GRAMMYⓇ Nominated Pianist, Composer, and Arranger Bill O’Connell Brings Masterful Touch to Trio Setting with his New Album Touch – out January 17 on Jojo Records
Pre-release show on November 26, 2024, at Dizzy’s Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center
Jojo Records is thrilled to announce the release of Touch, the highly anticipated new album from GRAMMYⓇ nominated pianist, composer, and arranger Bill O’Connell. Set for release on January 17, 2025, Touch finds O’Connell returning to the trio format for the first time since his debut album Searching in the late 1970s. Accompanied by longtime collaborators, bassist Santi Debriano and drummer Billy Hart, and recorded at the storied Rudy Van Gelder Studio, O’Connell crafts a rich and intimate musical experience that shines with his unmistakable artistry.
In a city where jazz is both a passion and a tradition, Bill O’Connell stands out as a true “musician’s musician.” Known for his harmonic brilliance, clear phrasing, and evocative melodies, O’Connell’s playing resonates with depth, capturing a “touch” that lives up to the album’s title. For pianists, touch is a term that encompasses the nuance and skill with which they engage their instrument—a quality O’Connell brings to every track with finesse and emotional clarity.
O’Connell, who has made his mark as an arranger, composer, and bandleader in larger ensemble settings, delivers a new perspective on his talents through the trio format. Touch is a journey of contrast, from the lyrical sweetness of the title track to the driving swing of “Around and Around” and the island-infused groove of “Cay-Man.” The trio navigates each piece with ease, blending precision and spontaneity into every note. “Our respect for each other is deep, and we have a familiarity that made recording this album pure joy,” says O’Connell of his lauded sidemen.
O’Connell and Debriano have been playing together for about a decade, after meeting at a jam session in Long Island, New York. Immediately, their chemistry was apparent, with their love for modern jazz and Latin music as common ground. Hart and O’Connell go back a bit longer – they first connected in the 1980s on a gig with the late vocalist Janet Lawson and have played together intermittently ever since. “I consider every time I play with Billy Hart to be a special occasion,” O’Connell proclaimed.
Highlights of Touch include O’Connell’s expressive interpretation of Herbie Hancock’s “Maiden Voyage,” where his powerful yet delicate touch on the keys shines through, and his own “85th Street,” a tribute to his New York roots that pulses with city energy, anchored by Hart’s hypnotic rhythms. The contemplative “So Beautiful, So Sad” showcases O’Connell’s lyrical prowess, while “Three Little Words” incorporates a hint of Monk—a nod to the pianist’s deep admiration for Thelonious Monk’s harmonic genius. “It took a while in my development to really hear Monk. I started out as a more lyrical player, but eventually, everyone is seduced by Monk’s harmonic mastery,” he comments.
Bill O’Connell’s legacy in jazz spans over four decades, with a career that began with Mongo Santamaria’s Latin jazz band in 1977 and includes collaborations with jazz icons such as Chet Baker, Sonny Rollins, and Gato Barbieri. His previous studio album, A Change is Gonna Come, a soulful response to social unrest, earned him accolades. In 2021, he received a GRAMMY® nomination for his Latin-inspired arrangement of “Chopsticks” on Richard Baratta’s Music in Film: The Reel Deal. With Touch, his seventeenth album as a leader, O’Connell demonstrates his versatility once again, bringing a master’s control and an explorer’s curiosity to the intimate, dynamic trio format.
Touch is a reminder of why Bill O’Connell is regarded as a national treasure in jazz, with a career defined by continual evolution, technical mastery, and a deep commitment to the music he loves. This new album is a testament to O’Connell’s enduring artistry and his unparalleled ability to connect with listeners on an emotional level.
Derived from liner notes by TJ English.
Deluxe CD Tracklisting:
- Touch (5:41)
- Maiden Voyage by (H. Hancock) (6:34)
- Around and Around (5:40)
- Cay-Man (4:49)
- 85th Street (6:27)
- So Beautiful, So Sad (6:57)
- Three Little Words (H. Ruby, B. Kalmar) (8:22)
- El Junque (S. Debriano) (7:01)
- Sea Glass (6:46)
- I Hear A Rhapsody (5:43) (G. Fragos, J. Baker, D. Gasparre)
- Billy’s Blues (6:23)
Vinyl LP:
SIDE A:
- Touch 5:41
- Maiden Voyage (H. Hancock) 6:24
- Around And Around 5:40
- Cay-Man 4:49
SIDE B:
- 85th Street 6:27
- So Beautiful, So Sad 6:57
- Three Little Words (H. Ruby, B. Kalmar) 8:22