George Colligan (born December 29, 1969) is an American jazz pianist, organist, drummer, trumpeter, educator, composer, and bandleader.
Early life and education Colligan was born in New Jersey and raised in Columbia, 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. His playing is influenced by Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter, and McCoy Tyner.Kelman, John. "George Colligan: The Endless Mysteries", All About Jazz, January 14, 2014.
Career As a sideman, he has worked with Phil Woods, Gary Bartz, Robin Eubanks, Billy Higgins, Lee Konitz, Nicholas Payton, Steve Wilson, Richard Bona, Cassandra Wilson, Christian McBride, Buster Williams, Al Foster, Don Byron, Benny Golson, Lonnie Plaxico, and Vanessa Rubin. Colligan received a Chamber Music America Award for composition and won the Jazzconnect.com Award. He has released over twenty albums as a leader and has recorded on over 100 albums as a sideman.
Colligan has performed at festivals all over the world, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Vancouver International Jazz Festival, and the Cancun Jazz Festival. In 2007, for the first time, he played trumpet with the trio Mr. Trumpet at the annual Festival of New Trumpet Music in New York City. He taught at the Juilliard School.
In September 2009, Colligan moved to Winnipeg to teach at the University of Manitoba. He taught jazz history, piano, drums, trumpet, and led master classes. He was songwriter-in-residence at Aqua Books from February to March 2011. In July 2011, Colligan moved to Portland, Oregon, to teach at Portland State University.
Personal life Colligan is married to jazz pianist Kerry Politzer.https://downbeat.com/news/detail/george-colligans-vision-realized
Discography
As leader/co-leader Recording dateTitle Label Year released Notes / Personnel 1995–11Activism SteepleChase 1996Trio, with Dwayne Burno (bass), Ralph Peterson (drums) 1997–04The Newcomer SteepleChase 1997Quartet, with Mark Turner (tenor sax), Ingrid Jensen (trumpet, flugelhorn), Dwayne Burno (bass), Billy Drummond (drums) 1997–09Stomping Ground SteepleChase 2000Trio, with Drew Gress (bass), Billy Hart (drums) 1998–04Constant Source SteepleChase 2000Quintet, with Jon Gordon (alto sax, soprano sax), Mark Turner (tenor sax), Ed Howard (bass), Howard Curtis (drums) 1998Unresolved Fresh Sound New Talent 1999With Jon Gordon (alto sax), Mark Turner (tenor sax), Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar), Drew Gress (bass), Howard Curtis (drums) 1998–09Small Room SteepleChase 2000Solo piano 1999–02Desire Fresh Sound New Talent 2000Quartet, with Perico Sambeat (alto sax, soprano sax, flute), Mario Rossy (bass), Marc Miralta (drums) 1999–03Return to Copenhagen SteepleChase 2002Solo piano 1999–11Agent 99 SteepleChase 2001Trio, with Doug Weiss (bass), Darren Beckett (drums) 2000–02Twins SteepleChase 2000 Co-led duo, with Jesper Bodilsen (bass)2000Como La Vida Puede Ser Fresh Sound New Talent 2001With Perico Sambeat (alto sax, soprano sax, tenor sax, palmas), Mario Rossy (bass), Marc Miralta (drums, cajón, percussion), Guillermo Magill (cajón), Antonio Serrano (harmonica), Tom Guarna (guitar) 2001–03A Wish SteepleChase 2001 Co-led duo, with Jesper Bodilsen (bass) 2001–12Ultimatum Criss Cross Jazz 2002Quartet, with Gary Thomas (tenor sax, flute), Drew Gress (bass), Ralph Peterson (drums) 2003–10Past – Present – Future Criss Cross Jazz 2005with Bill Stewart (drums) 2004–09Realization Sirocco 2005Trio, with Tom Guarna (guitar), Rodney Holmes (drums) 2006?Blood Pressure Ultimatum 2006With Jamie Baum (flute), Meg Okura (violin), Joshua Ginsburg and Boris Kozlov (bass), Jonathan Blake, Vanderlei Pereira and E. J. Strickland (drums) 2009–01Isolation SteepleChase 2010Solo piano2011?Living for the City SteepleChase 2011Trio, with Josh Ginsburg (bass), E.J. Stickland (drums) 2011–10The Facts SteepleChase 2013 Quartet, with Boris Kozlov (bass), Donald Edwards (drums), Jaleel Shaw (alto sax) 2012–01Ask Me Tomorrow SteepleChase 2014 Trio, with Linda Oh (bass), Ted Poor (drums) 2012–12The Endless Mysteries Origin 2013Trio, with Larry Grenadier (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums) 2014–08 Live at The Jazz Standard Whirlwind Recordings 2025 [2LP] Live 2014?Risky Notion Origin 2015 Most tracks "Theoretical Planets" quartet, with Nicole Glover (tenor sax, soprano sax), Joe Manis (tenor sax, alto sax), Jon Lakey (bass); some tracks quintet, with Tony Glausi (trumpet) added; Colligan plays drums 2017–11Nation Divided Whirlwind Recordings 2018 Solo piano2018?Escape Route PJCE 2018 As "Other Barry" trio, with Enzo Irace (guitar), Micah Hummel (drums)2024?You'll Hear It La Reserve 2024With various
As sideman With Lee Konitz Pride (SteepleChase, 1999) With Gary Thomas Found on Sordid Streets (Winter & Winter, 1997) With Noah Becker Where We Are (ENTOUR, 2000) With Buster Williams Griot Libertè (HighNote, 2004) With Charlie Porter (trumpeter) Cipher (PHP, 2025)
References
External links georgecolligan.com