During the pandemic when livestreams were, out of necessity, all the rage Ray Gallon played one at Small's in NYC that Russell raved over HERE. This was the precursor to his first trio recording Make Your Move. That one had David Wong on bass and Kenny Washington on drums. Now, two years later, he makes a second trio album this time with legends Ron Carter and Lewis Nash.
On this recording history was being made before he even struck a note! No Nords, Rolands or any of the other new keyboards on the block but an actual Steinway Model B Grand and, not just any old Model B but the one that featured on so many classic albums recorded in Rudy Van Gelder's New Jersey studio where this album was also recorded.
Gallon does justice to both the instrument and the hallowed surroundings unfazed by the giant shoes he was attempting to fill. I think his illustrious predecessors would have given him the nod of approval. With two of New York's finest in Ron Carter and Lewis Nash on bass and drums, this is no him and them trio but a band of equals contributing to the end result which can be summed up in one word - magical!
It's a beautiful mix of originals and reworked standards. Big fat chords, bluesy figures and single note flights of fantasy intermingle to make Gallon a name to keep an ear out for. Lance
It's released on Friday (Nov. 17) on the Cellar Music Group label.
Drop me Off in Harlem; Acting Up; Zombette; Two Track Mind; Nardis; Pins and Needles; If I Had You; Monkey Bar; Old Folks
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