Guitarist, Composer and Arranger Graham Dechter has recently released his 3rd CD as a leader. It is at times hard to believe that Graham Dechter is still in his twenties because he has made such a big impression on the Jazz world over the last 15 years. Graham was hired by John Hamilton and John Clayton to join the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra at the age of 19. He was only 22 when he released his first recording as leader, "Right On Time" that received rave reviews. His second release "Takin' It There" was on the Jazz Week chart for 22 weeks including 12 weeks in the top five spot and two weeks at number 1.
For this new CD Graham brought what many Jazz lovers, including me, think is one of the best rhythm section performing today, John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton. The icing on this Jazz cake was the addition of Tamir Hendelman. These three magnificent Jazz musicians have been making some of the best Jazz music together for years and adding Graham Dechter as leader has produced another brilliant Jazz CD.
Graham wrote and arranged all but one of the tunes. He also co-arranged the classic "Pure Imagination" with Jeff Hamilton. According to Graham, "After completing seven originals and co-arranging "Pure Imagination with Mr. Hamilton, I came to the realization that every song on this recording, whether consciously or subconsciously, was dedicated to and/or directly influenced by one or more of my musical heroes"; Herb Ellis, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Parker, George Shearing, Art Blakey, Larry Goldings and Thelonious Monk.
Graham Dechter has a busy schedule on the Jazz circuit including appearing with many of the most popular Jazz musicians performing today including Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Cole, Michael Buble, Leon Russell and Charles Aznavour. He was also featured on the soundtrack for the hit film "La La Land".
We all look forward to many more Jazz sounds from Graham Dechter in the future!
I have attached two "YouTubes" videos with cuts from "Major Influence" for your listening pleasure. Both are original compositions by Graham. The first is entitled "Reference" and the second is "Bent On Monk".
"Reference"
