George Colligan

(Whirlwind Recordings)

By  https://downbeat.com/site/author/frank-alkyer" rel="nofollow - Frank Alkyer   |   Published May 2025 

George Colligan is masterful at his craft, world-class as a pianist, keyboardist, composer, bandleader and musical storyteller. But we don’t get to see him enough because he’s also world-class as a jazz educator, serving as a full professor at Portland State University in Oregon. So, when he does come to town — be it with his own groups or working as a sideman, especially shining as a long-time member of groups led by drummer Jack DeJohnette — you’ve gotta catch him. Just to whet your interest, his latest recording, Live At The Jazz Standard, is a perfect introduction to (or reacquaintance with) Colligan’s work. It’s a beautiful display of all of his artistic skill and panache in a trio setting where he turns the tables and has DeJohnette join him, along with the always-interesting Linda May Han Oh on bass. What we have here is a fantastic five-tune set where the songs are terrific, the musicianship special and the chance to stretch out and solo is over-the-top amazing. The set begins with “Waiting For Solitude.” This is where Colligan’s musical storytelling shines. The percussive attack and interaction between the three builds an angsty tension, but Colligan knows just where to release and slide into some beautiful lines. Oh delivers a terrific bass solo, and you can almost feel the three musicians listen and respond to each other throughout. In introducing “Song For The Tarahumera,” Colligan asks the audience if they knew the book Born To Run by Christopher McDougall, about an indigenous people in Mexico with extraordinary ability as endurance runners. When no one answers, he says, “Really? No exercise enthusiasts in the house?” All this and funny, too. Clocking in at over 14 minutes, the tune is a bit of an endurance test, even giving the sense of a running pace with DeJohnette kicking off the tune with a long, killer drum solo. A family man, Colligan delivers the lovely “Her Majesty” in honor of his wife, the talented pianist Kelly Politzer. He offers “Liam’s Lament” as an homage to his son when he was 2 years old. “I know lament sounds heavy for a 2-year-old,” he quipped. “You haven’t met my son. He’s heavy, he’s a heavy dude.” The tune starts out with Colligan playing accordion, reminding us of the beauty of that instrument. But, true to the song’s title, it builds to a bit of a musical tantrum (sorry, Liam) before resolving. The set concludes with “If A Mountain Was Smooth, You Couldn’t Climb It.” It’s a special closing number: uplifting, majestic and an opportunity for all three musicians to really shine. Live At The Jazz Standard offers a wonderful glimpse into the musical world of George Colligan. It’s a world full of great songs performed by incredible musicians, a world that puts a smile on your face.

from https://downbeat.com