The Jazz Organ Scene

USA

George Colligan George's first instrument was the trumpet, although he did take piano lessons for a brief period at age 7. It was clear that he was to pursue music as a career. In 1987, George enrolled at Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore as a trumpet and Music Education major. However, during his time at Peabody, his interest in the piano and jazz became stronger and he started gigging in hotels and clubs in town.   Upon graduation from Peabody in 1991, George promptly quit the trumpet to focus exclusively on the piano. He was freelancing more in the Baltimore area, playing with many different bands at night while practicing hard during the day. He also began composing more frequently. Additionally, George was the director of the Peabody Jazz Ensemble from 1991 to 1993. In 1994 George was a semifinalist in two piano competitions; in Indianapolis and Jacksonville respectively. When Gary Bartz invited him to join his band for a week at Sweet Basil's, George decided to make the the move to New York (1995). He has been on this scene since then.   George plays regularly with the bands of Buster Williams, Don Byron, Lonnie Plaxico, Robin Eubanks, and David Gilmore. He has toured, recorded, and/or performed as a sideman with Cassandra Wilson, Gary Bartz, Gary Thomas, Steve Coleman, Eddie Henderson, Ralph Peterson, Vanessa Rubin, Steve Wilson, Jane Monheit, Ravi Coltrane, Lenny White, Michael Brecker, Mike Clark, Nicholas Payton, Sheila Jordan, Janis Siegel, Christian McBride, Billy Hart, Charles Fambrough, Mingus Big Band, Rodney Holmes, Michal Urbaniak, Mark Turner, David Binney, Don Braden, Shunzo Ono, Lee Konitz and Stefon Harris, among others.   In 2001, George began working with clarinetist Don Byron. He has performed with Mr. Byron in his Jungle Music project, which features early works of Ellington, and Bug Music, which features music of Raymond Scott. As part of Byron's Symphony Space Ensemble, George played keyboards and samples on a concert celebrating Sugar Hill, the record label of rap music in the early 80's.   Also worth noting is George's work with the Lonnie Plaxico Group, where George also plays Hammond B-3 organ and synthesizers. The group has toured Europe, Japan, and the U.S. Other highlights of George's activities include his tenure with Grammy winning vocalist Cassandra Wilson from 1999 to 2001. Not only did George tour with her in Japan, North America, and almost every country in Western Europe, but he appears with Cassandra in The Score, a movie which features Robert DeNiro and Edward Norton. George Colligan also won the 2001 jazzconnect.com competition. The winner was decided by over 18,000 voters deciding between three finalists.

contact:	georgecolligan4@gmail
homepage:	www.georgecolligan.com
	Click on the logo to see George's tour dates.

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