originals for quartet on "Ultimatum" (CRC #1222), his Criss Cross debut, pianist George Colligan offers a beautifully paced trio recital. Mixing well-wrought originals with iconic standards like "Sophistcated Lady" and "Body and Soul" and such less-traveled repertoire as "Holiday for Strings" and "Three Views of a Secret," Colligan again displays the musicality and personal perspective that have marked his oeuvre over the past decade. In the rhythm section: bassist Vicente Archer and drummer Bill Stewart.
This is George Colligan's second solo CD for Steeplechase. His first, entitled "Small Room" (SCCD 31470), has met with critical acclaim everywhere.
"George Colligan is one of the brightest and most articulate new pianists on today's scene. A composer to reckon with as well, Colligan's music defies easy categorization." Harvey Pekar - Jazz Times
In response to wide spread critical acclaim for their first duet recording on SteepleChase (SCCD 31485 "Twins"), pianist Colligan and bassist Bodilsen did a second session for SteepleChase following a Scandanavian tour just 13 months later.
"George Colligan is one of the brightest and most articulate new pianists on today's scene. On "Twins" the pianist's synaptic spontaneity dances freely. Colligan's foil is the estimable young Danish bassist, Jesper Bodilsen. Like NHOP, Bodilsen possesses a warm sound, great dexterity, virtually faultless intonation and an aura of calm even in the midst of volcanic eruptions." (Harvey Pekar, Jazz Times, July/August 2001)
" A real keeper all the way around, "Twins" is yet another fine collection to add to Colligan's already imposing body of work." (Chris Hovan, allaboutjazz.com)
Renowned critic Richard Cook wrote in JazzReview about George’s previous release Twins (SCCD 31485) “… one listens through the record in a kind of wonderment at his imagination. He never seems to take an obvious route….”
And here again with his regular trio, George Colligan recorded an album that is full of excitement and stimulation.
“Somebody find this guy a high profile gig!” was how Willard Jenkins set out to review Colligan’s earlier release “Stomping Ground “ (SCCD 31441) in the December 99 issue of JazzTimes. George Colligan is undoubtedly one of the most exciting pianists on the scene today. And the high profile gigs are pouring in. One of those gigs took him to Copenhagen early this year giving SteepleChase a chance to team him up with one of the best Danish bassists of the younger generation Jesper Bodilsen. The meeting of the two hugely talented musicians produced an electrifying album. A new DUO was born!
