The Frank Giasullo Quartet
Flemington, New Jersey, United States | SELF
Music
Press
About the Frank Giasullo Quartet…
“Great tune (‘Nightwalk’), classic jazz song structure with superb vocal and instrumental performances. Sophisticated melody…loved the trumpet solo.”
Mike Pinder
The Moody Blues
“…the solos throughout the CD (Firstlight) allow the musicians to stretch out and show their talent…each of the members of the quartet know exactly where the others are going musically... they truly listen to each other.”
Jim Yadlon, host Just Jazz
WWFM HD, 89.1, jazzon2.com
“The construction (of as yet unreleased ‘Moonlight and Whispers’) is sophisticated with great chord changes and a solid melody. The song has a beautiful sultry groove. Great sax solo!”
Mike Pinder
The Moody Blues
“If the CD’s (Firstlight) is anything to go by, anyone who likes swinging straightahead jazz with plenty of blues and gospel tinges should beat a path to one of these gigs.”
Jazz Express
“An effortlessly assured straightahead jazz set led by a glossily elegant pianist…Giasullo’s crisp phrasing and pearly sound make an excellent contrast (to tenor sax Themen’s special palette)…the pieces range from wistful themes over rolling piano figures that turn into (Herbie Hancock) Maiden Voyage-like vamps, bursts of driving soul-jazz, canny mid-temp bop swingers…”
John Fordham
The Guardian (UK)
“The Frank Giasullo Quartet’s Firstlight is a very engaging release. This acoustic melding of piano, trumpet, bass and drums reaches back to the very roots of jazz; the execution is absolutely flawless! This is the essence of the “live, one-take Jazz experience.”
Jazz Steps
More About the Frank Giasullo Quartet…
“Sophisticated, lush, contemplative, sad, uplifting all at the same time…reminding me of the music of Miles Davis (particularly his classic recording Kind of Blue) or the original compositions of jazz piano legend Bill Evans.”
“The Dingus, funky, cool, very nice groove with some great soloing.”
“Summerwalk, a really stunning composition. Lots of rich and surprising harmonies. Thoughtful, moving.”
“Nighwalk, features vocalist Michele Glick. Simply stunning all around!”
Musicians on the Internet
“An animated player, Giasullo is fun to watch…Herbie Hancock, circa 1960 is (Giasullo’s) harmonic starting point, and his rich chord work on Monsieur Renault, The Waltz and Doctor Nick drew warm responses from bassist Dave Green…
Jack Massarik
(London) Evening Standard
“Short UK tour by unpretentious quartet with a critically well-received debut album, Firstlight. Pat Wristen takes mellow trumpet solos.”
Jack Massarik
(London) Evening Standard
“Giasullo’s compositions will bring to mind Chick Corea (especially his early work) and the ruminative stylings of Steve Kuhn…The musicians never get carried away by over displays of technique. That makes it easy to get hooked by the simplicity of the music”
Richard B. Kamins
Cadence, The American Review of Jazz & Blues
“Bill Evans’ trios are an obvious model but…(Giasullo) moves far enough away from Evans to capture Ramey Lewis’ funky gospel strut. The Evans-plus-gospel description may remind you of Keith Jarrett.”
Kevin Whitehead
Jazz Times
“You can’t please all the people all the time but (Frank Giasullo’s) Interweave Jazz Trio came close in its concert at VMI’s Lejeune Hall.”
Mollie Hall
Lexington (VA) New Gazette
- Various
About the Frank Giasullo Quartet…
“Great tune (‘Nightwalk’), classic jazz song structure with superb vocal and instrumental performances. Sophisticated melody…loved the trumpet solo.”
Mike Pinder
The Moody Blues
“…the solos throughout the CD (Firstlight) allow the musicians to stretch out and show their talent…each of the members of the quartet know exactly where the others are going musically... they truly listen to each other.”
Jim Yadlon, host Just Jazz
WWFM HD, 89.1, jazzon2.com
“The construction (of as yet unreleased ‘Moonlight and Whispers’) is sophisticated with great chord changes and a solid melody. The song has a beautiful sultry groove. Great sax solo!”
Mike Pinder
The Moody Blues
“If the CD’s (Firstlight) is anything to go by, anyone who likes swinging straightahead jazz with plenty of blues and gospel tinges should beat a path to one of these gigs.”
Jazz Express
“An effortlessly assured straightahead jazz set led by a glossily elegant pianist…Giasullo’s crisp phrasing and pearly sound make an excellent contrast (to tenor sax Themen’s special palette)…the pieces range from wistful themes over rolling piano figures that turn into (Herbie Hancock) Maiden Voyage-like vamps, bursts of driving soul-jazz, canny mid-temp bop swingers…”
John Fordham
The Guardian (UK)
“The Frank Giasullo Quartet’s Firstlight is a very engaging release. This acoustic melding of piano, trumpet, bass and drums reaches back to the very roots of jazz; the execution is absolutely flawless! This is the essence of the “live, one-take Jazz experience.”
Jazz Steps
More About the Frank Giasullo Quartet…
“Sophisticated, lush, contemplative, sad, uplifting all at the same time…reminding me of the music of Miles Davis (particularly his classic recording Kind of Blue) or the original compositions of jazz piano legend Bill Evans.”
“The Dingus, funky, cool, very nice groove with some great soloing.”
“Summerwalk, a really stunning composition. Lots of rich and surprising harmonies. Thoughtful, moving.”
“Nighwalk, features vocalist Michele Glick. Simply stunning all around!”
Musicians on the Internet
“An animated player, Giasullo is fun to watch…Herbie Hancock, circa 1960 is (Giasullo’s) harmonic starting point, and his rich chord work on Monsieur Renault, The Waltz and Doctor Nick drew warm responses from bassist Dave Green…
Jack Massarik
(London) Evening Standard
“Short UK tour by unpretentious quartet with a critically well-received debut album, Firstlight. Pat Wristen takes mellow trumpet solos.”
Jack Massarik
(London) Evening Standard
“Giasullo’s compositions will bring to mind Chick Corea (especially his early work) and the ruminative stylings of Steve Kuhn…The musicians never get carried away by over displays of technique. That makes it easy to get hooked by the simplicity of the music”
Richard B. Kamins
Cadence, The American Review of Jazz & Blues
“Bill Evans’ trios are an obvious model but…(Giasullo) moves far enough away from Evans to capture Ramey Lewis’ funky gospel strut. The Evans-plus-gospel description may remind you of Keith Jarrett.”
Kevin Whitehead
Jazz Times
“You can’t please all the people all the time but (Frank Giasullo’s) Interweave Jazz Trio came close in its concert at VMI’s Lejeune Hall.”
Mollie Hall
Lexington (VA) New Gazette
- Various
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
The Music
Firstlight is the Frank Giasullo Quartets first CD. From the playful Dr. Nick, to the debonair The Waltz, to the pensive Nightwalk, Giasullos compositions are a seven-course meal that satisfies the listener. Too full for more is not an option, however. Giasullos modal arrangement of the Kosma/Mercer classic Autumn Leaves, and his arrangement of the Kern/Harnbach Yesterdays are irresistible second helpings.
Giasullos association with Art Themen, recently named top tenor sax player in the United Kingdom for 2009, led to their CD, Until the Next Time. The Giasullo/Themen Quartet has performed at the Brecon (Wales) International Jazz Festival and the London Festival. Reviewer John Fordham had this to say in The Guardian (July 18, 2008) about Giasullos performances during a recent UK tour as an effortlessly assured straightahead jazz set led by a glossily elegant pianist with crisp phrasing and pearly sound.
The Musicians
Giasullo is a classically trained pianist who loved the piano from as early as he can remember. As a youngster he was enthralled by Claude Debussys Arabesques. A pivotal moment came during the concert he attended, when he was 15, with his piano teacher and his father where he was knocked off his feet by Jimmy Smith on organ, and Dave Brubeck and Thelonius Monk on pianos. He studied with John Coates, Jr., Don Friedman and Bill Mays, among others. Giasullo calls Northampton County (PA) home.
Neil Wetzel has appeared with Patti Page and the Philly Pops Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, a concert that was recorded and released on CD and won a 1999 Grammy award. He has toured and recorded with the Eric Mintel Quartet. Wetzel is Director of Jazz Studies at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA. He has shared Moravians stage with jazz notables Ravi Coltrane, Clark Terry, Stanley Turrentine, among others. Wetzel is also the author of Learning Jazz Language, for beginning level instrumentalists.
Drummer Ron Glick of Bridgewater (NJ) has an extensive background in performing and teaching music. His performance resume includes such notables as Tal Farlow, Al Cohen, Eric Kloss, Harry Leahy, Lou Donaldson, Vic Juris, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Ira Sullivan. Glick has performed in jazz clubs, in festivals nationally and internationally, and has been widely recorded. He can be heard on Joe Battaglias Three As One; Out of time by the Tina Marsh and the Bob Rodriguez Trio; and From the Shore, Rick Balestra's first CD, to name just a few.
Bassist Nicholas Krolak toured London with Giasullo in November 2010 during which the foursome of Giasullo, Themen, Tamminen and Krolak played at the Pizza Express and the 606 Club, among others. They recorded a CD there, to be released in the near future. A Moravian College (Bethlehem, PA) graduate, he studied bass with Tony Cimorosi and Paul Rostock and has played under Tony Gairos direction, as well as with composer, arranger, and keyboardist Doug HawK and pop singer Jessi Teich.
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