Jazz pianist Rick Gallagher has been a part of the Pittsburgh music scene since late 1980’s when his jazz duo enhanced the elegance of the historical Grand Concourse’s Sunday brunch. From there his career has gone in a variety of directions from solo work at the Gandy Dancer Salon and PPG Holiday Series, to performing nationally and regionally with some of the areas top performers and bands such as the Boilermaker Jazz Band. Locally Rick can be seen regularly with his trio, the Orchard Hill Church worship team and the Boilermaker Jazz Band as well as his long-standing spotlight as the pianist with the USX Tower and One Oxford Center downtown.
“Gallagher can swing with the best, but it’s his delicate touch and arranging skills that separate him from the crowd.†- AllAboutJazz.com.
Gallagher is noteworthy for his classic jazz style, creative arrangements, and his memorable originals. He has three recordings as a feature artist and has played on a number of other recordings as a sideman. His first release, the well-acclaimed “Sweet Potato Eyebrows“ was named runner-up for instrumental jazz album of the year 2004 in a world-wide songwriting contest sponsored by the music organization Just Plain Folks. This recording which hit the top 20 charts in three cities and received airplay on over 100 stations world-wide including Jim Wilke’s “Jazz After Hours,†is a collection of original tunes and standards performed by some of Pittsburgh’s finest.
Recently, Rick’s classic jazz style and noteworthy arrangements caught the attention of Sabermark Inc., a music marketing company, who purchased the use of his arrangement of “Sleigh Ride†from Gallagher’s holiday release “A Sleigh, A Song, and a Baby Boy†for use on the Coldwater Creek holiday compilation. Rick’s newest release, “Peace Be Still,†a collection of spirituals and hymns reworked in his creative styles is his first solo piano recording. It shows another side to Gallagher‘s arranging, harmonic concepts and vision. “There isn’t a mediocre track on the disk. It’s a gem to be savored!†- JazzReview.com April 2005
A Pittsburgh native and father of three, Gallagher studied jazz piano at Duquesne University under the mentorship of David Budway, although his musical studies had begun several years prior. His influences include Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver, Red Garland, Vince Guaraldi, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Benny Green, Ray Brown, Wynton Kelly, Cyrus Chestnut and George Shearing. He currently balances his performances with teaching, arranging, composing and recording. Rick is available for studio work, jazz festivals, concerts, church performances, and other private and public events.
This reflective and uplifting collection of re-harmonized hymns and spirituals is Rick's first solo piano release. Titles include such classics as "Joyful, Joyful", "Were You There", and "This Little Light of Mine" along with inspirational jazz standards such as Horace Silver's "Peace" and Duke Ellington's "Come Sunday."
rick gallagher- solo piano
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.rickgallagher.comTrack List:
1. Joyful, Joyful
2. Peace
3. Morning Has Broken
4. Sweet Little Jesus Boy
5. Praise to the Lord
6. Amazing Grace
7. This Little Light of Mine
8. Were You There
9. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
10. Come Sunday
11. Alleluia, Sing to Jesus
12. When I Survey
13. Still, Still, Still
Other Genres:
