Live & Local: Bill O'Connell in Denver April 23
He’s a pianist from Long Island with a big appetite for Latin jazz. Bill O’Connell’s new trio album is called “Touch” (Jojo Records) and he’s playing Dazzle in Denver on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 with Gonzalo Teppa (bass) and Andy Wheelock (drums). Carlos, Abi, and Steve from KUVO’s Morning Set got Bill on the phone to preview his visit, and describe how he developed his passion for jazz and Latin jazz.
This portion of the interview above has been edited for length and clarity:
Carlos Lando: The new album Touch - Talk to us a little bit about this recording.
Bill O'Connell: Well, it's a trio record, and we'll certainly be playing some of the things off that at Dazzle on Wednesday. It's with Billy Hart and Santi Debriano, two of the greatest drummers and bass players in New York, and we played quite a bit together. I have a quintet also with that rhythm section, and Randy Brecker and Craig Handy, which is pretty formidable, I mean, what a band! But I'm so blessed to have him. But the Trio record is really great. I can't get totally away from my Latin roots, but it's more on the straight-ahead jazz-side, but it's still me blending everything in. And I did most of the writing on it as I usually do, but I threw a few standards in there to give some familiarity to everybody.
Abi Clark: Well, this goes back to a different part of your roots. It was your first trio album since Searching (1978), right? Was it fun getting back to that setting?
BO: Yeah. Well, I did a trio thing for CTI in the 90's with Creed Taylor, but that had percussion and a little synth over dubs. And actually, we recorded that record at Rudy Van Gelder's Legendary studio with Rudy in the early 90's. And then I went back, and I played the same piano on this record on "Touch," and that was great. They have a nice nine-foot Steinway in there, and I call it "The Seven Forty-Seven." But it was great getting back there and recording with Billy and Santi.
CL: One quick thing on a Maiden Voyage, which is a track we're going to play. Anything that you want to pass along from that song?
BO: Yeah, sure. I mean, Billy Hart told me once that Herbie thought that was one of the best tunes he ever wrote because Billy worked with Herbie for a long time and Herbie shared that with him. But I had done an arrangement of Maiden Voyage with Conrad Herwig Latin side on the "Latin Side of Herbie Hancock" a number of years ago. I added more harmony to it. This, I kind of went in the other direction. We played it really open and just a vehicle to stretch out on. And then of course, like I said, I can't get away from my Latin roots. I added a Montuno section at the end for Billy Hart to really stretch out on. He can handle anything, but it's really fun to hear him play in that context. So, when I play on Wednesday, you're going to get the straight-ahead jazz thing. You're going to get some of the Latin. You're going to get all of me. But I think it's a fun version of Maiden Voyage, so I hope you dig it.
CL: Thank you so much for taking a little bit of time out of your morning in New York, and you're coming in next week on a Wednesday at Dazzle, you'll be accompanied by two of Denver's greatest musicians, Gonzalo Teppa on Bass, and Andrew Wheelock on drums.
BO: Yeah, I appreciate it, Carlos. I'm excited about the recording, but I'm excited about playing out at Dazzle. I played with Gonzalo and Andrew last time I was out there - they were great! I'm really looking forward to it.
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Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy of Bill O'Connell
