Geoff Aymar - The Trio, Vol. One (2014)

Tracklist

01. It Could Happen to You
02. Minor Memories
03. How Long Has This Been Going On
04. You Are My Sunshine
05. I Fall in Love Too Easily
06. Summertime
07. Green Dolphin Street
08. Our Love Is Here to Stay

Los Angeles based pianist, Geoff Aymar, has digitally released (for the first time) his first two trio CD’s recorded in the late 1990’s. The Trio--Volume One and Volume Two. The two volumes were recorded in one long session with bassist and legendary producer/engineer, Malcolm Cecil and drummer Johnny Kirkwood (Louis Jordan, Dinah Washington, Plas Johnson). The trio worked together regularly at a hotel in Marina Del Rey when this was recorded which made them a cohesive and finely-tuned musical ensemble.

Geoff was a fixture for many years at the Marina Beach Marriott Hotel where he played five nights a week both solo and with small groups. As jazz critic Scott Yanow noted “Aymar plays on a much higher level than the usual hotel pianist.” The hotel gig was fertile ground for Geoff’s musical muse at the time and allowed him to play with many of the finest jazz musicians in LA. Musicians such as: guitarists Frank Potenza and Larry Koonse; bassists Eugene Wright, Andy Simpkins, Al Mckibbon, Luther Hughes; Saxophonists Rob Kyle, Jeff Clayton, Ricky Woodard among many others.

These CD’s were recorded at 29th Street Studio in Torrance, California. The studio was owned by David Benoit and recorded on David’s personal Steinway from his home that happened to be in the studio at the time of the recording. The sound quality is extraordinary thanks to Malcolm who won a Grammy award for engineering Steve Wonder’s “Innervision”. Johnny’s playing is hard swinging and tightly wound around Malcolms growling bass notes that dance between Geoff’s bluesy and melodic improvisations.

Geoff went on to play many top venues in Los Angeles after these recordings while also pursuing a direction as a composer. His last CD “Can’t Stop Now” was his first disc of all original music and once again had Malcolm Cecil at the helm as producer..working his aural magic on the sessions. Can’t Stop Now features guitarist Larry Koonse, drummer Kendal Kay and bassist David May.

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac]