"3" - A Fresh Approach to the Art of the Piano Trio After 20 years of musical collaboration pianist Bradley Williams and bassist Eric Hochberg, along with drummer Jim Widlowski, join forces with this excursion through 12 diverse originals, penned by Williams and Hochberg. The program opens with the driving "Penultimatum" and a thoughtful pause in"The Garden." After some beatnik bongos with a "Fish Samich" there's the Monk/Mingus moment in "For Crowley" `followed by the dense moody harmonies of "Waiting...Waiting..." and "Before Fall." Then the joyful, New Orleans groove of "Clybourn Strut," culminating in the catchy rhythms of "Song for Sarah" into the skittering be-bop of "Plumb Bob." Bradley Williams, like Coleman Hawkins, hails from Topeka, Kansas. He recorded and traveled internationally as pianist/arranger with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd in the mid-80's. Settling in Chicago, he served as musical director and accompanist at the city’s legendary Gold Star Sardine Bar cabaret. In 1994 he released his first Trio recording, "The Next Sound You Hear" to critical acclaim. In 1995 the pianist founded his jazz variety show, "The Original 21st Century Review," featuring seven musicians, three vocalists and a tap dancer. His original music has been featured in films and his various ensembles have toured the Far and Middle East. He's a frequent partner with vocalist Sheila Jordan and has performed with Joe Henderson, Dizzy Gillespie and Tony Bennett. A first call performer on the Chicago music scene for more than thirty years, Eric Hochberg has lent his bass work, both upright and electric, and an occasional trumpet, keyboard and vocal lick to a variety of projects across the realms of jazz, folk, rock and blues. He has toured with the Lyle Mays Quartet, the Terry Callier Group, the Paul Wertico Trio, the Kurt Elling Quartet, Ken Nordine’s Word Jazz, the Howard Levy Quartet and the Grazyna Auguscik Quintet. As a composer, Eric has made contributions to Kurt Elling's Close Your Eyes and The Messenger on Blue Note Records, Hochberg and Potter's World Thing on HoPo Records, Trio New New Bolero, The Paul Wertico Trio's Live in Warsaw and Don't Be Scared Anymore, The Rob Parton Quartet, and Future Tense with Eric, Steve Eisen and Andrew Scott Potter. Jim Widlowski brings his intuitive imagination to an array of musical situations. His talents have graced many Chicago theater productions (Wicked, Lion King, Rent, Billy Elliot, Mary Poppins) and orchestral presentations including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Grant Park Symphony and the Ravinia Festival. In the jazz world, he's worked with the Ed Petersen Quintet, Bradley Williams' 21st Century Review, Fareed Haque and on Kurt Elling's Grammy nominated "The Messinger." He's in demand for his studio skills and has played sessions for many artists and producers.