L to R: Phil Aaron, Jay Epstein, Tom Lewis
'I Love Paris': Phil Aaron: piano, Tom Lewis: bass, Jay Epstein: drums
Igmod IG49402-2
Reviews:
Showtunes & standards, broken-up by some originals & a touch of bop. Most of these are swinging trio pieces, with Aaron relying on his right hand to reveal the melody in short, quick phrases. The title cut is finger-snappin’ fast with Jay Epstein hustling along on the drum kit as Aaron & Lewis take turns surfing the melody. “Skylark” is a showpiece of sensitivity with a thoughtful bass solo. Dizzy’s “Con Alma’ is played briskly, with percussive piano, tinkly cymbals and strutting bass lines. In “Stella By Starlight”, Aaron is at his best, with an introspective introduction and some of the longer right hand runs on the disc. This trio works very well together, maintaining the integrity of each piece they play! - Cadence Magazine
Phil Aaron’s got a ready sense of swing, a bright and warm sound, and an arranger’s flair for putting new saddles on old warhorses. A solid and satisfying set of piano trio jazz, stoked by a standout rhythm section – bassist Lewis & drummer Epstein. Mr. Aaron has gone to the Great American Songbook and ripped out choice pages; and also penned a couple of tuneful originals. The Bill Evans-ish “Firefly Waltz”, has an ear-grabbing drum intro by Epstein, while “California Song” sports a bucolic ‘70’s rock feel. Yet, the unsung hero of “I Love Paris” is bassist Tom Lewis, who contributed arguably the hippest two tracks of the set – “Old World Blues” & “Hard Ball.” – Tom Surowicz, Midwest Jazz Magazine.
Aaron has a smooth, even touch that produces a sparkling sound, and plays flowing, graceful, and spirited lines that are a delight to hear. He gets solid support from highly interactive trio mates, bassist Tom Lewis and drummer Jay Epstein. The emphasis is on swinging versions of standards to which the trio’s subtle rapport and constant and pleasing interaction brings an interest and freshness. – Bob Protzman, St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Bios:
Phil Aaron hails from Chicago and grew up on Chicago food. He went on to study music at Berklee School of music and the University of Illinois. Since moving to Minneapolis in 1989 after ten years in LA, Phil has been fully immersed in the Twin Cities music scene. His “day gig” is as a composer of music scores for film and TV. His music can be heard on a number national TV shows. In 2007 Phil won an Emmy for his scoring work on the PBS animated series “Auto-B-Good”. By night Phil has been a constant figure in the Twin Cities jazz scene. He has shared the stage with national artists Lee Konitz, Eric Alexander, Jim Rotondi, Jim Snidero, Byron Stripling, Barbara Morrison and Jackie Allen amongst others. He has provided piano accompaniment to most of the areas jazz singers. He continues to perform in a wide variety of jazz ensembles. The Phil Aaron Trio, featuring Tom Lewis and Jay Epstein, became a Twin Cities institution, performing each Friday and Saturday night at the Hotel Sofitel for 15 years. Phil is an active recording artist, appearing on the CD’s of others as well as five CD’s of his own.
Tom Lewis is a freelance jazz bassist, based in Minneapolis Minnesota. In the Twin Cities he is an active member of the jazz scene, in demand
as a performer, clinician and session player. He is often called upon to work with national jazz artists visiting the region. Some of these names include, Eddie Higgins, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, Lew Tabackin, & Mose Allison, as well as younger New York talent David Hazeltine, Eric Alexander & Jim Rotundi. As an educator/clinician, he has worked with young jazz musicians in over 400 clinics & concerts. In the studio, he has appeared on over 65 recordings.
Jazz drummer, Jay Epstein, has an extensive career as a performing, recording, and touring artist. After college, he studied polyrhythmic concepts in Manhattan with Barry Altschul, the drummer in Chick Corea's Circle. He has lived in Hollywood, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, Miami, Minneapolis, and played in house bands for 5 years on several cruise ship lines. He's been on 7 European tours with pianists Bill Carrothers & Giacomo Aula. Some of the notable artists he has performed with include Barney Kessel, Roseanna Vitro, Manfredo Fest, Sheila Jordan, Terry Gibbs, Greg Abate, Claudio Roditi, Gary Foster, Kim Richmond, Vinny Golia, JoAnne Brackeen, Ernie Watts, Wayne Johnson, Karrin Allyson, Kenny Werner, Howard Levy, Toots Thielemans, Avashai Cohen, and Sarah Vaughan. His CDs, 'Long Ago' & 'Easy Company', featuring bassist Anthony Cox and pianist Bill Carrothers, have garnered luminous reviews in the international press. Current bands include Red Planet, Klezmerica, Framework, Firebell, BroncowVision, Impulso, & Off The Map. Visit Jay: http://www.jayepstein.weebly.com
Showtunes & standards, broken-up by some originals & a touch of bop. Most of these are swinging trio pieces, with Aaron relying on his right hand to reveal the melody in short, quick phrases. The title cut is finger-snappin’ fast with Jay Epstein hustling along on the drum kit as Aaron & Lewis take turns surfing the melody. “Skylark” is a showpiece of sensitivity with a thoughtful bass solo. Dizzy’s “Con Alma’ is played briskly, with percussive piano, tinkly cymbals and strutting bass lines. In “Stella By Starlight”, Aaron is at his best, with an introspective introduction and some of the longer right hand runs on the disc. This trio works very well together, maintaining the integrity of each piece they play! - Cadence Magazine
Phil Aaron’s got a ready sense of swing, a bright and warm sound, and an arranger’s flair for putting new saddles on old warhorses. A solid and satisfying set of piano trio jazz, stoked by a standout rhythm section – bassist Lewis & drummer Epstein. Mr. Aaron has gone to the Great American Songbook and ripped out choice pages; and also penned a couple of tuneful originals. The Bill Evans-ish “Firefly Waltz”, has an ear-grabbing drum intro by Epstein, while “California Song” sports a bucolic ‘70’s rock feel. Yet, the unsung hero of “I Love Paris” is bassist Tom Lewis, who contributed arguably the hippest two tracks of the set – “Old World Blues” & “Hard Ball.” – Tom Surowicz, Midwest Jazz Magazine.
Aaron has a smooth, even touch that produces a sparkling sound, and plays flowing, graceful, and spirited lines that are a delight to hear. He gets solid support from highly interactive trio mates, bassist Tom Lewis and drummer Jay Epstein. The emphasis is on swinging versions of standards to which the trio’s subtle rapport and constant and pleasing interaction brings an interest and freshness. – Bob Protzman, St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Bios:
Phil Aaron hails from Chicago and grew up on Chicago food. He went on to study music at Berklee School of music and the University of Illinois. Since moving to Minneapolis in 1989 after ten years in LA, Phil has been fully immersed in the Twin Cities music scene. His “day gig” is as a composer of music scores for film and TV. His music can be heard on a number national TV shows. In 2007 Phil won an Emmy for his scoring work on the PBS animated series “Auto-B-Good”. By night Phil has been a constant figure in the Twin Cities jazz scene. He has shared the stage with national artists Lee Konitz, Eric Alexander, Jim Rotondi, Jim Snidero, Byron Stripling, Barbara Morrison and Jackie Allen amongst others. He has provided piano accompaniment to most of the areas jazz singers. He continues to perform in a wide variety of jazz ensembles. The Phil Aaron Trio, featuring Tom Lewis and Jay Epstein, became a Twin Cities institution, performing each Friday and Saturday night at the Hotel Sofitel for 15 years. Phil is an active recording artist, appearing on the CD’s of others as well as five CD’s of his own.
Tom Lewis is a freelance jazz bassist, based in Minneapolis Minnesota. In the Twin Cities he is an active member of the jazz scene, in demand
as a performer, clinician and session player. He is often called upon to work with national jazz artists visiting the region. Some of these names include, Eddie Higgins, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, Lew Tabackin, & Mose Allison, as well as younger New York talent David Hazeltine, Eric Alexander & Jim Rotundi. As an educator/clinician, he has worked with young jazz musicians in over 400 clinics & concerts. In the studio, he has appeared on over 65 recordings.
Jazz drummer, Jay Epstein, has an extensive career as a performing, recording, and touring artist. After college, he studied polyrhythmic concepts in Manhattan with Barry Altschul, the drummer in Chick Corea's Circle. He has lived in Hollywood, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, Miami, Minneapolis, and played in house bands for 5 years on several cruise ship lines. He's been on 7 European tours with pianists Bill Carrothers & Giacomo Aula. Some of the notable artists he has performed with include Barney Kessel, Roseanna Vitro, Manfredo Fest, Sheila Jordan, Terry Gibbs, Greg Abate, Claudio Roditi, Gary Foster, Kim Richmond, Vinny Golia, JoAnne Brackeen, Ernie Watts, Wayne Johnson, Karrin Allyson, Kenny Werner, Howard Levy, Toots Thielemans, Avashai Cohen, and Sarah Vaughan. His CDs, 'Long Ago' & 'Easy Company', featuring bassist Anthony Cox and pianist Bill Carrothers, have garnered luminous reviews in the international press. Current bands include Red Planet, Klezmerica, Framework, Firebell, BroncowVision, Impulso, & Off The Map. Visit Jay: http://www.jayepstein.weebly.com
