Gerard Hagen
Pianist, Arranger, Educator, Producer
Leader of Gerard Hagen Trio 1995- Present
In 1995 pianist Gerard Hagen formed his trio with bassist Domenic Genova and Jerry Kalaf drums. Their recordings have received international radio airplay, critical acclaim and have been distributed in the U.S. as well as Japan. The trio has performed extensively including venues in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Minneapolis, and New York.
What critics say ...
" ... command of his instrument and self-assurance are evident ... along with an appreciation for melody and an ability to swing. Far Horizons is an exciting debut for a gifted pianist and his accomplished trio."
--Ken Borgers KKJZ Radio Long Beach, CA
"... Gerard Hagen is a well known giant on the west coast ... A trio that can swing like this is always a good bet for a great musical evening, ... It's groups like this that keep jazz alive."
--Larry Routt WOBO Radio Cincinnati
"An excellent modern mainstream pianist, Hagen, who is influenced by Bill Evans and Tommy Flanagan but mostly sounds like himself, ... although Hagen has impressive technique, he uses it to serve the music"
-~Scott Yanow, ALL MUSIC GUIDE
“Gerard Hagen has produced a polished, lyrical sound in the Bill Evans tradition.”
--George Fendel, JAZZSCENE
“The excellence of Hagen's work on “Stay Tuned” is of such a high level that one would have expected him to be better known beyond the West Coast.”
--Bill Donaldson, JAZZ IMPROV
“Hagen has a special way with the piano that sets him apart from today's young lions. He is gently respectful of melody, avoiding pianistic gymnastics and chord bashing.”
--Dave Nathan, ALL MUSIC GUIDE
Hagen, soloed deftly, his lines moving gracefully in and out of the composition's subtle corners.
-- Zan Stewart, LOS ANGELES TIMES
Recordings - Producer/Arranger/Pianist
Gerard is active as an arranger, producer as well as musical director for vocalist Leslie Lewis. Her debut recording "Of Two Minds" was released on the SSL label in Japan and received 5 stars in "Swing Journal" magazine. "Keeper Of The Flame" was featured on SiriusXM Radio as well as several nationally syndicated radio shows.
Gerard Hagen Trio “Far Horizons” (Resurgent Music) 1998
Gerard Hagen Trio “Stay Tuned” (Sea Breeze Jazz) 2000
Saddleback College Jazz Faculty Recording 2006
Leslie Lewis’ “Of Two Minds” (Surf Cove Jazz) 2008
Leslie Lewis’ “Keeper Of The Flame” (Surf Cove Jazz) 2010
Leslie Lewis’ “Midnight Sun” (Surf Cove Jazz) 2011
Dan Jacobs Quartet "Play Song" (Metro Jazz Records) 2011
SSJ All-Stars "From California With Love" (SSJ-USA) 2011
Performances Venues-(partial list) include:
Lehman College Jazz Festival, New York, NY
Los Angeles County Museum of Art Jazz Series, Los Angeles, CA
Jazz at Pearl’s, San Francisco, CA
The Culver's Club For Jazz, Los Angeles, CA
Hollywood Studio Bar and Grill, Hollywood, CA
Vitello's Jazz and Supper Club, Studio City, CA
Spaghettini Grill and Jazz Club, Seal Beach, CA
Disneyland, Anaheim, CA
Steamer's Jazz Club, Fullerton, CA
Dana Point Jazz Festival Dana Point, CA
The Artists Quarter, Minneapolis/St.Paul MN
Cerritos Center For Perforrming Arts, Cerritos CA (w Jazz Tap Ensemble)
California Music Teacher’s Convention, San Diego CA
Terrace Theater Long Beach CA
Mukenthaller Art Center, Fullerton CA
Long Beach Museum of Art CA
Walter Annenberg Estate, Rancho Mirage CA
Queen Mary Long Beach CA
Century City Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles CA
Bonneventure Hotel, Los Angeles CA
Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles CA
Loews Hotel Santa Monica CA
Casa del Mar Santa Monica CA
Ritz Carlton Resort, Laguna Niguel CA
Westin Hotel, Long Beach CA
Riverside Community College, Riverside CA
Clairmont College, Clairmont CA
La Costa Resort, La Costa CA
Bowers Museum, Santa Ana CA
Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles CA
Santa Ana Performing Arts Center, Santa Ana CA
"Jazz At The Center" Concert Series, Santa Fe, NM
"Geniuses Of Jazz" Concert Series, Albuquerque, NM
Associate Professor of Jazz Piano Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA.
Gerard has been an Associate Professor of Jazz Piano at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA since 2004. His teaching duties include jazz piano classes, private instruction, evaluation of jazz combos, and evaluation of applied jazz students. In addition he performs in concert with the Jazz Faculty Combo and serves as a faculty member for the Saddleback College Summer Jazz Program. His educational background includes a Bachelor Of Arts degree in piano performance from the University of Mary and a Masters of Music Ed. degree from Northern Michigan University.
His performances and recordings have received critical praise in the Los Angeles Times, Jazz Times Magazine, Los Angeles Jazz Scene, Jazz Improv Magazine, Cadence Magazine, Cashbox, All About Jazz, All Music Guide, etc. Recordings have been featured on Bob Parlocha's and Jim Wilkie's Syndicated Jazz Radio Shows as well SiriusXM radio.
Read more...