The Hal Galper Trio
................... Concord Jazz, CCD 4340
W/ Wayne Dockery - Bass, Steve Ellington - Drms. ,
Date: November 16, 1992
1, Love You Madly
2. Serenata
3. Early Autumn
4. Flamingo
5. Never Let Me Go
6. Ebb Tide
7. Here's To My Lady
8. This Is All I Ask
9. Solar
A terrific trio album by one of jazzdoms true piano masters. Galper couples exacting skill, swing-ability and lyric passion with soaring harmonic vision that has seen him as close collaborator to such notables as Cannonball Adderley, the Brecker brothers and Phil Woods. Galper confesses that some album tracks have a strong Ahmad Jamal influence including Serenata and Flamingo, an unabashed tribute to Jamal. My personal favorite is the lacey Duke classic Love You Madly. With virtuosity and a passion for jazz classics, Galper renders several timeless ballads including Never Let Me Go, This Is All I Ask and Early Autumn, a ballad that blooms into swing then returns to its tender origin. Galper's gem-like trio includes longtime compatriots Steve Ellington, (who has worked on and off with Hal for 35 years) and Wayne Dockery, a former Blakey sideman who was with Galper's quintet in the 70s.