CLICK HERE TO BUY COOL WATER Every recording has something of a story associated with it, especially in jazz. For Greg Murphy’s victorious new (top 10 JazzWeek) album, the story is especially intriguing and uniquely spiritual. Cool Water is fascinating beyond its title track and chief inspiration.
PreviewGreg Murphy has done it again! This impressive recording, Cool Water, is his third on Whaling City Sound and sixth as a leader. It really “swings.” A dynamic, lyrical pianist, he showcases, yet again, his chops as a composer and arranger. Of the twelve tunes, seven are original and each song is inspired by real life experiences and the special people in his life.
Elemental to any jazz trio session is the profound yet subliminal reciprocity of the players. Underpinned by the blues and swing, so vital to the panoramic musical narrative, Murphy, along with Eric Wheeler and Jeff “Tain” Watts, pour into each tune every drop of sweat and blood they have. Furthermore, the band keeps the music contemporary and timeless, calling attention to themes reflected in the songs, Juneteenth Notes, Earthlings and Happy. - Lofton A Emenari, III
A prodigious talent whose keyboard pyrotechnics have ignited the bandstands of such shamanistic figures as Rashied Ali and Tisziji Muñoz, veteran pianist-composer Greg Murphy has been a firebrand on the scene since moving to New York in 1987. On his fourth outing as a leader, the Chicago native showcases a myriad of musical expressions besides the heightened, McCoy-inspired approach that has been his calling card for decades. - Bill Milkowski
Chicago native Greg Murphy has been a major contributor to the New York City jazz scene since the 1980s and he’s probably best known for his twenty-two year association with John Coltrane’s multidirectional drummer, Rashied Ali.
Greg began his musical adventures in 1971 when he joined the Ray-Fisk Grammar School Band in Chicago. His classical studies began later that year with Lucia Santini at Roosevelt University. Between 1980 and 1984, he played with the jazz/funk band Lightning Flash Thunder Roar, The University of Illinois at Chicago Big Band, The Northern Illinois University Big Band, and other local Chicago bands.
Music from Cool Water and inerview starts at the second hour of the show: 28 February 2021
"De brillantes improvisations, un sens de l'équilibre qui évite le racolage indu, avouons que Mr Greg Murphy, que nous espérons entendre un jour de visu, nous a réservé une belle surprise."
"We caught up with him in late February about his latest 2021 CD Cool Water on Whaling City Sound."
"This highly enlivened, riveting date never fails to produce unexpected turns and has plenty of spirited, exhilarating moments."