The Doug MacDonald Trio

"...beautiful bell-clear sounds and a sure-footed sense of swing." - Zan Stewart, Los Angeles Times "MacDonald's trio swings strong but light, the better to frame his pleasant and unhurried melodies; he fits neatly into the relaxed, country-tinged post-bop mode of guitarists Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd." - Neil Tesser, Chicago Jazz Examiner "This time out, MacDonald returns to the organ group setting that he explored on 1997's Organ-izing (which featured big-toned tenor great Plas Johnson and organist Art Hillery). And the results are scintillating." - Bill Milkowski, Jazz Writer Doug MacDonald's 11th recording project, Doug MacDonald's ReORGANized Quartet (Blujazz Records), was the culmination of almost a year's work by MacDonald as composer and leader, "realizing a goal to write more for this ensemble and get it out there," he said. MacDonald announced the revival of the organ quartet in 2012 with a first appearance at the LAX Jazz Club, referring to the revitalization of the original (1997) group as "re-organizing." The recording and the launch appearance have led to ongoing performances for the group and for the versatile guitarist within his other working configurations—the trio and the now well established 13-member "Jazz Coalition." Two preceding Blujazz recordings reflecting the trio and the larger ensemble were: It's a Blue World, with Lou Shoch on bass and Jack LeCompte on drums, and Fourth Stream, which added a string section to his previously recorded 13-member "Jazz Coalition" group of flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, two trumpets, trombone, tuba, piano bass and drums with the guitar. Fourth Stream underscored how MacDonald has grown as a writer since his early days in Hawaii and throughout his years as a Los Angeles jazz staple since moving to access the mainland's music opportunities in 1982. His reputation expands to the east coast, as well. As a guest artist and in various leader settings, he has appeared at Carnegie Hall, at clubs in New York, Chicago and his native Philadelphia, as well as in Barcelona, Spain and Honolulu, Hawaii. He also merited recurring spots on three of L.A.'s own most well known jazz festivals, most recently (October 2013) to perform Barney Kessel's "Some Like It Hot" concert portion of the L.A. Jazz Institute's four-day "Jazz Themes from Hollywood." Live performances over time have included the usual A-Z list of both here and gone legendary associations: Stan Getz, George Shearing, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Brown, Buddy Rich, Dave McKenna, Scott Hamilton, Richard Groove Holmes, Jack McDuff, Bobby Vinton, Ray Charles and Rosemary Clooney, plus fellow guitarists Joe Pass and Herb Ellis. He has recorded with Ross Tompkins, Ray Brown, Jake Hanna, Hank Jones, Jack Sheldon, Bob Cooper, Art Hillary, Johnny Kirkwood, Plas Johnson, Snooky Young, Bill Holman, the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Lorez Alexandria and Ray Anthony, among others. For more info visit DougMacDonald.net