The Squid's Ear Magazine


Transcendence (Bob Gluck / Christopher Dean Sullivan / Karl Latham): Music Of Pat Metheny (FMR)

Inspired by the compositions of Pat Metheny, the Transcendence trio of pianist Bob Gluck, bassist Christopher Dean Sullivan, and drummer Karl Latham blends intent listening and explorative improvisational mastery into an expressive and dynamic performance, recorded in parallel with Gluck's book Pat Metheny: Stories Beyond Words in a heart-felt and sincere tribute to the guitarist's work.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Bob Gluck-keyboards

Christopher Dean Sullivan-bass

Karl Latham-drums


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Label: FMR
Catalog ID: FMR718
Squidco Product Code: 35924

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2025
Country: UK
Packaging: Digipack - 3 panel
Recorded at Firefly Studio UK, by Karl Latham.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"The versatility and synergy of Transcendence pairs a dynamic trio with a repertoire that is rooted in jazz while rising beyond genre. In its collective interplay and expansive approach, the trio seeks to capture the emotional depth and storytelling inherent in Metheny's compositions - from lyricism and fragility to playfulness and explosiveness - while considering new possibilities and directions. What super charges the performance is each musician's ability to listen, respond, and truly make music together.

The Transcendence sessions also represented an exploratory laboratory for the writing of pianist Bob Gluck's new book, "Pat Metheny: Stories beyond Words" (University of Chicago Press, 2024). The two projects, one sonic and the other written text, fed one another. This recording was thus informed by insight gained in the study of Pat Metheny and his music, while the book was informed by the unparalleled experience that gave birth to this exciting trio and its first album.



"What super charges this trio's performances is each musician's ability to listen, respond, and make music together. Pianist/keyboardist Gluck brings his gift at balancing improvisational freedom with attention to musical structure, while bassist Christopher Dean Sullivan's deep, resonant bass sound provides a solid foundation while crafting intricate, melodic bass lines. Karl Latham is a drummer's drummer, rhythmically complex, precise, and creative. Latham's approach is dynamic and responsive, employing a diverse sound pallet to shapeshift and respond to changing musical moods and levels of intensity.

Bob Gluck is a pianist, electronic musician, and writer. Among his twelve recordings are "Early Morning Star" (2020, with Andrea Wolper, Kinan Azmeh, Ken Filiano, and Tani Tabbal) and "Infinite Spirit: Revisiting Music of the Mwandishi Band" (2016, with Billy Hart, Eddie Henderson, and Christopher Dean Sullivan). His University of Chicago Press books, now joined by Pat Metheny: Stories beyond Words include You'll Know When You Get There: Herbie Hancock and the Mwandishi Band and The Miles Davis Lost Quintet and Other Revolutionary Ensembles. Other musical collaborators have included Aruan Ortiz, Michael Bisio, Joe Giardullo, Neil Rolnick, Andrew Sterman, Dean Sharp, and Jane Ira Bloom. Bob Gluck is Professor Emeritus at the University at Albany.

Christopher Dean Sullivan is a bassist of many musical languages: Jazz, Funk, Reggae, Latin, Fusion, Caribbean, Indian, African, and Eurocentric perceptions, rock, country, and more. He has shared the stage with Stanley Jordan, Pete Seeger, Archie Shepp, Yusef Lateef, Grant Green, Horace Parlan, Joe McPhee, Sonny Simmons, Cecil Payne, Joe Lovano, Roy Campbell Jr., and recorded with Michael Marcus, Joe Giardullo, Sheila Jordan, Odean Pope, Newman Taylor Baker, and others. Sullivan also performs with the Cotton Club All Star Orchestra and he has toured with 50's/60's groups including the Marcel's, The Drifters, and the Sharelles. Sullivan is also an educator and actor.

Drummer Karl Latham's career has spanned the globe, performing, recording, and producing with a multitude of internationally acclaimed musicians, from the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Groups to Bernie Worrell, and Johnny Winter. Karl is known for his exceptional ability to dig into a variety of musical styles, playing funk, rock, Latin, modern jazz, straight-ahead jazz, and avant-garde. Karl has been co-leader of Big Fun(K) with Don Braden, and Constellations with Ryan Carniaux and Mark Egan. His most recent recordings include "Living Standards" (2016, with Mark Egan and Vic Juris) and "Together" (2021, with Alex Collins and Ryan Berg). Karl is a long-standing adjunct professor at several New Jersey colleges, and he teaches workshops, master classes and clinics in the USA and abroad, and online. Karl is an endorsing artist for Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, ProMark Drumsticks, RME, AEA, Heil Sound and Big Fat Snare. Karl is included in the Drummerworld Top Drummers list."-Transcendence Website



"Question and Answer" - Appears on the album Question and Answer (1990), a collaboration with bassist Dave Holland and drummer Roy Haynes.

"Afternoon" - This track is included on Day Trip (2008), recorded with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Antonio Sánchez.

"The Bat" - Originally featured on 80/81 (1980), an album showcasing Metheny alongside saxophonists Dewey Redman and Michael Brecker, bassist Charlie Haden, and drummer Jack DeJohnette.

"Offramp" - The title track of the 1982 album Offramp, which includes contributions from keyboardist Lyle Mays, bassist Steve Rodby, drummer Danny Gottlieb, and percussionist/vocalist Naná Vasconcelos.

"Dolphin Dance" - This is a rendition of the Herbie Hancock composition, performed by Metheny on the album Question and Answer (1990).

"Everything That Lives Laments" - Featured on Rejoicing (1984), an album where Metheny collaborates with bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Billy Higgins.

"Roof Dogs" - Appears on Pat Metheny Group: The Road to You (1993), a live album capturing performances from their European tour.


Artist Biographies

"Robert Gluck (born 1955) is a pianist and composer whose repertoire spans jazz, live electronic music, and avant-garde music. Karl Ackermann (All About Jazz), wrote of the latest of GluckÕs five recordings: ÒAs a composer and player, Gluck ranks with the likes of Andrew Hill and Cecil TaylorÉ Something Quiet is completely original, artistically spontaneous, and intellectually challenging.Ó Allan Kozinn (New York Times) wrote that Gluck is Òan accomplished jazz pianistÓ who played with Òvirtuosic fluidity.Ó Keyboard magazine named him June 2009 ÒUnsigned Artist of the Month.Ó GluckÕs current musical collaborators include saxophonists Joe Giardullo and Ras Moshe, bassists Christopher Dean Sullivan and Michael Bisio, drummer Dean Sharp, and computer musician/composer Neil Rolnick.

Raised in New York as a conservatory student and political activist, Gluck spent many years away from music, leading a life as a rabbi. Bob GluckÕs return to composing electronic music in 1995 and to the piano in 2005 marked a new beginning in his unusual career as a musician, educator, and writer. With influences as diverse as Herbie Hancock, Jimi Hendrix, Johann Sebastian Bach, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, and Karlheinz Stockhausen, Gluck has discovered a way to marry interests in electronic music with his love of jazz. Gluck designs his own software interfaces for interactive musical performance and multimedia installation, including the sound installations 'Layered Histories' (2004), an immersive sound and video environment with Cynthia Rubin and 'Sounds of a Community' (2002), in which visitors trigger and shape recorded sounds by interacting with electronic musical sculptures.

Gluck's musical training is from the Juilliard, Manhattan and Crane schools of music and he holds degrees from the University at Albany, Yeshiva University's Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (MHL, title of Rabbi) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (MFA). His music has been performed internationally. His writings have appeared in Computer Music Journal, Leonardo Music Journal, Leonardo, Organized Sound, Tav +, Journal SEAMUS, Review Zaman (France), Magham (Iran), Ideas Sonicas (Mexico), and elsewhere. He is author of ÒYouÕll Know When You Get There: Herbie Hancock and the Mwandishi BandÓ (forthcoming, University of Chicago Press). Bob Gluck is Associate Professor of Music and Director of the Electronic Music Studio at The University at Albany."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gluck)
4/9/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Question And Answer 6:08

2. Afternoon 5:18

3. The Bat 6:32

4. Offramp 7:36

5. Dolphin Dance 5:45

6. Everything That Lives Laments 6:34

7. Roof Dogs 5:38

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Jazz & Improvisation Based on Compositions
Melodic and Lyrical Jazz
London & UK Improv & Related Scenes
Trio Recordings
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
New in Improvised Music
Recent Releases and Best Sellers

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FMR.


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