The Chuck Anderson Trio - Dominos (2020)

Domino is jazz guitarist Chuck Anderson’s latest release. It features the trio with Eric Schreiber on bass and Ed Rick on drums. This recording consists of 12 new original compositions. The material is wide ranging in tempos, feels and styles.

The brilliant straight ahead jazz guitarist and composer performs a dozen new originals with bassist Eric Schreiber and drummer Ed Rick that are fresh, swinging, harmonically rich, and full of subtle surprises.

A prolific and influential guitarist, composer and educator, Chuck Anderson has developed his own sound and style within the modern mainstream of jazz. His chord voicings are beautiful, alternating with his frequently heated single-note work. As a composer, he creates originals that have individual personalities, utilizing original chord structures and modern harmonies while always swinging.

The guitarist has led his trio with Eric Schreiber and Ed Rick since 2005. Their familiarity and comfort with each other is obvious throughout Dominos in their intuitive interplay and ability to improvise as one.

Dominos has many highlights including a lowdown medium-tempo “The Recovery Blues,” the relaxed exploration that takes place on “Love Song For A Sad Sunday Afternoon,” an assertive “Mr. Shady,” and the witty “Watson’s Walk.” Anderson plays unaccompanied on the thoughtful “Fire Frost” and leads the trio through a fast jazz waltz (“Checkmate”), an exhilarating “Fulcrum,” and the joyfully funky “Open Door.” All 12 selections are filled with sophisticated improvising and
bright moments.

Chuck Anderson began playing the guitar when he was 14; an early mentor was the legendary Dennis Sandole in Philadelphia. Within two years he was enjoying the music of his greatest influence Wes Montgomery and teaching guitar. Anderson has always been a busy educator, evolving from working with music stores and founding a music school, to having his own private teaching studio in Conshohocken, PA. He has written 24 published books on the jazz guitar and
music.

Anderson was the staff guitarist at the Latin Casino in Cherry Hill, NJ for four years, playing 14 shows a week with major artists (including Billy Eckstine and Peggy Lee). He recorded with his trio of the era (Mirror Within A Mirror), performed solo guitar concerts inspired by classical music, accompanied a countless number of top artists at the Valley Forge Music Fair, and then in 2005 shifted his focus towards his trio with Eric Schreiber and Ed Rick. Prior to Dominos, they recorded Freefall, Nighthawk, and a live concert DVD (Live At Chaplins’ Music Café).

With the release of Dominos, Chuck Anderson, who has contributed so much important work as an educator, the head of his own music production company, and as a composer, is stepping out as a creative guitarist. His colorful improvisations on his original pieces, along with the instant communication between the three musicians, make Dominos one of the top jazz guitar recordings of the year.