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Liam Sillery
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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Liam Sillery: Phenomenology
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 ...
read moreLiam Sillery: Outskirts
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 ...
read moreLiam Sillery: On the Fly
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 ...
read moreLiam Sillery with the David Sills Quartet: On the Fly
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," ...
read moreThe Liam Sillery Quintet: Minor Changes
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 ...
read more"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
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Music
A Priori
From: PrioriteBy Liam Sillery
Phenomenology
From: PhenomenologyBy Liam Sillery
Two Time Blues
From: On the FlyBy Liam Sillery