Walk of Fire Behn Gillece

• 1 Walk of Fire 04:59
• 2 Fantasia Brasileira 05:16
• 3 Bag's Mood 06:06
• 4 Dauntless Journey 05:11
• 5 Battering Ram 05:40
• 6 Reflective Current 06:55
• 7 Something New 04:50
• 8 Specter 06:35
• 9 Break Tune 06:35
• 10 Celestial Tidings 05:59
• Total Runtime 58:06

Info for Walk of Fire

Vibraphonist Behn Gillece heads boldly down a courageous path to explore his “Walk of Fire.” With an exciting program of compositions and an amazing group of players, the stage is clearly set for Gillece to confidently demonstrate both his stunning harmonic knowledge of the idiom as well as his total melodic command of his instrument. The amazing musicians in the band are trombonist extraordinaire Michael Dease, saxophonist Walt Weiskopf, trumpeter Bruce Harris, pianist Adam Birnbaum, bassist Clovis Nicolas, and drummer Jason Tiemann. With a dazzling series of performances overflowing with energized enthusiasm, serious listeners will enjoy following along while Gillece leads his merry minstrels down this “Walk of Fire” as a joyous musical experience of inspiration and delight.

"These ten gleaming gems are also beautiful vehicles for Clovis Nicolas, a bassist who, like Mr Gillece, is never showy, but always there, ‘in the pocket’ when each soloist returns no matter where or how far he’d been. Keeping it all in time is also Jason Tiemann, a drummer who comes to this bonfire more with a palette into which he dips brushes, sticks and mallets just like a bold percussion colourist would. Together these men make Walk of Fire an album to die for." (Raul Da Gama, jazzdagama.com)

Behn Gillece, vibraphone
Michael Dease, trombone
Walt Weiskopf, tenor saxophone
Bruce Harris, trumpet
Adam Birnbaum, piano
Clovis Nicolas, bass
Jason Tiemann, drums

Behn Gillece
Having spent many years deeply embedded in the vibrant jazz scenes of New York and Philadelphia, Behn Gillece has carved out a distinguished reputation as both a virtuosic vibraphonist and a prolific composer. Drawing inspiration from luminaries like Milt Jackson, Gary Burton and Bobby Hutcherson, Gillece has dedicated himself to pushing the boundaries of vibraphone artistry while leaving an indelible mark on the jazz landscape as a composer. Hailing from New Jersey, Gillece honed his craft through numerous performance opportunities in his home state and Philadelphia before making the leap to New York City in 2006. Since then, he has solidified his status as a sought-after sideman, as well as a formidable bandleader and recording artist.

His latest album, "Stick Together" (2024, Posi-Tone), is a testament to the power of collaboration and synergy. Teaming up with esteemed musicians such as pianist Art Hirahara, bassist Boris Kozlov, and drummer Rudy Royston, Gillece crafts musical creations imbued with an undeniable sense of joy and ease.

From 2009 to 2013, Gillece co-led four transformative recordings on Posi-Tone with tenor saxophonist Ken Fowser, garnering international acclaim and extensive streaming and radio play. His albums as a leader— including "Mindset" (2015), "Dare To Be" (2016), "Walk Of Fire" (2017), "Parallel Universe" (2018), "Still Doing Our Thing" (2021), and "Between The Bars" (2023)— propelled him into the spotlight, earning him a 2018 Downbeat Rising Star award. Additionally, Gillece has lent his talents as a sideman to various acclaimed recordings, collaborating with artists such as Patrick Cornelius, Michael Dease, New Faces, Walt Weiskopf, Melody Gardot, Idle Hands, Out To Dinner, and Ensemble Novo.

Gillece's performances have reached prestigious venues worldwide, including the Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Kimmel Center, Smalls Jazz Club, Mezzrow, Jazz Standard, Side Door, Smoke Jazz Club, Fat Cat, Yoshi's, Chris’ Jazz Cafe, as well as renowned festivals such as North Sea, Montreux, Nice, Molde, Ghent, Montreal, and Toronto festivals.

In addition to his robust performance life, Gillece also has a burgeoning career as a music educator. Gillece is a member of the faculty at Rowan University, where he teaches vibraphone, jazz ensemble, music theory, and online courses. In addition to the various workshops he has been asked to give at colleges and universities across the world, he has prepared over 700 lessons for online instruction on vibesworkshop.com, which benefits percussion students internationally.

A recipient of numerous accolades, including the 2018 Downbeat Rising Star Vibraphonist award, Gillece holds a master's degree from SUNY Purchase and is endorsed by Malletech instruments. Other honors include the 2009 Betty Carter Jazz Ahead residency, winning the Generations competition in 2009, and winning the 2008 Jazz Improvisation competition at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention.

This album contains no booklet.