Hal Galper & the Youngbloods - Live at the Cota Jazz Festival (CD)

Pianist Hal Galper's series of trio recordings over the last 10 years incorporates his development of "Rubato" playing as a means of melding melodic lyricism with the rhythmic excitement and "sound of surprise" of the bebop tradition. Being a passionate advocate for the apprenticeship system, Galper formed the Youngbloods in 2015 to further explore rubato while providing him the platform to work with vital young musicians on the New York scene, passing on lessons from his 50 year career. With saxophonist Nathan Bellot, bassist Dean Torrey, and drummer David Frazier, Galper revisits some of the compositions, fire, and adventurousness of his seminal recordings from the '70s during this set from the 2016 COTA Jazz Festival in Delaware Water Gap, where they celebrated the life of Galper's longtime employer, saxophonist Phil Woods."Successfully taking bop into the new century, Galper is on the money throughout with restless creativity that draws you in and keeps you there..." - Midwest Record.