Album Notes

Christmas jazz, holiday jazz.

Jazz pianist Rick Gallagher has been a part of the Pittsburgh music scene since the late 1980's. Over the years Rick has done solo and group work in a wide range of contemporary styles but has found a voice as a player and composer in classic jazz. He has worked with many of the area's top performers and bands as well as solo piano work at diverse venues such as the historic Grand Concourse; the Gandy Dancer Saloon piano bar; and the PPG Holiday Series. Regularly Rick can be seen with small groups at Palomino and Pines Tavern, the Orchard Hill Church worship team, and the Boilermaker Jazz Band, as well as his long-standing spotlight as the pianist with the US Steel Tower and One Oxford Center downtown. Gallagher is noteworthy for his classic jazz style, creative arrangements, and his memorable originals.

Rick has five recordings as a feature artist and has played on a number of other CD’s as a sideman. His recordings have been played on hundreds of radio stations across the United States, and Canada including nationally syndicated jazz shows like “Jazz After Hours.” They all include Rick’s rich harmonic concepts, lyrical melodic ideas, creative arrangements and soulful organic sound.

A Pittsburgh native and father of four, Gallagher received a Bachelor of Music at Duquesne University where he studied under the mentorship of David Budway. His influences include Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver, Red Garland, Vince Guaraldi, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Benny Green, Ray Brown, Wynton Kelly, Cyrus Chestnut and George Shearing. He currently balances his performances with teaching, arranging, composing and recording. Rick is available for studio work, jazz festivals, concerts, church performances, and other private and public events.

Credits include:

Jazz Christmas, iTunes Essentials (2007) - Various Artists
Coldwater Creek: Home for the Holidays Volume One (2004)
Coldwater Creek: Home for the Holidays Volume Four (2007)
Divine Unrest (2007) - Tamarack Road Productions


About -----"A Sleigh, a Song, and a Baby Boy"------


A Sleigh, a Song, and a Baby Boy" is a must have collection of freshly rearranged Christmas classics performed by a swinging but sensitive jazz trio with percussion. The uptempo cuts "Sleigh Ride" and "Sing We Now of Christmas" swing with holiday cheer, while the ballads "O Holy Night", "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", and "The Holly and the Ivy" are warm, tasteful,and reflective. The Afro-cuban "Little Drummer Boy", the funky bugaloo "Let it Snow", and the Latin grooves of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" complete the collection with a soulful sound. Backed by some of the regions finest, Paul Thompson, Thomas Wendt, and George Jones, and expert engineering by Dino Distefano, who engineered the 1997 Grammy Award winning performance by the Count Basie Orchestra, "A Sleigh, a Song, and a Baby Boy" is sure to become a holiday favorite.


rick gallagher-piano, paul thompson-bass,
thomas wendt-drums, george jones-percussion