Sean Gough

A native of the northeastern United States, Sean Gough has deep musical roots, attending concerts since age 2 and playing piano since age 8, drawing widely from Black American popular music, European classical music, and hymns of the Catholic and Protestant churches. Since the age of 18, Sean has worked as a professional musician.

In 2007, he was fortunate to meet veteran bass player Gene Perla, subsequently joining him in an apprenticeship model of ‘learning by doing.’ They have gone on playing in several bands, appearing at venues across the United States, and in Europe. In addition to appearances with other veteran instrumentalists, Sean most often has accompanied singers, a trend which started somewhat by accident as a kid when he twice accompanied his grandfather, opera tenor Ronald Naldi. Since 2011, they have played annual recitals of art songs and arias of the 17th-20th centuries. Mainly, Sean has forged deep musical relationships with singers in the popular realm, from developing and arranging repertoire and creating original shows, to touring, recording, and television appearances. He also has accompanied congregational singing at the pipe organ.

In 2019, after over a year of rehearsing and refining, singer Celia Berk brought their show to the National Arts Club in New York City, then to Birdland Theater and The Kitano with bassist Steve Doyle. They closed the year with a tune featuring saxophonist Dave Liebman at Jazz at Lincoln Center. In April 2019, singer/drummer Bobby Kapp called Gene Perla and Sean for three dates with three saxophonists: Abraham Burton at the Zinc Bar in New York City, Dave Liebman at the Deer Head Inn in the Delaware Water Gap, and Dan Wilkins at The Lafayette Bar in Easton, PA.

Also in Pennsylvania, singer Corinne Mammana and Sean opened for Cyrille Aimée at the ArtsQuest Center, followed by other dates that led to recording Corinne’s album Yes, No, Next with Gene and drummer Ian Froman. They have played many outdoor events since the pandemic, including Musikfest, the Jazz Forum Arts series, and the Northwest Jazz Festival, with a rotating cast of characters including drummers Adam Nussbaum and Lorenzo Branca, and bassists Evan Gregor and Arturo Baguer.

A decade earlier, Sean and Gene had met singer Jeannie Brooks on the bandstand in Philadelphia. They went on to join Jeannie at clubs, concert halls, and festivals in Philadelphia, New York City, Washington, D.C., and northeastern Pennsylvania. At one of those dates, at the legendary Philadelphia club Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus, they met drummer Doug Hirlinger in their first of many appearances since as a rhythm section.

From 2007 to 2010, Sean already was traveling to Philly for the late sets at Chris’ Jazz Café with The Jack Furlong Quartet. While gigging and recording with Jack on saxophone, the rhythm section started independent ventures as the group Ojespa. Another of Sean’s oldest musical partners, singer Viktorija Gečytė, led tours annually from 2008 to 2018, including many dates with drummer Jon Arkin in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their album No Detour Ahead was recorded on the East and West Coasts.