Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill

A stone cold master class...so heart felt and spirited it just transcends all boundaries. Killer stuff.
Midwest Record

Recently honored with induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences through his decades-long status as a prolific bassist and preeminent jazz educator, Rodney Whitaker also continues his role as a consummate interpreter of original music, notably through this fruitful association with composer Gregg Hill. Mosaic is the fourth collaboration between the two, and with his vibrant, working band—featuring vocalist Rockelle Whitaker, along with trumpeter Terell Stafford, saxophonist Tim Warfield, pianist Rick Roe and drummer Dana Hall—they imbue Hill's fresh, idiosyncratic compositions with fiery interaction, deep swing, wise decisions, and a forward-thinking sense of adventure.

"The variety is broad, and the band itself can blow up a storm!" WTJU

Production Info:

Produced by Gregg Hill & Rodney Whitaker
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered by Eric Wojahn
at Solid Sound Recording Co., Ann Arbor, Michigan
Recorded on March 9-10, 2024
Photography & cover design concept by Lynne Brown
Cover Design & Layout by John Bishop

Reviews of Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill

Paris Move (Thierry De Clemensat)
"Indispensable" Gregg Hill continues to inspire thousands of musicians, and this time, the illustrious Rodney Whitaker takes up the mantle, offering us an album of remarkable enthusiasm. Deeply connected to Origin Records—a label that has become something of a home for him—Whitaker's impressive array of musical endeavors is too vast to fully ...

All About Jazz (Paul Rauch)
4-STARS In their fourth collaboration on Origin Records, bassist and bandleader Rodney Whitaker and Central Michigan composer Gregg Hill strike gold once again, backed by a formidable gathering of musicians. Hill's music has experienced a surge in interest due to his prolific releases on Origin, which have featured musicians in and around the impr ...

Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
This is about the fourth album that has come across my ears focusing on the composing strengths of Gregg Hill. You know a guy has a lyrical style when almost half of the songs feature lyrics themselves, mostly brought on by vocalist Rockelle Whitaker. The remaining team of Tim Warfield/ts-ss, Rick Roe/p, Terell Stafford/tp-fh and Dana Hall/dr do wo ...

The Jazz Word (Nolan DeBuke)
Rodney Whitaker's latest release, Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill, is a set of ten well-written and arranged compositions reflecting jazz's past while forging into fresh directions. At the heart of the album lies Whitaker's deep connection to Hill's compositions, which serve as a canvas for exploring jazz's rich lineage and its potential mix with m ...

DownBeat (Ayana Contreras)
4-STARS From the opening title track, this album is a declaration of mastery. It's also a formidable showcase to the collective strength of this combo as well as of Gregg Hill's compositions: It's all killer, no filler. "Mosaic" is a bouncy, juicy number held down by the alchemy present in the interplay between Whitaker's walking bass line that's ...

BMan's Blues Report (BMan)
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill, by Rodney Whitaker, and it's strong. Opening with title track, Mosaic, Rodney Whitaker on bass lays down an excellent groove, bound by Rick Roe on piano and Dana Hall on piano. Terell Stafford on trumpet sets the track on fire with excellent solo phrasing ...

Modern Drummer (Editor)
Origin Records is owned and run by a couple of drummers, and they have been putting out some very nice recordings, and here's another to add to the list. Rodney Whitaker is a world-renowned bassist, arranger, and professor of jazz studies. Gregg Hill is an under-recognized composer. Together they have put out three wonderful records, and this is ...

Jazz'N'More (Switzerland) (Michael van Gee)
4-STARS The outstanding bassist Rodney Whitaker (*1968 in Detroit) presents "Mosaic," his fourth album, following "Common Ground" (2019), "Outrospection" (2021), and "Oasis" (2023), featuring compositions by Gregg Hill from Michigan. He performs with an illustrious quintet, as well as Rockelle Whitaker, the bassist's daughter, who contributes voca ...

JAZZIZ Magazine (Editor)
To paraphrase iconic soul vocalist James Brown's shout-outs to his drummers, give the bassist some — if it's Rodney Whitaker. As is the case with rhythmic instruments, including drums, playing the upright double bass doesn't often result in celebrity. But the 57-year-old Detroit native has crafted a prolific 40-year recording career as a session ...

Jazz Music Archives (Carmel de Soto)
4-STARS Rodney Whitaker is a sought-after bassist extraordinaire and a pre-eminent jazz educator. On his latest project, "Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill" (Origin Records, 2025), Whitaker and his vibrant working band breathe life into Hill's idiosyncratic compositions, crafting an album brimming with fiery interplay, deep swing, and a forward-thin ...

Jazz Sensibilities (Stamish Malcuss)
Rodney Whitaker, a towering figure in jazz bass performance and education, has long been celebrated for his multifaceted musicianship and deep understanding of the genre. Mosaic: The Music of Gregg Hill is the latest collaboration between Whitaker and composer Gregg Hill. This album marks the fourth installment of their musical partnership, further ...