George Colligan Trio
Pianist George Colligan brings his trio to Black Cat for a residency, opening Thursday with the first of two sets that showcase his formidable command of contemporary jazz piano. Winner of the 2015 DownBeat Critics Poll for keyboard, Colligan is recognized for harmonic sophistication, rhythmic drive, and a distinctive voice that bridges tradition with bold contemporary expression.
This performance is part of a multi-night stand — the trio plays Thursday, then returns Friday through Sunday with vocalist Zyanna — giving audiences multiple chances to experience Colligan's dynamic range. A prolific composer and bandleader with over 40 albums to his credit, Colligan has toured and recorded with jazz luminaries including Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Cassandra Wilson, Christian McBride, and Ravi Coltrane. His most recent release, Live at The Jazz Standard (Whirlwind Recordings, 2025), featuring Linda May Han Oh and DeJohnette, earned a DownBeat Critic's Pick and offers a window into his approach: purposeful, inventive, and deeply conversational.
Colligan's playing has been described as earthy and assertive, recalling McCoy Tyner and Mulgrew Miller, with studied abandon and a knack for musical storytelling. DownBeat praised his ability to build tension and release it with beautiful lines, while his stage presence is warm and self-effacing — he's known to joke with audiences between numbers. Expect the trio to stretch out across Colligan originals and reimagined standards, mixing Strayhorn with Joe Henderson and his own compositions that span angsty percussive attacks and graceful ballads.
Joining Colligan are Bay Area bassist David Ewell, a skilled accompanist recognized for his musicianship in the San Francisco jazz community, and Dallas-based drummer Mike Mitchell (also known as Blaque Dynamite), an acclaimed prodigy who has toured internationally with Stanley Clarke, Herbie Hancock, Christian McBride, and Erykah Badu. Mitchell's dynamic percussion and Ewell's reliable foundation give Colligan a flexible, responsive rhythm section that can swing hard or pull back into intimacy.
Reviewers have noted Colligan's ability to make audiences walk out with the concert's last moments stuck in their heads — he closed a 2015 set with a stunning, simple "Charleston Blues" in response to current events, leaving his audience something to think about. Whether channeling Monk-like angularity, tapping the ether with inventive lines, or delivering a gorgeous ballad, Colligan's performances are thoughtful, exuberant, and deeply musical. This is a rare chance to see a world-class pianist who doesn't perform on the West Coast often enough, supported by two players who know how to listen and respond.