George Colligan

George Colligan, George Colligan is a New York-based jazz pianist, organist, drummer, trumpet player, educator, composer and bandleader. He was born in New Jersey on December 29, 1969, and raised in a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland. He attended the Peabody Institute, majoring in classical trumpet and music education. In high school he learned to play the drums and later switched to piano.

An award-winning composer (Chamber Music America/Doris Duke Foundation grant recipient) and player (winner, Jazzconnect.com Jazz Competition), draws fans with his zesty sideman work with players like Cassandra Wilson, Don Byron, Buster Williams, and Lonnie Plaxico, both on the bandstand and in recording sessions (with over 70 sideman credits).

He is also prolific as a leader with 16 recordings full of his intelligent writing and impressive technique.

His recorded on the Criss Cross label is entitled Past Present Future. He also has a new CD entitled Realization ( Sirocco) featuring his organ trio called Mad Science.

George Colligan has toured, recorded , and/or performed as a sideman with Gary Bartz, Benny Golson, Gary Thomas, Steve Coleman, Eddie Henderson, Ralph Peterson, Vanessa Rubin, Steve Wilson,Richard Bona,a Jane Monheit, Ravi Coltrane, Lenny White, Michael Brecker, Mike Clark, Nicholas Payton, Sheila Jordan, Janis Siegel, Christian McBride, Billy Hart, Charles Fambrough, Mingus Big Band, Al Foster, Mark Turner, Lee Konitz, Jamie Baum, Michal Urbaniak and Stefon Harris, among others.

All About Jazz mostly