Jim Gailloreto's Jazz String Quintet NaimCD090

Jim Gailloreto's Jazz String Quintet, featuring Kurt Elling, is a string quartet that swings, a sax that soars, with passionate performances and wild improvisations!

Jazz String Quintet is an original blending of both jazz and classical music, the instrumentation is string quartet and soprano saxophone.

Brainchild of the exceptional Chicagoan saxophonist Jim Gailloreto, Jazz String Quintet is immersed in the traditions and performance practices of classical music whilst simultaneously expanding and exploring all the truest elements of jazz.

The unique programming of this disc highlights traditional jazz standards of composers such as Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane, along with original compositions by Jim.

This debut release of the Jazz String Quintet also has two vocal tracks from the wonderful and critically acclaimed Kurt Elling. This collaboration enhances the music's solid pedigree in both the jazz and classical worlds, and brings to the recording interpretations of two short works by the 13th century Sufi poet, Rumi.

Jim Gailloreto is a graduate from De Paul University, Chicago, and has received a Masters in Music in Composition from Northwestern University. Recently his composition Part of the Human Mind was premiered at the IAJE convention in New Orleans. He is currently a member of the faculty at Chicago College of the Performing Arts where he teaches Techniques of Improvisation, jazz saxophone studies, arranging and music composition.

Jim Gailloreto's Jazz String Quintet is a True Stereo recording, direct to a two-track Nagra tape machine, by Ken Christianson of Pro Music, Chicago.

Never straightforward but always stirring!

Jim Gailloreto's Split Decision Shadow Puppets NaimCD076

The Naim Label is pleased to welcome Jim Gailloreto's Split Decision into its ever increasing catalogue of new and ground breaking music.

Jim plays tenor and soprano sax, and is accompanied on Shadow Puppets by Laurence Hobgood on Rhodes piano, Larry Kohut on double bass and Eric Montzka on drums and percussion.

Jim's rich smooth tones and thought provoking yet accessible improvisations are newcomers to The Naim Label, although Jim is no stranger to making wonderful and critically acclaimed albums. He played recently on Kurt Elling's Grammy nominated disc "Man In The Air"

Much of Shadow Puppets are tunes that were transcribed originally from a session of total improvisation that Jim did with Chicago drummer Jeff Stitley. Jim made a preliminary recording, which he then listened to in close detail. He noted down which parts of the improvisation worked and caught his ear and worked on these bits, nourishing and tending them until he had the music which makes up the debut album for his group, Split Decision.

Jim's cohorts on this album have their own musical pedigree; Laurence Hobgood needs no real introduction to fans of The Naim Label, being part of Union (cd015 and cd038) and also having recorded a solo disc for us (cd049). Larry Kohut adds a very strong presence on acoustic bass, having learned his technique playing with the likes of Randy Brecker, Larry Coryell, Ryan Schultz and John McLean. Eric Montzka is long time drummer with Patricia Barber, having appeared on most of her recent albums.

Shadow Puppets is a True Stereo recording by Ken Christianson. It was recorded in Gantz Hall at Roosevelt University, Chicago using a Nagra tape machine and two stereo microphones.