★ ★ ★ ★. . . infectious and captivating —DownBeat
Gallant moves from acoustic to electric, elegance giving way to grunge and grit . . . A superb debut by an artist unafraid and bending the tradition. —All About Jazz
Completely showcases strong melodies and intense musicianship across several genres. —Jazziz
Michael Gallant is a superb pianist and his new album, Completely, proves to be a stellar calling card and welcomed addition to the contemporary jazz scene. —Metronome
This, my friends, is the future of jazz. Fresh, invigorating, progressive – there are simply not enough positive adjectives to list here. . . ★ ★ ★ ★ ★. —Critical Jazz...
read more
★ ★ ★ ★. . . infectious and captivating —DownBeat
Gallant moves from acoustic to electric, elegance giving way to grunge and grit . . . A superb debut by an artist unafraid and bending the tradition. —All About Jazz
Completely showcases strong melodies and intense musicianship across several genres. —Jazziz
Michael Gallant is a superb pianist and his new album, Completely, proves to be a stellar calling card and welcomed addition to the contemporary jazz scene. —Metronome
This, my friends, is the future of jazz. Fresh, invigorating, progressive – there are simply not enough positive adjectives to list here. . . ★ ★ ★ ★ ★. —Critical Jazz
So damn impressive, I had to listen again to confirm what I just heard. —Aquarian Weekly
-----------
On Wednesday, September 18, 2013, New York pianist, keyboardist, composer, and producer Michael Gallant will perform at Bethesda Blues and Jazz in Bethesda, Maryland, joined by two of his early hometown musical mentors, Steve Larrance (drums) and Pepe Gonzalez (bass).
For the rising artist and Rockville native, this isn’t just another hometown show — it’s a poignant opportunity to honor the DC-area teacher that made his current success possible.
“Maria Rodriguez, who I studied with at the Levine School of Music in DC, taught me to improvise, and how to say a lot with a single note or rest,” says Gallant. “She had so much fire, energy, wisdom, and swagger, and those are all qualities that I try to bring to my music.”
Though Rodriguez passed away over a decade ago, Gallant continues to celebrate her memory with the appropriately swaggering musical tribute “The Real Maria” — a critically praised composition from Completely that Gallant will feature in his Bethesda concert. “I’m thrilled that, in particular, I have Pepe Gonzalez on this gig,” Gallant continues. “He used to play with Maria all the time and knew how special she was. It means a lot to know that I’ll have his help remembering her through music.”
The trio will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15.00 (with a $10 food and drink minimum) and are available at bethesdabluesjazz.com. The club offers half-priced student admission, available at the door with valid student ID. Bethesda Blues and Jazz is located at 7719 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland, under two blocks from the Bethesda Metro.
show less