The Listener [CD]

This live recording from London's Vortex club in 2012 features the legendary drummer Jeff Williams, whose career has spanned over four decades performing at the vanguard of jazz music. It documents the continuing development of his working group which features three of NYC's greatest improvisers in Duane Eubanks on trumpet, John O'Gallagher on alto saxophone and John Hebert on double bass.

Following a performance at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Jeff's quartet next appeared at the Vortex Jazz Club in London, recording equipment at the ready to intimately capture the evening. 'The Listener' is dedicated with gratitude to those who were present, those who will hear the album, as well as to the premise that meaningful improvisation requires deep listening among the musicians. The selections include material new to the group, live versions of compositions from 'Another Time', his previous recording for Whirlwind Recordings, and, as an encore, the standard, "Dedicated to You".

Over the last five years the quartet has appeared in various New York venues, most often at Smalls Jazz Club, where the group's performances are archived as bootlegs. It is therefore very fitting to be able to present Jeff's group properly recorded and documented in the comfortable surroundings of a live concert, which is where this band thrives.

Personnel: Jeff Williams (drums), Duane Eubanks (trumpet), John O' Gallagher (alto saxophone, John Hebert (double bass)