Video of the Day: New York pianist Ray Gallon shares ‘Acting Up’ featuring Ron Carter and Lewis Nash

New York-based pianist-composer Ray Gallon has been getting much well-deserved attention for his new album Grand Company, which was released in November via the Vancouver-based record label Cellar. On his second leader-album, Gallon has filled out his trio with two musical heroes in Ron Carter and Lewis Nash – “grand company” indeed.

Imbued with the vocabulary, sensibilities and soul of the very architects of the jazz artform, Gallon’s sound is right-at-home emanating from the strings of the piano at the iconic Van Gelder Studios - emanating through the very room in which many of the historic jazz albums of yesteryear were recorded, as well as many contemporary classics. Gallon’s Grand Company undoubtedly joins those ranks.

Grand company L-R: Lewish Nash, Ron Carter and Ray Gallon (courtesy Cellar Music Group)

A highlight on the record is ‘Acting Up’ - an original by Gallon that is actually a contrafact based on Benny Goodman’s ‘Lullaby in Rhythm’. This up-tempo, sprightly exploration features a striking, hard-hitting solo section.

“The send-off figure for Ron’s walking solo utilizes John Lewis’ ‘The Golden Striker’ motif and is a tip of the cap to both John Lewis, my mentor at CCNY in the late ‘70s, and Maestro Carter, who loves that piece so much, he named his trio after it,” Gallon shared in a press statement. “I love the two “shout choruses” after the piano solo - one featuring a masterful walking solo by Ron, the other showcasing Lewis’ remarkable drum artistry.”

Grand Company is out now via Cellar Music Group - see the video below and check the album out at raygallon.bandcamp.com/album/grand-company