Selected Press

"★ ★ ★ ★. . . infectious and captivating"

– DownBeat Magazine 

 

"An alchemist/anarchist who blends jazz with gritty grunge rock, classical chops, turbo-powered passages, funky backbeats and sweet, salon-like moods.... Fearless"

- WNPR (full article)

 

"'An artist unafraid and bending the tradition." 

- All About Jazz (full review)

 

"Candelight" by the Michael Gallant Trio included in Weekend Edition

- NPR (full broadcast)

 

"This, my friends, is the future of jazz. Fresh, invigorating, progressive - there are simply not enough positive adjectives to list here. . . Five stars."

Critical Jazz (full review)

 

"So damn impressive, I had to listen again to confirm what I just heard."

- Aquarian Weekly (full article)

 

Interview on The New Jazz Thing with Vince Outlaw

- San Diego's Jazz 88.3

 

"Gallant explores realms where postmodern jazz meets rock... strong melodies and intense musicianship across several genres."

- Jazziz (full article

 

"Shifting moods, dynamics and focal points abound throughout Completely, but some things remain the same: motion, commitment to the groove, and a passion for music pour forth from this powerful piano trio." 

All About Jazz (full article)

 

"If you like jazz-rock fusion but prefer it to be tighter and crunchier rather than wankier and more discursive, then consider this new album from pianist/composer Michael Gallant, bassist Linda Oh, and drummer Chris Infusino. Most of the tunes are originals, and they run the gamut from funky soul-jazz to strutting tango, but there’s also an interesting cover version of Pearl Jam’s 'Go.' Gallant’s piano style is adventurous but steeped in the verities, and he has a sharp compositional ear."

- CD Hot List (full review)

 

"... the Michael Gallant Trio is slated to take the stage, and with its presence comes an electricity gelled with acoustics. It makes the performance something entirely unexpected and exhilarating.Pianist and front man Michael Gallant sits behind the keyboards and injects a new life into traditional jazz — nuances of rock, a rustiness and edgy quality that take shape in numbers that would otherwise be considered orthodox. It makes the body want to step outside itself and move; to dance and sway in ways you read about in old texts (because frankly, that feeling isn’t present in mainstream music)." 

- Times of Trenton (full article)

 

"Bordentown City is the place to be if you enjoy jazz with a rock flavor to it, as Friday sees a very neat show coming to The Record Collector located on Farnsworth Ave. Jazz pianist Michael Gallant brings his trio into town as he tours to promote his new CD 'Completely.'"

- The Trentonian (full article)

 

 "After logging time as an editor for Keyboard magazine and a contributing writer for DownBeat, Michael Gallant has returned to his primary focus of the piano and makes his recording debut with this trio set. His experience playing traditional jazz, including a brief stint in the Preservation Hall band, comes across in the funky second-line grooves that permeate many of his original compositions. Linda Oh thumps out a solid backbeat on both acoustic and electric basses, locking in tightly with drummer Chris Infusino. In the studio, Gallant set up an electric keyboard next to his acoustic, allowing him to add gritty accents that occasionally evoke the swirl of a Leslie cabinet and, most notably, give the appropriate thrust to a cover of Pearl Jam’s “Go.” The effort succeeds, as do more accessible, tuneful moments like “Problem With the Game” and “Completely,” the latter a melody in search of a lyric."

- Jazz Times (full review)

 

"... Here, leading a jazz-rock trio, he deftly and tastefully swings between genres, playing bright, fluid runs on 'Greens,' then hammering out aggressive riffs and building to an almost Doors- or Zombies-esque electric-organ workout on 'Go.' Then he’s off on ballads and tangos, sidestepping expectations with non-showy ease. When he wraps things up after 55 minutes, it’s probably because he’s got someplace else to be."

M: Music and Musicians Magazine (full article)

  

"Completely" Makes Critical Jazz's Best of 2013 – Critical Jazz

 

COMPLETELY makes WTJU JAZZ's BEST of 2013 list – WTJU Jazz 

 

Pianist/Keyboardist Michael Gallant and Engineer Mario J McNulty Discuss Recording Gallant's Album "Completely" – Mix Magazine

 

"Completely" Makes DownBeat Magazine's Best Albums of 2013 – DownBeat Magazine

 

"Completely" by the Michael Gallant Trio included in DownBeat Magazine's Best Albums of 2013 list.