Greg Abate’s New Album Gratitude is “the true essence of jazz, heard live and in the moment”
“Stage Door Live!” by Dori Rubbicco reviewed in Jazz Journal UK
January 30, 2019
Dori Rubbicco took a degree in music and jazz vocal studies at Westfield State University and her association with her musical director John Harrison dates back to 1978 when they rehearsed together for a wedding gig. Whilst living in Los Angeles, Rubbicco auditioned for and then studied with John Dankworth and Cleo Laine. She met her future husband, guitarist Donn Legge, whilst they were both living in Miami where they resided for 17 years before returning to her home state of Massachusetts.
Stage Door Live! is the name given to a series of monthly concerts commenced in 2011 at New Bedford’s Zeiterion Theatre, where seating is arranged in a fairly informal, jazz club style and this set from the venue will appeal greatly to lovers of torch songs and the great American songbook. That said, John Harrison’s “Roman Sun” is an instrumental and one of two originals in the set.
Rubbicco’s feisty vocalese reading of “Twisted”, the sardonic song written and made famous by Annie Ross, elevates the recording to a whole new level. Rubbicco’s gifted with a good singing voice and she combines it with a powerful and convincing delivery which at its best evinces genuine emotional depth. One perfect example of this is her own moving composition “Right Here Waiting”.
The choice of numbers occasionally borders on the anodyne, although the languid, soulful arrangement of John Lennon’s “Imagine” unfailingly piques the listener’s interest, transforming it into something else entirely. Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Two Kites” ends oddly with a fade-out, presumably for technical reasons, but the finale, “That’s All”, imbued with an ebullient, lively execution, clearly demonstrates Rubbicco’s potential as an outstanding vocalist.
Discography
Roman Sun; Imagine; Two Kites; Pretty Funny; No Regrets; Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow; Throw It Away; Twisted; Right Here Waiting; I Can See Clearly; That’s All (66.38)
Rubbicco (v); John Harrison III (p); Bill Miele (elb); Yoron Israel (d); Donn Legge (g); Bryan Steele (ts, ss); Ian Rubbicco Legge (clo). 18 May 2017, New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Whaling City Sound 107
Dori Rubbicco
STAGE DOOR LIVE!
Instagram: @dori257
My HorizonSTAGE DOOR LIVE! Press release
Publicity: Jazz Journal (UK), Cadence Magazine, Midwest Book Review, Tickets To The Moon Recording Process (2010), Tickets To The Moon
“Dori Rubicco might suggest a cabaret date but this is a solid jazz date to the point that it opens with an instrumental from the quintet [Bill Miele-b, John Harrison III-p, Yoron Israel-drm, Donn Legge-gtr, Bryan Steele-ts/ss, Ian Rubbicco Leggecello]. Following the instrumental are 10 standards plus one original by the singer. Rubbicco does a very nice job on “Imagine” ,“Throw It Away”and “Twisted” in particular. Rubbicco has a strong voice and a healthy touch of Melissa Manchester. I believe this is her first release and please let there be more.”
– Robert D. Rusch, Cadence Magazine October 2018 Issue
Dori Rubbicco Stage Door Live Available on Amazon June 22, 2018 – Pre Order Available Now
Dori Rubbicco, vocal
John Harrison III, piano
William Miele, bass
Yoron Israel, drums
Donn Legge, guitar
Bryan Steele, tenor & soprano sax
Ian Rubbicco Legge, cello
Executive Producer: Neal Weiss
Producer: Dori Rubbicco
Recording live at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, May 18, 2017
Recording Engineer: John Mailloux, Bongo Beach Productions with Joe Knight, Zeiterion Theatre
Audio mix and mastering: John Mailloux, Bongo Beach Productions
ROMAN SUN 7:42 John Harrison III Publisher: BMI
IMAGINE 6:47 John Lennon Publisher: BMG
TWO KITES 4:46 Antonio Carlos Jobim Publisher: BMI
PRETTY FUNNY 5:09 Benj Pasek & Justin Paul Publisher: ASCAP
NO REGRETS 6:43 Harry Tobias & Roy Ingraham Publisher: ASCAP
WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW 7:09 Carole King & Gerry Goffin Publisher: BMI
THROW IT AWAY 6:49 Abbey Lincoln
TWISTED 8:12 Lambert, Hendricks & Ross Publisher: BMI
Right Here Waiting 3:43 Dori Rubbicco Publisher: BMI
I CAN SEE CLEARLY 5:50 Johnny Nash Publisher: ASCAP
THAT’S ALL 3:31 Alan Brandt & Bob Haymes Publisher: BMI
Gerry Gibbs
Gerry Gibbs Thrasher People
Family
LABEL: Whaling City Sound
Publicity: JazzQuad, Press Release, Making a Scene!
Radio Promotion: Groov Marketing
Featured Track “Bopstacle Course” on SoundCloud
Distribution: NAXOS of America ArkivJazz
Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trios
Songs From My Father
LABEL: Whaling City Sound
Publicity: Lydia Liebman
Making A Scene, Patriot Ledger, DownBeat, The Audio Beat, Glide Magazine, France Musique, Gail Boyd Alternative Venues For Jazz, NeonJazz, Midwest Record, Cadence Magazine, A Green Man Review, France Musique, The Arts Music Lounge, Jazzwise, All About Jazz, Ken Franckling’s Jazz Notes, The Recording Academy / Grammys, The New Yorker, JazzTrail, Republic of Jazz, Step Tempest, Glide Magazine, WBGO, JAZZIZ, Jazz Blues News, Hometown Station, Jazz Square, Keys and Chords (Belgium), Jazziz, Cancion quemarropa (Spain), Jazzed (UK)
Radio Promotion: Groov Marketing
Featured Track “Bopstacle Course” on SoundCloud
Distribution: NAXOS of America ArkivJazz
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Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trios – Songs from My Father (Whaling City Sound) – This outing returns to the trio configurations as he pays homage to his 96-year-old father, Terry Gibbs, one of the last living architects of bebop and an innovator on the vibraphone. Gerry selects 18 tunes from his dad’s discography, giving them a more contemporary sheen spread across 2 CDs. Notably, this project also features one of the late Chick Corea’s compositions, “Tango for Terry,” and two arrangements done specifically for this album. Gerry Gibbs tapped several legendary players, three NEA Jazz Masters and perhaps two or three future ones, informing these luminous trios – Corea and Ron Carter, Kenny Barron and Buster Williams, Patrice Rushen and Larry Goldings, and Geoff Keezer and Christian McBride along with percussionist Kyeshie Gibbs. (Received Grammy nomination for Best Improvised Jazz Solo for Kenny Barron on “Kick Those Feet”).
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AUGUST 13, 2021
GERRY GIBBS THRASHER DREAM TRIOS – SONGS FROM MY FATHER (CD)
Whaling City Sound
Songs From My Father is the much-anticipated new album from renowned musical polymath Gerry Gibbs. On his thirteenth release as a leader, drummer — percussionist — bandleader — arranger Gibbs presents a smashing double-disc masterwork featuring four iterations of his acclaimed Thrasher Dream Trio. Under his astute direction, this band of jazz titans pays homage to the musical legacy of Gerry’s 96-year-old father, Terry Gibbs. To honor Terry, one of the last living architects of bebop and innovators of the vibraphone, Gerry selected 18 tunes from his father’s vast discography and interpreted the timeless material through his own refined compositional lens with inventive, modern arrangements. Notably, Songs From My Father features the last recorded performance of the great Chick Corea, and includes one of Chick’s tunes composed specifically for this project. With Gibbs in the drum chair, his Thrasher Dream Trios include Corea and Ron Carter; Kenny Barron and Buster Williams; Patrice Rushen and Larry Goldings and Geoff Keezer & Christian McBride; along with percussionist Kyeshie Gibbs. With this new recording, Gerry Gibbs cements his standing as one of the most creative and forward-thinking musicians on the contemporary jazz scene. Disc 1 features Corea and Carter on “Bopstacle Course,” composed in 1974 and “Sweet Young Song of Love” composed in 1985, and arranged by Gibbs and Corea. The first disc’s final track, “Hey Chick,” is a special homage to the memory of Corea. The Thrasher Dream Trio is featured on the album opener “Kick Those Feet” and “Take It From Me” both composed in 1964. “Smoke Em Up” (1968) and “Lonely Days” (1955) both feature Gibbs alongside pianist Patrice Rushen and organist Larry Goldings. Gibbs per- forms with pianist Geoff Keezer and bassist Christian McBride on 1955s “Nutty Notes,” and 1958s “The Fat Man.” Disc 2 provides audiences with further arrangements of timeless Gibbs compositions including 1949s “T & S” and 1955s “Lonely Dreams” featuring Barron, Gibbs and Williams; 1978s “Townhouse 3,” 1961s “Hippie Twist” and 1958s “Pretty Blue Eyes” featuring Rushen, Gibbs and Goldings; 1978s “4 A.M,” 1961s “For Keeps” and 1955s “Gibberish” featuring Keezer, Gibbs and McBride; and 1964s “Waltz For My Children” featuring and arranged by Corea, alongside Gibbs and Carter as well as the final piece on the album —“Tango For Terry” written and performed by Corea for his old friend Terry Gibbs.
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The history of this project is very dramatic. The album, conceived as a tribute from his son – the father, the famous drummer and band leader of “The Thrasher” Gerry Gibbs – the 96-year-old legendary Terry Gibbs, who played with Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker, Art Blackie, Dizzy Gillespie etc., who composed more than 300 compositions, who recorded 65 solo albums and was the # 1 vibraphone player from 1950 to 1955 according to DownBeat and Metronome polls, turned into a double tribute with a very sad connotation. However, let’s go in order …
The double album Songs From My Father amazes with its monumentality. Gerry has selected 18 compositions from different years from the vast creative heritage of his father. Known for his signature Thrasher Dream Trio chamber ensembles, Jerry decided to entrust the performance of this music to several Thrasher Dream Trios, composed of the outstanding jazz musicians of our time. There are four of them in the album. Chick Corea and Ron Carter play in one with him, Kenny Barron and Buster Williams in the other, Patrice Rushen and Larry Goldings in the third (the only trio where a Hammond organ sounds instead of bass) and in the fourth – Jeff Keezer and Christian McBride. How do you like the team? In my opinion, just fantastic!
But what does it mean to implement such a project, and even in a covid year ?! Gerry Gibbs traveled half of America in ten months, coordinating the work schedules of the project participants in order to make these recordings. Terry’s old friend Chick Corea was especially inspired by the idea of this tribute. He wrote the composition “Tango For Terry” specially for the album, which became the final track of the album, and also made arrangements for two more compositions. Gerry and Chick called up almost every week, discussed the progress of the project, and just talked “for life.” And then came the unexpected and black news of Chick Corea’s death. And it so happened that four pieces recorded for this album with his participation turned out to be the last lifetime recordings of this amazing musician …
Shocked by this tragedy, the project participants said goodbye to Corea with dignity. Gerry and his father jointly renamed Terry’s 1961 composition “Hey Jim” to “Hey Chick”, and it was jointly performed for the project by all eight of its members (each with a pair of choruses). In addition, Gerry also edited his father’s vibraphone solo from that old recording from the early 60s into this recording. This piece took a special place in the album, remarkable in all respects. If you love jazz, you just have to hear this unique work – and say goodbye to Chick Corea …
Review by
Leonid Auskern
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Gerry Gibbs publishes Songs from my father with unreleased music by Chick Corea
Songs from my father is the highly anticipated new album from music scholar Gerry Gibbs. It is his thirteenth release as frontman, drummer, percussionist and bandleader, as well as arranger, Gibbs presents a two-disc masterpiece featuring four versions of his acclaimed trio that goes by the name Trasher Dream Trio.
Under his clever leadership, the band of jazz titans pay heartfelt tribute to the musical legacy of Gerry’s father, Terry Gibbs, one of the last living architects of be bop and innovators of the percussion instrument: the vibraphone.
For this purpose Gerry selected no more and no less than 18 melodies from his father’s vast discography and interpreted the material in a timeless way through his own compositional prism and lens, with ingenious and modern arrangements. Also Songs from my father has the last performance recorded with the great Chick Corea, piano genius who also passed away a few dates ago. It also includes one of the melodies Chick composed specifically for this project.
With Gibbs on drums, he has had the chance to record on this album with his stellar trios. Here you can enjoy excellent musicians such as Korea himself, Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Buster Williams, Patrice Rushen, Larry Goldings, Geoff Keezer and Christian McBride.
A global pandemic could not stop this prolific jazz man, but rather, on the contrary, positively inspired him leaving an echo of an impressive season of creative production. Gibbs presents this album fresh from his epic 2019 work titled Our People, which defies the musical genre. Some critics defined it as “cleverly overlapping pieces that often come close to cinematic … quite a feat.”
We also had access to his previous 2020 Emotional Pandemic, an 18-track album entirely composed and performed by his own person. The 8 instruments. In fact, this was the launch that caught the attention of Chick Corea himself. Korea asked the drummer the process for recording all the instruments. That minimal conversation evolved into the possibility of collaboration and the concept was born: it was possible to release a double album as a result of collaborations with four amazing triso, including the aforementioned collaboration with Chick and Ron Carter.
In this state of affairs, later Korea asked to become even more deeply involved in work, in music. He composed an original piece under the title Tango For Terry, dedicated especially to Terry Gibbs and even arranging two pieces for the album.
Gibbs comments “What he wanted to do seemed almost impossible with the covid. There was a lot of fear, travel, safety precautions and logistics. How do 4 trios coordinate when a disease spreads all over the world and in the USA? That was the challenge and yet Gibbs saw the opportunity and did not give up organizing several trips to capture the sounds. Without a doubt, he has been worth it.
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Our People
Whaling City Sound WebsiteFacebook
One Min Video Ad for Thrasher People Our People
Publicity: Jazz Journal (UK), IO Pages, New York Jazz Workshop, Nextbop, Jazztimes, All About Jazz, Midwest Review Of Books, Midwest Record, Glide Magazine, Hot House, Dutch Progressive Rock Page, Jazz Weekly, ArkivJazz, San Antonio Current, JazzNews, The Mountain Mail, South Coast today, O’s Place Jazz Newsletter, Improvijazzation Nation, Jazz Life, JazzTimes, Jazz Weekly, Insight, JazzQuad, Jazz News, Something Else Reviews, Midwest Record Entertainment
“Weather or Not”
Nice to hear graphically arranged material of Weather Report. Keep up with your creative mission! ~Wayne Shorter“Gerry has created his own world on this recording. The amount of time and effort he brought to the project is astounding. The music itself is extremely wide ranging touching upon several distinct idioms …..quite impressive.” – Dave Liebman
Listen on SoundCloud “Black Market”
Listen on SoundCloud “Just Glad to Be Anywhere”
Photos: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14
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Radio Promotion: #1
WCS 091 Weather or Not
Don’t miss this:
9/14 5-9p Centre Street Sessions Season Finale
Gerry Gibbs & Thrasher People in New Bedford, MA
http://ahanewbedford.org/calendar.php
“Joe Zawinul always had the utmost respect for maestros Kenny Barron and Ron Carter. I am certain that their Thrasher Trio-mate Gerry Gibbs’ name would have been added to that select list had Joe been able to hear Gerry’s realization of the music of Weather Report as played by his new trio that includes Alex Collins on piano, Fender Rhodes, organ & vocals, plus Hans Glavishnig on acoustic bass (whose playing on this CD bears an uncanny resemblance to maestro Carter’s). Here is a unique reading of Weather Report’s music that is totally fun to listen to. As an insider, I can say that this album sheds new light on the WR canon while spotlighting the intrinsic talent and sounds of Gerry’s new band. I feel the better for having heard this recording.Jaco would have loved Hans’ playing on “A Remark You Made” … I know that I do.
– Peter Erskine
Great musical interpretations by drummer/visionary Gerry Gibbs of the various songs originally recorded by supergroup Weather Report. Gerry’s drumming is impeccable throughout. The band really cooks!! A “must have” CD!– Alphonse Mouzon(Original Drummer and Founding Member of Weather Report)Chairman of Tenacious Records
Gerry Gibbs and Thrasher People visit the Music of Weather Report with great re-interpretations and success, and if that wasn’t enough on this 2 CD set, you can hear the Thrasher Trio tackle Gerry Gibbs’ complex original compositions each of which tell a unique story like the Weather Report tunes… real impressive playing from everyone…this stuff ain’t easy folks!! They kill it!– Randy Brecker
I am having so much fun listening to Gerry’s new trio cd celebrating the music of weather report. Totally swingin’ and lots of surprises. Gerry is a very interesting artist for me to listen to, he is not only a great drummer with tons of spirit and ideas but he is a great arranger and writer. His deep understanding of history and love of the music is always present as is his sense of humor. Hard swing, funk blues, a great shuffle and lots of soul, all the things I love about jazz music are constantly being addressed, taken apart, put back together backwards then forwards and inside out without being tongue in cheek or labored. New and fresh ideas being examined from many angles through the eyes of artists who know the roots. An oasis of swingin’ jazz at a time when it is really needed. Thank you Gerry!
– Mike Clark
Thank You’s
This CD would not have been documented if it had not been for my Thrasher People Brothers, Alex and Hans. Special Thanks to Alex for taking my 12 arrangements and 16 originals and not only transcribing them from my computer mock ups but for memorizing all 28 songs and for going out of your ways every step of the way.
Thanks to Thadd – Your presence was felt all through out ! Never seen but felt for sure.
Special thank you’s to DW Drums Special Thank you to all at DW Drums. Special thank you to Don Lombardi, John Good and special thanks to Garrison
Special Thank you to Evans Drum Heads & Pure Sound Percussion. Huge Thanks to my brother Marco Soccoli for not just taking care of me, equipment wise, but stopping in and out of the recording sessions to give all his knowledge of different drum heads that he sent and brought to the studio for this recording. He helped me constantly change heads to different models on 15 different DW Drums used on these 2 CD’s
Special Thanks to Zildjian. Extra special Thanks to Kirsten Matt and Sarah Hagan for sending bells and special effects cymbals the day before recording started..Love you guys.
Thank you Vic Firth Drum Sticks, Humes and Berg Drum Bags
Special Thanks to my wife Kyeshie Gibbs. She was there during every minute in the studio all 5 days and had many great ideas during the tracking and mixing of these CD’s
Special Thanks as always to my Pops who encouraged me to go out every night and find the new members of THRASHER PEOPLE.
During the preparation for this recording a few key people really made some amazing things happen in many ways related to this recording. Much love to 2 of the best drummers on the planet – Mike Clark and Joey Heredia. Also huge thanks to Weather Report Alumni and 3 of the most important and influential musicians, Peter Erskine, Alex Acuna, Alphonse Mouzon, Thank you to Randy Brecker and Mike for their kind thoughts about the music after they heard the 2 CDs. One of the most knowledgeable and creative music writers in the music world Bill Milkowski. Special Thanks to Keyboard Wizard and Producer Nick Manson for some great imput. Thank you to Stan & Jerry (Owners of Pro Drum Shop in Hollywood California) for taking care of all my equipment over the last 25 years.
Thank you to all the amazing sound people involved – David Stoller & Mark Marciano and of course huge hugs and love to Nancy Marciano
Thanks to Whaling City Sound Team Neal Weiss, Dave Arruda Jr and Ginny Shea
CD Dedication
This CD is dedicated to Neal Weiss for his 10 years of huge support, love, friendship and always great input and amazing care of all the projects we have done together for his wonder Whaling City Sound Label.