Jazz Pianist and Composer Glen Halls Releases CD

Canadian jazz CD release

Pianist composer Glen Halls releases long awaited CD

Canadian Jazz Pianist/Composer/improvisor Glen Halls announces the official release of his latest CD “Progression Meditation” for solo piano, with a concert to be held at Edmonton’s Four Rooms Restaurant on June 30th. He will be joined by drummer Mike Gillespie and bassist John Taylor for the event.

The album features 9 tracks of introspective, somewhat meditative jazz composition and improvisation, including a fully notated contemporary
classical work, the title track “progression meditation.” The album is released on Deeksha records, catalogue number DK101.

One of Canada’s finest jazz musicians, Halls is considered one of the most innovative pianist/composers of his generation. The Edmonton based artist received his Ph.D. in Composition from the University of Victoria in 1995, with his work garnering numerous national and international awards since that time. Glen also has a strong interest in Indian Classical Music, and has studied in Calcutta with vocalist Pandit Ajoy Chakrobarty. Hall’s current research and creative interests include the spirituality of improvisation, eastern religion, and philosophy.

Glen is the founder of Deeksha Records and Spaceless Time Records, dedicated to the promotion of contemporary jazz and improvised music. He is also the founder of the new Edmonton Creative Musicians Collective- a new music society dedicated to the promotion of creative and improvised music in his city. Additionally, Halls is the founder, director, and principle composer of the new Edmonton Art Ensemble- a large mixed ensemble in the contemporary/avante garde jazz idioms.

As an educator Halls is in great demand, and has taught at the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta, Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, and York University in Toronto, where he served as director of the jazz program and contemporary improvisation studio.

To purchase Glen Hall’s “Progressive Meditation”, visit The Grammophone record store in Edmonton, or shop online at http://www.merchantix.com

For more information (be sure to check out the beautiful paintings displayed on his site) visit www.glenhalls.com

June 30, 2006
Glen Halls (piano)
John Taylor (bass), Mike Gillespie (drums)
Four Rooms Restaurant.