Antwerp John Bishop

• 1 Rücksichtslos 06:00
• 2 Trip the Light Fantastic 06:55
• 3 Pointing at the Moon 05:11
• 4 Bull 03:37
• 5 Lawns 07:33
• 6 The Same Melody 03:48
• 7 For Less Than Nothing 07:04
• 8 Two for the Road 06:11
• 9 Contemplative 06:48
• Total Runtime 53:07

Info for Antwerp

Carrying on a widely varied career over several decades, it's through membership in several long-lived trios where Seattle drummer John Bishop's musical voice is probably most apparent. With New York pianist Hal Galper's acclaimed "rubato" trio over the last 15 years, the band Scenes with guitarist John Stowell for another 20, or the piano trio New Stories which started in the mid-80s, each provided a committed vision with a focus on the collective narrative. With that, it's no surprise that Bishop would deliver another trio as the first album under his own name in 15 years. First meeting pianist Bram Weijters and bassist Piet Verbist in Belgium in 2010 through a quartet with trumpeter Chad McCullough, they went on to do yearly tours, performing 100+ concerts, and releasing 3 albums over its 8 years. Continuing yearly trips to Antwerp following the pandemic, the thought of recording a trio with Piet & Bram came in a flash of gratitude for their friendship, musicianship and the ongoing adventures that the first Antwerp visit inspired. Theirs is a sound evolved from mutual admiration and the joy of creation.

"...Bishop has his own distinctive sound, one that a listener can identify on any recording. His intuitive sensitivity, chant-like use of cymbals, and masterful brush work serve as a spatial touchstone..." (AllAboutJazz)

"...Weijters is a commanding presence on the piano - passionate and percussive (with) a knack for intriguing story telling." (AllAboutJazz)

"Bassist Verbist creates a groove that is all about Serious Cool, yet undeniably thoughtful and even cerebral..." (EMUSIC)

Bram Weijters, piano
Piet Verbist, bass
John Bishop, drums

Recorded on May 9, 2023 by Jussi De Nys at Rockstar Recordings, Niel, Antwerp, Belgium
Mixed by Dave Dysart, Bellevue, WA
Mastered by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Recording, New York City
Produced by John Bishop

John Bishop
As a drummer, educator, record label owner, graphic designer, publisher, and festival presenter, John Bishop has been one of the primary voices in Northwest Jazz for over 40 years. He has performed in concerts and clubs with Hal Galper, Lee Konitz, Slide Hampton, Benny Golson, Jessica Williams, Ernestine Anderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Julian Priester, Buddy DeFranco, Sonny Fortune, and countless others. He's appeared on more than 100 albums, was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame in 2008, and was named a "Jazz Hero" by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2019.

Bishop has recorded 7 albums and toured internationally with New York pianist Hal Galper's Trio over the past 15 years. Other ongoing projects include: SCENES, a 23 year-old group with saxophonist Rick Mandyck, guitarist John Stowell & bassist Jeff Johnson, and the Chad McCullough & Bram Weijters Group, a Belgian/American project, for over a decade.

"John Bishop, in his unobtrusive precision, makes you think of Lewis Nash. All Bishop does is swing his ass off." - STEREOPHILE Magazine

For 20 years, he was a member of the piano trio New Stories along with pianist Marc Seales and bassist Doug Miller. They had 4 CDs of their own, 6 with the late be-bop saxophonist Don Lanphere, and a Grammy-nominated RCA recording with Mark Murphy. They were a house trio for 17 years at Bud Shank's Pt. Townsend Jazz Festival, headlined the 1993 JVC Jazz Festival in Vladivostok, Russia, appeared in concert with Tom Harrell, Sonny Fortune, Charles McPherson, Vincent Herring, Nick Brignola, Conte Condoli, Bobby Shew & Larry Coryell, and regularly appeared around the country by themselves or touring with Mark Murphy or Ernie Watts. "Highway Blues," from their 1999 recording, "Speakin' Out," was the sample music embedded in Windows XP, which sold over 700 million copies.

"The New Stories trio is likewise nothing less than extraordinary. Drummer John Bishop, particularly, is one of the finest on the scene." - Jazz Review

He's taught drums privately for 45 years and was on the faculty at the University of Washington from 2005-2009. He regularly does drum and jazz workshops throughout the country, including events with Hal Galper at the University of North Texas, University of Indiana, Dartmouth, The New School, Purchase Conservatory-NYC, University of Louisville, San Jose State University, The Jazz School-Berkeley, and the University of Colorado, among others.

In 1997, Bishop started Origin Records (named Jazzweek's 2009 "Label Of The Year") and OriginArts, a graphic design & CD production company, to help further the exposure of creative artists and their music. In partnership with his ex-drum student, Matt Jorgensen, they have released 750 recordings by 370 artists from around the world. In 2002 they added another jazz label, OA2 Records, a classical imprint, Origin Classical in 2008, and in 2003 began Seattle's annual Ballard Jazz Festival. Bishop has designed 800 CD packages and multiple book covers, banners, posters, and other graphics for clients around the globe.

This album contains no booklet.