Album Notes

Mike Gellar, a jazz guitarist with a distinctive harmonic approach to improvisation, cites Jim Hall, Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino and Emily Remler among his influences, which include horn players and other instrumentalists and vocalists as well. While mostly self-taught, Mike studied music theory at Frostburg State University and privately with guitarists Bill Bittner and Larry Woolridge. Born in Balitmore and residing near Hagerstown, Maryland, Mike performs in duo, trio, quartet and quintet settings in the Frederick, Baltimore, Washington and Harrisburg areas. His repertoire consists of swing, be-bop, cool and modern jazz from a vast variety of composers. Mike began playing guitar at age 9 and was soon playing Beatles' tunes. As a teenager, he began forming and leading bands, influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder and James Taylor. While in college, a friend played a Joe Pass/Oscar Peterson album for him and he has been hooked ever since then, studying and performing with many wonderful musicians. Mike's CD "Perdido" features Mike along with DC-area musicians Steve Abshire, Chris Bacas, Chris Battistone, Tommy Cecil, Paul Langosch, Mike Smith, Alan Wonneberger and Dave Wundrow. The varied instrumental formats range from a duo with two guitars to a quintet with guitar, sax, trumpet, bass and drums. The 71-1/2 minute CD is comprised of Perdido, Indian Summer, There Is No Greater Love, Israel, Angel Eyes, The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, Alice In Wonderland, On The Trail, I Love You, Wendy, Mohawk and Broadway. "Guitarist Mike Gellar spends a lot of time ensemble-hopping on his debut album, "Perdido" (Mike's), jumping from duo to quintet settings without missing a beat. Along the way he creates intricately woven guitar essays with Steve Abshire, provides plush chordal accompaniment for trumpeter Chris Battistone's alluring take on "Indian Summer", joins bassist Paul Langosch in fashioning a luminous duet arrangement of "Angel Eyes," and helps Battistone and tenor saxophonist Chris Bacas light up the bebop contours of Charlie Parker's "Mohawk." Yet for all the versatility and technique Gellar displays, what ultimately sets the album apart is the great delight he takes in playing jazz with musicians he admires-an enthusiasm that colors every performance. Gellar performs at Blues Alley May 27." - The Washington Post 5/98 "Mike Gellar is a solid, mainstream player with a good sound and taste to match. For PERDIDO, his first CD, Gellar has surrounded himself with an exceptional group of musicians: guitarist Steve Abshire and tenor saxophonist Chris Bacas are particularly outstanding. Guitarists should check out the two duos by Gellar and fellow guitarist Abshire. Their choice of tunes "No Greater Love" and "Broadway" contrast nicely and contain exemplary playing. Other cuts which leap out in superiority are "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" and "Mohawk". The ensemble work between trumpet and sax bops and burns in real Jazz Messenger fashion, resulting in 15 minutes of superlative hard-bop. Mike, who incidentally used a Guild Artist Award for the session, should be proud of his debut recording." - Just Jazz Guitar, 11/98 "This is Williamsport, Maryland guitarist Mike Gellar's debut CD. It is a very good first effort with lots of different settings - duo, trio, quartet and quintet. He has picked lots of good musicians to record with. The other guitarist on this CD is Steve Abshire (with whom Mike plays on five tracks). He is a fine player in his own right, having recorded with Herb Ellis on one of his albums (Brass Bed Blues-Jazz Beau 1002). Mike gets a nice clean sound from his Guild Artist Award. It is hard to pick out some favourite tracks but I particularly like "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes", "On the Trail" and the Paul Desmond tune "Wendy". The playing, the music chosen and the colourful artwork on the CD cover all combine to make this a fine debut CD." - The Jazz Guitar Society of Western Australia. 2/99