SCCD 31910 John Hart “Checkmate”

Except for occasional trips to the New York live scene and recording sessions, John Hart devotes his time in teaching younger generations as the head of the Jazz Guitar Department at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami.

The inspiration for the unusual instrumentation of this album (baritone-sax, guitar, bass and drums) came from one of his classrooms where he tutors ensemble playing. He then, of course called his favorite baritone man Gary Smulyan to join the session.

Checkmate, the third album by John Hart on SteepleChase was recorded a few weeks before the onset of Corona pandemic. Now after a dark long year of lockdown we hope we can call “checkmate” on that virus.

“Hart’s beautifully shaded melodies and detailed and balanced intermezzi of concise and fast cadenzas signify his matured musicianship” (Francois van de Linde – Jazz Journal on SCCD 31885 Act Three)

JOHN HART guitar

Gary smulyan baritone saxophone

david wong bass

andy watson drums

Recorded December 2019

1 123 BLUES (John Hart) 7:47

2 POWER OF THREE (John Hart) 7:29

3 EVERYTHING HAPPENS TO ME (Matt Dennis) 6:12

4 CHECKMATE (John Hart) 6:05

5 MINIATURE (John Hart) 6:41

6 NIGHT AND DAY (Cole Porter) 8:09

7 BITTERSWEET (John Hart) 6:52