Press reviews for "Table For Three": "...a recording that showcases jazz trio playing at it's finest. From the start it's clear that a) this is a group that has worked steadily together and is tight as a glove, b) Phil DeGreg...has grown into a first-rate world class jazz pianist, and c) fresh arrangements can still be brought to tried and true jazz standards...Phil is nimble, solid, and inventive...this album is a start-to-finish keeper." -Mike Metheny, Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors Magazine "For those who favor the piano trio format as it has been perfected by Ahmad Jamal's groups, Bill Evans's many trios, and the great line of cabaret intimacy forged by Tommy Flanagan, Hank Jones, Cedar Walton, Pete Jolly, and others, this is an album to own." -Jim Merod, JazzNow Magazine "...played with a jazz sensibility informed by, yet not dominated by, Bud Powell, Horace Silver, Wynton Kelly and Bill Evans. From the opening standard "Come Rain or Come Shine," DeGreg, with his cohorts from the Blue Wisp Jazz Club in Cincinnati, makes apparent his own sense of melodic movement and a deep understanding of the blues. His moves swing, and jazz isn't mere reflex. Highly recommended to fans of good trio jazz." -Lazaro Vega, Grand Rapids Press Phil DeGreg is versatile jazz pianist well-known in the Midwest as the leader of the house trio at Cincinnati's famous Blue Wisp Jazz Club since 1995. Pianist James Williams described him as "a musician of ceaseless curiosity...relaxed, natural, and soulful." He is also an internationally respected jazz educator, who teaches at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (since 1988), and for the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops (since 1982). Although based in Cincinnati, Phil has performed in clubs and concerts throughout the United States, and in the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Brazil. He first worked internationally with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd in the mid 1980's. At the Blue Wisp (www.bluewispjazzclub.com) he can be heard live on Tuesday nights with his trio playing music on this CD and many other songs, both originals and covers, in jazz and Brazilian styles. Every weekend, his trio backs up visiting guest artists at the Blue Wisp; over the years he has accompanied many notable jazz performers including Slide Hampton, J.J. Johnson, Junior Cook, Bobby Watson, Mark Murphy, Ira Sullivan, Carl Fontana, Richie Cole, Eddie Harris, Claudio Roditi, Woody Herman, Stanley Turrentine, Scott Hamilton, Joe Lovano, and Ken Peplowski, among many others. Phil completed a degree in psychology from Yale University before becoming a professional musician. After three years working and studying music in Kansas City, he finished a masters degree at University of North Texas, where he performed and recorded with the famous UNT One O'Clock Lab Band. A recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts grants, he was named one of the 10 finalists in Jazziz Magazine's 1995 "Keyboardists on Fire" competition, and was a 1996 finalist in the Great American Jazz Piano Competition. His jazz festival appearances include the North Sea, Pori, Monterey, Montreux, Brecon, Wigan, and Elkhart Jazz Festivals. "Table for Three" is Phil's second jazz release of 5. Other's include "Two of a Mind" (Strugglebaby, 2003), a duo with bassist Paul Keller, "Whirl Away" (JCurve, 2000) featuring Don Braden and Randy Johnston, "The Green Gate" (J Curve,1998), featuring Tim Ries and Drew Gress, and "Hand Gliding" (self-produced,1992), featuring Tim Hagans. He has appeared on numerous other recordings as a sideman, including JCurve releases "Hoosier Mystic" with Morgy Craig (1999), Cincinnati Jazz Collections volumes I, II, and III (1998,1999, 2001), and three recordings with the One O'Clock Lab Band at the University of North Texas. He is featured with J.J. Johnson on the video "J.J. Johnson Live in Concert." In 1995 he published "Jazz Keyboard Harmony," a chord voicing method written for non-pianists and beginning jazz pianists, which is now used at universities in the U.S. and Europe (http://www.JazzBooks.com/) Phil welcomes correspondence. Here is his contact info: Phil DeGreg 4439 Abby Ct. Cincinnati, Ohio 45248 (513) 598-6345 (513) 556-0202 (fax) philip.degreg@uc.edu