Album Notes

Elliot Steger, pianist and composer, has extensive jazz and classical training. He began classical training at the age of 4 and has studied jazz for the past 15 years with a professor from the Berklee School of Music. He is accompanied by Josh Davis on acoustic bass and Jon Hazilla on drums who are immensely talented professors at Berklee. His style is strongly influenced by the great Bill Evans but distinctive in its own right.

His music reveals an emphasis on a strong structured melody line along with interesting rhythm changes and improvisations by all trio members. This represents an evolution from his 2 previous CD's, "Images" and "Transition." "Images" is all solo and in a New Age/Pop style with a clear classical influence reminiscent of George Winston and Billy Joel. His next CD is a "transition" to a more jazz and blues style with a few trio pieces. "Making Time" is predominantly a trio work with a distinctive jazz style.

The first song on this CD, "Land That I Love," was inspired by the September 11th terrorist attack and has a strong march rhythm, beautiful melody and bluesy improvisation. The other songs have a more classic jazz feel but maintain a clear melody line along with interesting arrangements. "Like A River" and "Autumn Rain" are the only solo pieces and illustrate an accomplished classical background in the midst of wonderful improvisations.

"Making Time" is about an artist making time for music in a very busy life that makes time for family and a "day job" as a physician. Elliot composes and plays because he loves to do this and through his music wants to make a positive impact on the lives of his listeners. He donates all CD profits to the American Cancer Society, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Alzheimer's Association.