Hal Galper

Born Harold Galper on April 18, 1938 in Salem, Massachusetts, the jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader is better known as Hal Galper. Studying classical piano at the age of six, he eventually switched to jazz and studied at the Berklee College of Music between 1955 and 1958. Hanging out quite frequently at the Stable – a club owned by jazz trumpeter Herb Pomeroy – he eventually became the house pianist. He eventually held the same position at popular nightclubs Connely’s and Lenny’s on the Turnpike. In the 1960s, Hal Galper spent three years with Chet Baker and worked as a session musician for Stan Getz, Sam Rivers, Randy Brecker and others. In 1971, he released The Guerilla Band, his first album as a leader. The album featured musical assistance from his quintet featuring Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, and others. He followed that album with Wild Bird (1972) and Inner Journey (1973). Hal Galper then replaced George Duke in the Cannonball Adderley Quintet, playing with that group between 1973 and 1975. He also recorded with Cannonball’s brother Nat Adderley in 1975. Hal Galper continued his solo releases with the albums such as Windows (1976), Now Hear This (1977), Speak With a Single Vote (1979), Dreamsville (1987), Tippin’ (1993), Agents of Change (2006), Trip the Light Fantastic (2011), and Cubist (2018). In total, he has recorded over 100 albums, with 32 released under his own name. Hal Galper is also an educator, with a focus on theory, performance and the worldly side of music as a profession.

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