Search - The Matt Savage Trio :: Cutting Loose

Prodigious, Playful, and Positively Profound

Jesse Carnes | Baton Rouge, LA USA | 09/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own this CD [and all of Matt Savage's CDs]. Regarding this specific CD, let me say that this is not just "CD no.4" since the Matt Savage Trio was officialy organized, but this recording is a witness to the flowering of legitimate genius.

I refer to Matt Savage, of course. For example : due to the profound and yet simple memody found in Matt Savage's own tune, Plain Old Rhythm Changes, that chart will undoubtedly become a jazz standard. The melody starts out RIGHT on the bar and is in a lively four-four and hums along with the brightness of a vintage Henry Mancini tune. It is original and yet is consumate toe-tapping jazz! But let me say that this recording showcases not only Matt but also his superb bass-player John Funkhouser, and adroit drummer Steve Silverstein.

Technically, this recording offers VERY satisfying TONAL balance and detail imaging. A good class-A or AB system will only put this Jazz Trio RIGHT into your living-room! Rich!!



Let me elaborate on 2 more of this CD's tunes : Matt Savage's Nine At Night is a largo-tempo piece that is not only placid, but as cozy as hot British Tea and Belgian chocolate on a cold winter night. I MUST drink a cup when I hear this song, and in the same tradition is another Matt Savage tune, The Wild Rose. This tune is not only languid, but whose "concert harp-like" opening is prelude to a tune so powerfully romantic and lush that only a boor could fail to appreciate its powerful musical genius. Again, do we get the message here? Simple and yet Profound! That is the heart of this CD's genius ... and Matt Savage's genius. I cannot get enough of this CD--a true witness of a Mozartian genius in its formative flower!"

Matt Savage Trio's "Cutting Loose" is like...

W. Wilkerson | Earth; waiting for a ride... | 09/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Matt Savage Trio's "Cutting Loose" is like a great new dish at a favored restaurant you know won't ever disappoint you; it's like a wild new ride down a favorite road with all new scenery and total confidence in your driver; cotton candy in Winter [?]; a favorite warm jacket that you would wear all year round if possible and might wear all year anyway.



That should cover the gushing superlatives [for now] and so onto a light technical review. See my reviews of Matt Savage Trio's other releases for more "Wow" coverage.



This is the sixth disc recorded by Matt Savage and the fourth with his Trio buddies Mssrs. Silverstein [skins] and Funkhouser [bass]. The first two discs [basically out of print] are small works of a budding artist and include some spoken word as well. The Trio works [live and studio] are tight and wonderfully executed recordings which document the growth of Matt as a performer / composer and the group as a working Jazz Powerhouse.



Recorded on a single day in July of 2004, "Cutting Loose" is the most expansive of the Trio's work to date and more varied in style and manner that anything yet released from the House of Savage. It contains the informative and warm liner notes that mark all Savage Records releases as a loving and personal "handcraft" items.



"Cutting Loose" is the first disc from the Trio that is solely Matt Savage compositions and this is a good thing. His playing skill is already firmly established and, all respect to the Masters of the past, his composition skill is producing works that can stand beside ANYTHING crafted for the crazy 88 to date, by anyone, anywhere, ever.



Yeah folks, he is "that" good and the Trio is "that" tight.



The Matt Savage Trio is creating jazz standards for this age and it's leader / composer is [say it with me] Twelve Years Old... hang on to your hats and coats people because this powerful and wildly colored jazz ride is only going to get more fun and interesting with each new disc / work / performance.



Lots of things can be said of Matt Savage - but here is the one that counts: He is a super talented piano player and composer with a great Trio setup going on and you should hear it.



Should you be fortunate enough to catch a live show, by all means do so.



Please visit www.savagerecords.com for much quicker and more personal service than Amazon provides and to assure that a portion of CD proceeds go to autism research and support. Mr. Bezos already has enough money ;]





Peaxe,

Rev. D."