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Liam Sillery

Trumpeter and composer Liam Sillery was introduced to music at an early age by his uncle, also a trumpet player. Liam considers himself fortunate to have been surrounded through the years by fine teachers and musicians. Most significant during his undergraduate studies at the University of South Florida was the great tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson. Before going on to attend the Manhattan School of Music, he performed as a freelance musician. At MSM he studied with Cecil Bridgewater, Dave Liebman, Phil Markowitz, Joan Stiles, Mark Soskin, and Garry Dial.

In 2004 Liam released his first recording as a leader, Minor Changes (OA2 22020). His second cd, On the Fly (OA2 22030), recorded with the David Sills Quartet, was released on October 17, 2006. During the summer of 2007, he recorded his third cd, Outskirts (OA2 22050), with Matt Blostein, Jesse Stacken, Thomas Morgan, and Vinnie Sperrazza. On Outskirts, which was released in January 2009, Liam moved away from his traditional style to explore freer material.

Phenomenology (OA2 22061), released on February 16, 2010, received a 5-star review from Downbeat magazine. In his notes, Chris Robinson wrote, "Trumpeter Liam Sillery's Phenomenology is so natural that only one word can be used to describe it: perfect. Hearkening back to the great outside- leaning Blue Note recordings of the mid- and late-'60s, Phenomenology gets better with each listen, as details and intricacies continuously come to light that were missed previously. The music's textures, rhythms and sonorities continuously morph, but not in a districting, overbearing, or contrived way. There's freedom and a relaxed ease in Phenomenology's every facet, giving the listener a sense that what is heard is the only possible solution given the group's vision. The end result is sublime."

In 2006 the Liam Sillery Quintet performed for sold-out audiences in Japan. The group has played at the Cornelia Street Cafe and at Miles' Cafe, both in New York City, and at Trumpets Jazz Club in Montclair, NJ. They also performed in July 2011 for a standing room-only audience at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam.

The group's new cd, Priorite (OA2 22082), was released on April 19, 2011 on OA2 Records. For more information about this cd and the others, and to read what the critics say, check out liamsillery.com and OA2Records.com

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329
Album Review

Liam Sillery: Phenomenology

Read "Phenomenology" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


There's a sense of danger and change on Phenomenology, trumpeter Liam Sillery's fourth CD release on OA2 Records. His quintet--trumpet, saxophone, and rhythm section--often sounds as if it's leaning over the edge of a cliff, just a degree or two away from tipping and falling.

It hasn't always been this way with Sillery. His debut, Minor Changes (OA2 Records, 2004) and the follow-up, On the Fly (OA2 Records, 2006) could both be called mainstream affairs, often described as having a ...

317
Album Review

Liam Sillery: Outskirts

Read "Outskirts" reviewed by John Barron


For Outskirts, his third release as a leader, New York-based trumpeter/composer Liam Sillery assembles a progressive-thinking quintet to explore six original compositions. Sharing the frontline with alto saxophonist Matt Blostein, Sillery flirts with a free jazz mentality, mixing pre-conceived ideas with wide-open solo sections.

The opening “Prana" begins and ends with an interesting form reminiscent of vintage Wayne Shorter, replete with an airy free-form middle section with communicative blowing between trumpet and saxophone. Pianist Jesse Stacken stands out on “An ...

134
Album Review

Liam Sillery: On the Fly

Read "On the Fly" reviewed by Jim Santella


It's fitting that trumpeter Liam Sillery chose to close this program with Lee Morgan's “Ceora, since the parallels drawn between the two stand out so distinctly. He steers this New York/Los Angeles quintet through his crisp and clean sophomore recording project with all elements in place. Swing, groove, cohesiveness, technical mastery and improvisation show up from all parties concerned.

While the program is original, the quintet's sound isn't. Sillery brings back the classic Blue Note sound of the ...

220
Album Review

Liam Sillery with the David Sills Quartet: On the Fly

Read "On the Fly" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Liam Sillery invited David Sills to join him on his excellent debut from last year, Minor Changes (OA2). This time out, on his second set as a leader, the New York-based trumpeter/flugelhornist hooks up with the Los Angeles-based player's working quartet: Sills (tenor sax), Joe Bagg (organ), Larry Koonse (guitar) and Tim Pleasant (drums). The two front-line players split the composing chores; four tunes come from Sillery's pen and four more from Sills, along with a classic cover tune, “Ceora," ...

166
Album Review

The Liam Sillery Quintet: Minor Changes

Read "Minor Changes" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Trumpeter/flugelhornist Liam Sillery invites tenor saxophonist David Sills into the front line on this straight-ahead quintet outing for a sound reminiscent of Blue Note's heyday. The leader's musical mentors are Red Rodney, Ira Sullivan, and especially tenor man Joe Henderson. The influences show as the band opens with a lively Sillery original, “Minor Change," featuring some sparkling unison blowing to kick things off, leading into a freewheeling trumpet solo. Sillery's tone is warm and bright, and the rhythm section elevates ...

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Trumpeter Liam Sillery continues in the direction of his most recent album "Outskirts," challenging both the musicians and the listener with intricate compositions and compelling improvisation. On "Phenomenology," the band is reactive and supportive, while maintaining their individual personalities to constantly compliment the music. Liam's exploration of the sonic landscapes suggested by his compositions create a sense of melodic intrigue on the Kenny Wheeler-inspired "Koi" and the horn lines cartwheel through the back- beat of "Intentionality."

"This recording, Phenomenology, no doubt helps solidify Sillery as "an important voice in 21st Century jazz." "Sillery, although influenced a little by Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, and Wynton Marsalis, has his own approach and displays lots of potential." by Scott Yanow

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Priorite

OA2 Records
2011

buy

Phenomenology

OA2 Records
2010

buy

Outskirts

OA2 Records
2009

buy

On the Fly

OA2 Records
2007

buy

On the Fly

OA2 Records
2006

buy

Minor Changes

OA2 Records
2005

buy

A Priori

From: Priorite
By Liam Sillery

Phenomenology

From: Phenomenology
By Liam Sillery

Two Time Blues

From: On the Fly
By Liam Sillery

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