The Originals
2019
The Story Behind The Music
–NEW RELEASE–
Christian Jacob returns to the jazz trio setting with a captivating collection of original compositions. Presented in a story-like fashion, each selection draws the listener deeper into the trio’s musical wonderland. Playful, creative, grooving and performed with the extraordinary unity that The Christian Jacob Trio is known for. Joining Christian are longtime bandmates bassist Trey Henry and drummer Ray Brinker. While this recording is truly all about jazz trio, a beautifully orchestrated string section adds depth to 8 of the compositions. Package includes story “The Originals” and illustrations by Elijah Henry.
Beautiful Jazz
2014
The Story Behind The Music
Beautiful Jazz: A private concert is the first solo piano recording by Christian Jacob. His goal was to record as if the listener was alone in the concert hall with him. As for the music selection he explains: “Beautiful Jazz represents the journey I started more than 40 years ago. I left the classical world to pursue jazz without the slightest idea of what I was getting myself into. Fortunately, I had this music to guide me.”
Live in Japan
2008
The Story Behind The Music
In 2007 I was invited to tour and record in Japan. I always loved Japanese audiences, and to make this recording special, I chose 4 Japanese melodies that every Japanese person would recognize, and arranged them for trio. They were the highlight of the tour. Surrounding these 4 tunes are some of my originals and some well known standards. I was happy to bring my 2 longtime partners: Trey Henry on Bass and Ray Brinker on Drums.
Contradictions
2006
The Story Behind The Music
Contradictions focuses on the original music of Michel Petrucciani. Christian Jacob’s wonderful arrangements and new take on these compositions is a reminder of why there is always a need to expand our musical boundaries beyond the jazz standards we are already familiar with. Christian Jacob, Trey Henry and Ray Brinker have performed the valuable service of revealing that Michel Petrucciani left some of his secrets behind.
Styne & Mine
2004
The Story Behind The Music
Styne & Mine pays tribute to the music of Jule Styne with some of Christian Jacob’s originals mixed in. Hence the title. For Christian, this CD was a long time coming. For years he had been recording and touring with Trey Henry and Ray Brinker and he felt that this was a great project for them to record. Longtime friend and musical partner Tierney Sutton, joins in for two of the tracks.
Reviews
DOWN BEAT
``Jacob, a lyrical player in the Bill Evans/Keith Jarrett stylistic mode with touches of Oscar Peterson flash, offers a nicely
crafted rendering of nine Jule Styne standards, as well as a sensitive look at four of his own compositions.``
~ DOWN BEAT MAGAZINE
JAZZ TIMES
“A post-bop modernist touched by the souls of Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett…Pianist Christian Jacob is a wonderful player whose crystalline melodies and expansive harmonies mark him as someone to keep an ear on.”
~ JAZZ TIMES MAGAZINE
NEW YORK TIMES
“ The phenomenal pianist Christian Jacob -- created dense, polyrhythmic thickets that
overlaid two or more Latin grooves, through which Mr. Jacob's piano solos sprang out and hurtled.”
(Stephen Holden)
~ THE NEW YORK TIMES