Gregg Hill

Jazz Composer

December 2025

Rick Roe

Wake Up Call

..."everyone involved in Wake Up Call deserves roses."

"...Roe’s ambitious arrangement takes listeners on a trip Hill never considered. The exceptionally unified band of Detroiters further elevates the music, drawing out its formal implications and exciting the emotions. Marvel at the dancing, interactive beat that Roe, the brilliant bassist Robert Hurst, and the animated drummer Nate Winn slap on the song. Note the mature pacing, spontaneity, and relaxed intensity generated in the solos by Roe and tenor saxophonist Marcus Elliot.

This rewarding alchemy between composer, arranger, and ensemble distinguishes every track on Wake Up Call, the 19th – yes, 19th – recording of Hill’s music to appear in the last decade. Based in Lansing, Mich., and largely self-taught as a composer, Hill, 79, has been methodically documenting his catalog of nearly 200 songs in partnership with the world-class talent in southeast Michigan."

— Mark Stryker

Author of Jazz from Detroit (2019) and writer-producer of The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit (2025).

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ALBUMS

July 2025 Release!

Randy Napoleon

"Waking Dreams"

...one of the truly premier players on his instrument anywhere. His dexterity, fluid ideas and command of a tricky instrument must be recognized as top drawer.

—Jazz Guitar Today

Surrounded by the brilliant musical family who have centered his band for years—bassist Rodney Whitaker, pianist Rick Roe and drummer Quincy Davis—guitarist Randy Napoleon calls back four of his fleet-fingered, virtuoso former guitar students to share the stage and build up something new for this ambitious album, his 10th as a leader. Centered on compositions from the prolific Gregg Hill, along with several of his own, he arranged each for this 5-guitar choir of musicians, all connected through years of Napoleon's mentorship, each fully evolved in their own artistry. Whether adding other-worldly harmonic density, lush string-like backgrounds, subtle counter melodies or cascading rhythmic intrigue, Waking Dream comes across as a one-of-a-kind sonic experience, while still in the mainstream of modern jazz recordings.

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DISCOGRAPHY

IN THE NEWS

Dave Sharp WORLDS Quartet Elevates the Music of Gregg Hill to Dazzling New Heights.

...this latest release not only distinguishes itself from the crowded field, it quite possibly surpasses all previous efforts. What we encounter here is both one of Hill’s most visionary and majestic compositions to date, and a revelatory interpretation by a group of artists who manage to inhabit the work so completely that it feels newly born. Their reading is nothing short of exhilarating, both modern in outlook and deeply resonant.

"Catalyst" is composer Gregg Hill's latest 2025 album release, celebrating the cinematic world music collaboration of Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet & Elden Kelly.

"Catalyst" is composer Gregg Hill's latest 2025 album release, celebrating world music featuring the Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet & Elden Kelly.

Rodney Whitaker Mosaic Album - Indispensable!

Paris Move Theirry De Clemensat Gives Whitaker's Mosaic Album his Highest Review... "Indispensable!"

Randy Napoleon Album Tops Charts in 2024!

Congratulations Randy Napoleon and Gregg Hill for their Album "The Door Is Open" for topping major charts in 2024!

May 2025!

CATALYST

Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet & Elden Kelly

Cold Plunge Records

"#3 on the " World" Music Charts"

—The Roots Music Report's

"Catalyst" is composer Gregg Hill's latest album release on his Cold Plunge label, celebrating world music and featuring the Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet & Elden Kelly.

The Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet is composed of exceptional artists, including: Dave Sharp (bass), Hendrik Karaptyan (Violin), Igor Houwat (Oud), Mike List (percussion). This year marks a decade of their work together as one of the most intriguing world music groups on the scene today. Catalyst is a collaboration with the master of the fretless guitar, Elden Kelly where together, the album serves as a cinematic celebration of the collaboration between the Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet and Elden Kelly and composer Gregg Hill.

Gregg Hill