Orientation Personnel:Greg Murphy: piano and keyboards, Raphael Cruz: percussion, Alex Hernandez: acoustic and electric bass, Noel Sagerman: drums, Lawrence Clark: Tenor Saxophone. Tracks:1. Triple Dipple 2. Orientation 3. Trane's Mode 4. I Thought About You 5. Keeping It Simple 6. Puffin Land 7. Alternate Voices 8. What's New 9. Cedar Salad 10. A Strain From Wayne

     Some recordings get me within the first seconds of listening, that’s the case with Greg Murphy’s Orientation. The first cut, Triple Dipple, opens with a creative energy which is surged by multiple time feels and meter changes. The groove is positive and engaging. The solo’s are masterful, which leads me as a listener right through the entire disc of music. I was thoroughly entertained and the music created an eagerness in me to want to see this band “live” the next time I was in NYC!
    

Murphy is truly fine keyboardist with excellent background. As many great instrumentalists, Murphy is drawn by the keyboard masters from various era’s. I know this because the nature of his compositions display this on this recording. He is as comfortable on grand piano as a multitude of keyboard instruments. Many people try to perform in many contrasting genres, but few attain to convincing performances. Murphy and gang do this in convincing style.
  

 Quality recordings have the necessary contrasts that draw their listeners to their music. Murphy’s other composition’s include Trane’s Mode” which is a minor blues, which has a strong post-bop flavor. The variety continues as Murphy shows several different sides of his musical personality. Two fusion numbers dominated by keyboards and electric bass, “Puffin Land” and “Alternate Voices”, form a break between the acoustic sections. My favorite tracks are Murphy’s solo piano standards, ballads “I Thought About You” and “What’s New”. He displays fine touch and sensitivity. Most impressive, he show’s that he is at home in these traditional mainstream styles as well as the more modern modal music’s.
    

There are other fine performances by the other instrumentalists on this disc. It is a fine ensemble. All the players are fine soloists and ensemble musicians. The group plays with a passion and groove which draws the audience into each performance.
    It’s refreshing to hear musicians who play and perform in a manner that reflects the natural evolution of Jazz, without losing originality, while creating their own voice in music! Murphy is one of those people.

    For more information on the music of Greg Murphy, please visit: GregMurphyJazz.com