A rare dose of jazz talent on display

Dean, McCants, Gallante, Bruce

Trumpet prodigy Geoff Gallante was back at JD's Bistro in Port Charlotte FL on Friday night, February 20, sitting in for two sets with singer-pianist Danny Sinoff's trio. Gallante, now 14 (but sounding like a wily jazz veteran in his 40s),  is an interesting talent.

The Fairfax County, Virginia resident started playing the horn at age 4 and mastered it very quickly. Before he turned 6, he sat in with trumpeter Maynard Ferguson at Blues Alley in Washington DC. At age 6, he became the youngest musician to perform at the White House and at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He has appeared with a wide range of high-level jazz artists, big bands, concert bands and symphonies across the U.S.

Danny Sinoff

One thing was readily apparent at JD's this time around, he continues to grow musically. It had been only 11 months since his prior appearance (on March 21, 2014), yet it was clear there was much more subtlety and an even deeper harmonic sophistication to his playing.

Highlights: the band's take on Duke Ellington's "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" (showcasing those subtleties) and a third-set opener, when the band roared through "On Green Dolphin Street." Trombonist Herb Bruce joined the band for that final set. He and Gallante went head to head on solos and blended seamlessly on riffs supporting the rhythm section soloists. No matter the tune that was called, the kid knew the music, and then some.

Sinoff's Friday night trio at JD's includes bassist Sherrell McCants and drummer Patricia Dean.