20th June 2019: #TBT George Colligan’s ‘Nation Divided’ + New York City Jazz Record review

In his first solo piano release for Whirlwind – Nation Divided – George Colligan takes a lead from Duke Ellington’s quoted notion that “…this is not piano. This is dreaming”. The Portland-based pianist and multi-instrumentalist is known for numerous sideman appearances on the bandstand with names such as Jack DeJohnette, Larry Grenadier, Don Byron, Cassandra Wilson, and can be found on over a hundred album recordings (including 2017’s ‘More Powerful’ – WR4708). But, as he elucidates, this is different: “After a lot of trio and ensemble records, I wanted to get back to the piano to clear the air and represent my thoughts again in solitude. The whole session was captured in a single day by respected pianist David Goldblatt in his basement studio”.

“A striking session of original piano works.”
The New York City Jazz Record