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Hod O'Brien

There are jazz legends and then there are the “underground of the jazz renowned” – those who, although not as well known to the general public, are hailed by critics, revered by their legendary peers, influential upon younger players and sought after by collectors and cognoscenti. Hod O'Brien is one of these.


Hod O’Brien is one of these quiet-and-true jazz giants. He burst upon the scene in the late 50s when he came to New York City from his hometown in the Berkshire Mountains of Northwest Connecticut near Lenox, Mass. and Tanglewood. He soon became part of the “loft scene” jamming with other bop-influenced players like Pepper Adams, Kenny Burrell, Oscar Pettiford and Stan Getz, to name a few. At the age of 21, he was hired to record with Art Farmer, Donald Byrd and Idrees Sulieman on a record which has become a classic, “Three Trumpets” (now retitled “Trumpets All Out” on the Prestige label). He became an active part of the NY scene playing at such historical clubs as Birdland, the Continental, the Cork and Bib, the Black Pearl and Small’s Paradise.

While still 21, O’Brien was asked by Red Rodney to take Bill Evans’ place in the Oscar Pettiford Quintet. The group alternated sets with Thelonious Monk at the famous Five Spot, among other appearances. After this stint with Pettiford, O’Brien joined up with tenor saxophonist J.R. Monterose in a band which included Elvin Jones and Wilbur Ware. O’Brien took a hiatus from the jazz scene from 1963-73 when he returned to Columbia University to study mathematics. While there, he studied composition with Charles Wourinen and was part of Columbia’s contemporary music scene. He later worked in statistical research in the field of psychology but made his way back to jazz in the mid-70s with the opening of his own club, The St. James Infirmary, where he led a house band with Cameron Brown and Beaver Harris and backed up such guest artists as Chet Baker, Roswell Rudd, Lee Konitz, Zoot Sims, Charlie Rouse and others. He followed this with an 5-year, 5-night/week engagement at Gregory’s (one of the few upper East side jazz clubs in NY at the time and famous worldwide) with guitarist Joe Puma, bassist Frank Luther, and various other players including Sonny Greer, Russer Procope, and Marc Johnson. During this time, O’Brien also appeared at such NY clubs as Fat Tuesday’s Lush Life (with Chet Baker) and the Blue Note.





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Multiple Reviews

Hod O'Brien: Live at Blues Alley - Third Set, I'm Getting Sentimental Over You, I Hear a Rhapsody and Yardbird Suite

Read "Hod O'Brien: Live at Blues Alley - Third Set, I'm Getting Sentimental Over You, I Hear a Rhapsody and Yardbird Suite" reviewed by Ken Dryden


Hod O'Brien has more than paid his dues during a long jazz career that began during the height of the bop era in the '50s; He has been praised by fellow pianist Barry Harris (with whom he recorded a duo piano concert CD issued by Spice of Life) as “one of the pure bop pianists . The pianist took a decade-long hiatus to attend college between 1963 and 1973, but he returned to the jazz scene in the mid '70s ...

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Recording

Hod O'Brien Meets Sal Nistico

Hod O'Brien Meets Sal Nistico

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Jazz was in a strange place in the 1980s. I remember being fresh out of college and working my first job at The New York Times. There were plenty of clubs in town, but other than the big ones where legends performed, the scene was fairly run down and thin on young people in the audience. The excitement of fusion in the 1970s had led to synthpop and funk in the '80s, and the action was all on MTV and ...

1

Obituary

Hod O'Brien (1936-2016)

Hod O'Brien (1936-2016)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Hod O'Brien, a ruggedly handsome and soft-spoken bebop pianist who came to jazz in the late 1950s, left jazz for 10 years in the 1960s and early 1970s, only to return to the music, becoming one of the most highly regarded and tasteful pianists of his generation, died on Nov. 20. He was 80. Born in jny: Chicago in 1936, Walter “Hod" O'Brien was deeply influenced by boogie-woogie at age 8. Lessons followed from a teacher at his grade school. ...

1

Obituary

Hod O'Brien, 1936-2016

Hod O'Brien, 1936-2016

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey

Friends of Hod O’Brien report that the pianist died yesterday at 80 following a long battle against cancer. He continued an active playing life even as he underwent treatment for the disease. Born in jny: Chicago, O’Brien attended Oberlin Conservatory and the Manhattan School of Music. He became active in New York jazz circles in the 1950s. Early in his career, he worked with Oscar Pettiford and the J.R. Monterose-Elvin Jones group. As house pianist at a club on Staten ...

Recording

Hod O'Brien: Exceptional Piano

Hod O'Brien: Exceptional Piano

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

There aren't too many non-brand jazz pianists left who can make you sit up and take notice. I'm talking about players like the late Eddie Higgins and John Bunch—players insiders knew. What makes an exceptional jazz pianist? Swing, confidence, tasteful voicings and inventive lines. Swing, meaning an impeccable sense of time that allows the player to drop behind and jump ahead of the beat in places to catch the ears and feet. Confidence, meaning bold, risky moves executed with strength ...

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Event

Jazz Benefit Concert in Annapolis March 28

Jazz Benefit Concert in Annapolis March 28

Source: All About Jazz

OLEG's jazz benefit concert “Georgia On My Mind" features world-renowned pianist Hod O'Brien (www.hodobrien.com) and local pianist Luke Russell. The concert will be held on on March 28th, 2009 at 7pm in FSK Auditorium at St. John’s College. Tickets are $25 at the door and $20 pre-sale, available at jazzforgeorgia.com. The benefits of the concert go to OLEG (Organization for Liberal Education in Georgia) Inc. St. John’s College students founded OLEG to promote lasting change in the nation of Georgia ...

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Performance / Tour

Stephanie Nakasian with the Hod O'Brien Trio at Dizzy's

Stephanie Nakasian with the Hod O'Brien Trio at Dizzy's

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Monday, August 6th Stephanie Nakasian With The Hod O'Brien Trio with Neal Miner-bass, Jeff Brillinger-drums Plus Special Guest 13-Year old vocalist Veronica Swift

At

Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola Frederick P. Rose Hall Jazz at Lincoln Center Broadway at 60th Street 5th Floor Reservations Call: 212 258-9595

“She has all the feel and charm of an early Ella Fitzgerald." - Tempo, New Orleans, LA

“For Stephanie Nakasian it's ...

A masterful bop-based improviser... his lines unfolding with an impressive blend of precision and propulsive swing." 
—Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times

"The best bebop pianist this side of Barry Harris." 
—Len Dobbin, The Montreal Mirror

"A most extraordinary distinguished musician... second generation of bebop pianomen... more elegant expression - his stroke is both stringent and sparkling... he creates intimacy" 
—Boris Rabinowitsch, Politiken, Copenhagen, Denmark

"Unsung hero of Jazz... master of classic bebop piano"
 —Scott Yanow, L.A. Scene

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Live at Blues Alley:...

Reservoir Music
2007

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Live at Blues Alley:...

Reservoir Music
2005

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Live at Blues Alley:...

Reservoir Music
2005

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Have Piano Will Swing

Fresh Sound Records
2004

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Fine and Dandy

Fresh Sound Records
2004

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