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. Graeber
JERRY LEAKE AND RANDY ROOS
Cubist Live
WYNTON MARSALIS
SELECTIONS FROM SWINGING INTO THE 21'ST
Mike Longo And The New York State Of The Art Jazz Ensemble
Live From New York
VARIOUS
Rumble In the Great Lakes (Best of the Detroit Jazz Fest 2007)
FRANK KIMBROUGH
Play
Laurence Hobgood Trio
Honor Thy Fathers
The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.