2008-02-16
First and foremost, Matt Savage is something of a child prodigy. I think he’s 15 or so and this is his eighth album of jazz compositions! He’s been on Marian McPartland’s “Piano Jazz,” which gives him street cred in and of itself. The liner notes and press release on this one reads like a resume, with appearances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien among others. Most of the songs, including the salsa-flared “Muy Caliente,” are Savage compositions. He even takes on the giants with Miles Davis’ “Seven Steps to Heaven.” Recorded live at Tufts University’s Distler Performance Hall in Boston, this is a polished set of work. That being said, that’s just what this recording is – polished. To me, it was very “recital.” A talented musician, no doubt, but this is very thin on substance. - Daniel J. GraeberBob Merrill and Roswell Rudd
Cheerin' Up The Universe
Lewis Porter and Phil Scarff Group
Three Minutes to Four
The Hot Club of San Francisco
John Paul George & Django
Rachelle Garniez & the Fortunate Few
Luckyday
BELA FLECK AND CHICK COREA
The Enchantment
ROGER DAVIDSON TRIO
Ten to Twelve.
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