CD Review: Matt Garrison - Familiar Places

CD Review: Matt Garrison - Familiar Places

Featured Artist: Matt Garrison

CD Title: Familiar Places

Year: 2010

Record Label: DClef

Style: Various Jazz Styles

Musicians: Mat Garrison (sax), Bruce Harris (trumpet), Claudio Roditi (trumpet, flugelhorn), Thomas Barber (flugelhorn), Michael Dease (trombone), Sharel Cassity (flute), Don Braden (alto flute), Mark Whitfield (guitar), Zaccai Curtis (piano, fender rhodes), Luques Curtis (bass), Rodney Green (drums)

Review: The music on Matt Garrison new album Familiar Places is as impressive as the group of musicians playing in it. Besides Garrison, this album features Claudio Roditi on trumpet and Mark Whitfield on guitar among other amazing musicians.

The opening track Try another day starts with amazing harmonies by Matt Garrison on sax and Bruce Harris on trumpet. Garrison, Harris and Zaccai Curtis take turns with good improvisations before getting back to the starting harmonies.

A thoughtful attempt has a bossa feel with melodies reminiscent of the classic Speak Low. In contrast, Convergence has a modern feel to it with interesting time signatures and rhythms. The notes cascades out of the piano in Curtis flawless solo on this one.

Michael Dease composition, You know I love you includes the cool sounds of the fender rhodes and Garrison original You’ll know when you see her is a Bebop track with sax and trumpet harmonies that reminds me of Bird and Dizzy duets.

Familiar Places is another track with nice harmonies and a groove that makes you feel good. Kind of sounds like Vice Guaraldi compositions for Peanuts.

Matt warm tone works perfect on the track Left Behind, his improvisations flow easily out of his horn and yet his ideas sound well organized. In Without you, dedicated to Dizzy Gillespie, the band effortless changes between Cuban/latin and swingin rhythms. The album closes with the funky groove of A Clear Path.

Tracks: Try another day, A thoughtful attempt, Convergence, You know I love you, You’ll know when you see her, Familiar Places, Left behind, Without you no me (To Dizzy), A clear path

Artist's Website: http://mattgarrisonmusic.com/

Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre