geofflapp.com

Geoff Lapp

Born in Montreal in 1953, Geoff Lapp was trained in the classical tradition and studied at McGill University under widely respected jazz pianist Art Maiste. During the early years of his career, he gained experience in the pop music world touring with the likes of Michel Pagliaro. From the early '80s onwards, he devoted himself fully to the jazz idiom. As one of Canada's most accomplished pianists/composers, Geoff Lapp became a sought-after accompanist for a host of top Canadian performers.

In addition to his own trio work, Geoff has performed and/or recorded with renowned jazzmen such as Paquito d'Rivera, Don Menza, Richie Cole, Bob Mover, Sonny Fortune, and Slide Hampton, among others. He has also performed extensively in festivals and clubs worldwide. At home in Quebec, he is a mainstay on the vibrant jazz scene, and has performed with a panoply of local jazz  luminaries.
 

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David Laing

David Laing was born in Kitchener Ontario and grew up in a musical family. He was introduced to jazz music by his father and older brother. Dave studied at McGill University in Montreal and began his professional career shortly thereafter. In the past fifteen years he has recorded, toured, and performed with such national and international stars as Jimmy Heath, Junior Cook, Ed Bickert, Denzal Sinclaire, Ben Monder, and Ranee Lee. He currently resides in Montreal where he also teaches at McGill University.

Bass Player Paul Johnston moved to Montreal from Ottawa in 1990 to study jazz bass at McGill University. Before completing his studies he began working at clubs and festivals as well as on radio and television in Montreal, Toronto, Quebec, Ottawa, Kingston. He was a founding member of the jazz group Panache, with whom he won a Jazz Report award for jazz vocal group of the year in 1996. He returned to McGill to study sound recording in 1999. In 2001 Paul completed the highly regarded M. Mus in sound recording. While remaining on the jazz scene as a bass player, he has branched out as a producer/engineer.

RECENT REVIEWS

Geoff Lapp is hardly a newcomer to the jazz scene, but like many Canadian musicians, it adds to the challenge for him to get exposure outside of his homeland. This trio session with bassist Paul Johnston and drummer Dave Laing doesn't fit neatly into any one category. Lapp's arrangement of Earl Zindars' lively "Elsa" builds upon Bill Evans' well-known recordings, recalling the interplay of Evans' trio while adding new facets of his own. "Sweet Lorraine" has been recorded so many times that it is in danger of overexposure, but Lapp's interpretation is playful enough to keep it fresh. The trio is just as skilled with ballads, delivering a touching rendition of Billy Strayhorn's lament "Day Dream" and a surprisingly upbeat take of "The Party's Over." Lapp's originals are just as effective. The funky, hard bop "Zack in the Box" seems like a perfect vehicle for a late night driving scene in a film, while "Yo Bro" utilizes a simple riff as a starting point for a delightful jazz excursion, powered by Laing's on-the-money percussion. This excellent CD is available through Geoff Lapp's website at www.geofflapp.com. Review by Ken Dryden **** Stars Published in allmusic.com

Recent Reviews/blurbs

""...has much to offer the jazz world.” ejazznews.com John Gilbert 4 Stars
"...a revelation: generously proportioned,understated, with moments of surprising audacity. The kind of jazz you didn’t think anyone was playing anymore." Macleans Paul Wells Dec 18, 2006
"...lyrical pianist who swings like a barn door.”- The Montreal Gazette
“…Lapp demonstrates an equally impressive array of talents as soloist, accompanist and composer…his…technique contains equal proportions of passion and lyricism” Cadence Jazz Journal, USA
“...considerable compositional skills…” The Jazz Report, Toronto
“…take note of the growth of the annual jazz festival that has brought more widespread and well deserved recognition for talented jazz artists like Lapp…tasteful…swinging…check out Lapp” ” Cadence Jazz Journal, USA
“...excellent CD“ Ken Dryden **** Stars allmusic.com
“...Melodic and swinging jazz piano from an underappreciated talent“ Salon.com
“…confident and sensitive playing…” The Globe & Mail, Toronto
“…as Oliver Jones moves up in the jazz world, younger Montreal players take his place: Geoff Lapp, pianist…” Ottawa Citizen

Liner notes

From the freestyle sparkle of Sunny Rays to the tightly patterned swing of The Party’s Over, Stained Glass reflects a wide spectrum of jazz colours. The album opens with a light-hearted caprice, glistening with bright, glassy tones that conjure up the play of sunlight at the edges of freshly-contoured glass. Hues deepen in Elsa, the Earl Zindars tune which Bill Evans elevated to jazz standard status. Initiated with a crystalline, Satie-like intro, the song soon liquefies into a wistful swing. The trio moves into straight-ahead swing on Richard Rogers' show-tune With a Song in My Heart, with fine soloing featured all round as eights and fours get traded. Up next is a languorous rendition of Billy Strayhorn's Day Dream, tinted with smoky brush-work, followed by a bluesy, minor-key original entitled Kathy’s Waltz. Yo, Bro, another original, returns us to a sunnier palette of primary colours and rhythms. The ‘Rose Window’ of the album, Theme for Margret, is a song full of complex hues, modulating between mournful and contemplative, and resolving towards a gospel-laced hint of spiritual grace. Then along comes the playful Zack in the Box, a funky original with a mock-stealthy, Mancini-meets-Horace Silver theme. Sweet Lorraine finds the trio swinging hard once again, and the disc closes with The Party's Over, another solidly swinging standard. Stained Glass is an apt title for this collection of tunes; melodic lines are delivered with glassy clarity and chords come shimmering through with intarsiated precision. It is also an album that leaves lots of room for the listener to explore perspectives and to evolve personal interpretations. So sit back and explore how your own moods filter through the many jazz facets of Stained Glass.

-- Eric Squire

Hi jazz fans...I want to mention that we posted a few songs on a new music site where songs are judged by YOU and other music fans. If you are up to it, and like the songs…feel free to vote! You have to sign in and the voting is random to make it fair…the most important time is the end of each month.

You Be The Judge! and maybe help Zack In The Box make it to the top!

Here is how to vote:
 (i) Log on to Ourstage.com
 (ii) REGISTER: then head over to JUDGE and cast your vote at this genre:  Jazz. Its on the bottom left
(iii) You never know when the tunes will come around, so please be patient as you wait for the chance to vote.

 By the way…Both “Zack In The Box” our featured tune from “Stained Glass” or “Yo Bro” are available for download http://www.jazzworldquest.com/mp3s/yobro.mp3 or at the voting site, or head over to our homepage for “Zack In The Box” http://www.geofflapp.com/

Thanks for casting a vote
 Enjoy!
Geoff Lapp and the guys