Detroit jazz pianist Gary Schunk has never lacked for talent, ideas and great stories. What he has lacked is the opportunity to be heard by a wider national audience. The Gary Schunk Trio's new album Kayak (Detroit Music Factory Records) features Peter Erskine - should rectify that unfortunate situation.
Gary visited the WEMU studio to talk about the musical alignment of the stars that produced this expressive and musically significant piano trio date. Despite an automobile accident which hospitalized Gary for three months, the CD was released, and Gary now has a new lease on life.
Gary’s years of experience playing at Detroit’s legendary Baker’s Keyboard Lounge and memorable Ann Arbor venues such as The Bird Of Paradise Jazz Club, The Earle and the Del Rio inform his playing today. But as you listen to Gary’s brilliant technique on Kayak or the two other recent releases that feature his distinctive piano work: Alamode Featuring Curtis Fuller by Ron Kischuk And The Masters Of Music Trombones and Most Triumphant by Walter White, you will hear that Gary Schunk continues to push his musical concepts forward and is a growing, surviving veteran jazz musician worthy of national attention.
