The JC Group Giveaway/Review - Matthias Lupri - Metalix

[Lois Gilbert]

Matthias Lupri (a JC client) and a Speakeasy contributor would like to share his latest CD: Metalix (A Wondering & Wandering Suite) on Summit Records with 10 of you for your enjoyment and review.




Matthias Lupri - vibes, electronics, compositions
Myron Walden - bass clar., soprano sax, alto sax
Donny McCaslin - alto flute, tenor sax, soprano
Nate Radley - guitar, electronics
Thomson Kneeland - acoustic bass, electronics
Jordan Perlson - drums, percussion

To hear sound bites and read more, please visit: Matthias' site

[Lois Gilbert]

This is open to anyone who didn't score the Jaco Big Band CD. First 10 people who send me an email at lois@jazzcorner.com with:

Please put in subject - Matthias Lupri Giveaway
Include:
screen name
Real name and address
email
tel #

Thanks!
Lois and Matthias

[Lois Gilbert]

Here's the first review in on Matthias' CD

"THE FOLLOW-UP TO 2004's excellent Transition Sonic, Metalix continues to highlight ambient textures that inform Matthias Lupri's impressionist post-bop. Lupri always surrounds himself with strong sidemen and this time is no different - reedists Myron Walden and Donny Mc-Caslin augment his working quartet. The music on this so-called "wondering and wandering suite" often has a floating quality to it - Lupri's airy notes tend to blend with those of the reedists as the subdued rhythm section keeps things even tempered. Tunes like "Ghost Clusters" are completely ambient in nature, but there are a number of more conventional jazz compositions like "(another) Lost Creek" and "Glass Stairs" that stand out. Lupri is a gracious leader as well, allowing his sidemen to take a stake in each piece. Far from the blues and bop of Joe Locke's Rev-elation, Metalix all the same is a fine vibes effort from an emerging player."
Tad Hendrickson, JazzWeek

[Mike Schwartz]

My first impressions are very positive.
McCaslin is in high demand, and he once again shows why.
Lupri has the same drummer and guitarist on this as the previous CD, and as a unit they are really well suited.

So much so, that Mattias is booked to appear with me on the weekly program again at KSJS 90.5FM [SF Bay Area radio] or www.ksjs.org on Sunday May 7th at 9AM Pacific/12 Noon Eastern time.

If you would like me to ask a question for Mattias, please submit it here, and I will try to accomodate. Thanks.

[Lois Gilbert]

I everyone we have 3 copies left.

[jazzy mary]

Myron's on this disc!! Say no more! Lois, can I review it? I'm writing my Jaco review today--really--I have notes and everything. I'm e-mailing you.

Love,
Mary

[Valerie]

i will definitely be purchasing this cd. i absolutely love everything matthias does 'cause he does it SO well!!

valerie

[Lois Gilbert]

I have 2 copies left.

[jazzy mary]

Lois, I e-mailed you.

[jazzy mary]

Originally Posted by Lois Gilbert

This is open to anyone who didn't score the Jaco Big Band CD. First 10 people who send me an email at lois@jazzcorner.com with:

Please put in subject - Matthias Lupri Giveaway
Include:
screen name
Real name and address
email
tel #

Thanks!
Lois and Matthias

I was so excited about getting hip to Matthias, I ddin't see the part about this not being open to the "Jaco BB" reviewers. Sorry about that.

If you change your mind, and have enough copies left, I'd be willing to review it.

[Matthias Lupri]

Hello all

Thanks to Lois and Summit Records for helping the reviews get underway here at JazzCorner and all the folks that emailed in. The CD's have all been shipped and Lois will post the reviewers web names soon.

best,

Matthias

[Lois Gilbert]

Congrats to everyone. Gerardo - so sorry, you didn't get the Jaco and I hope you get this one!! Mke, did you put your city name on your email to me? I don't seem to see a city.

Thank you everyone who entered, and a special thanks to Matthias Lupri and Summit Records.
Looking forward to reading your reviews. As always, please let us know when it arrives!!



1. robin bell
NYC, NY

2. Ron Thorne
Anchorage, AK

3. huntersthompson7
Wexford, PA

4. CrimsonMan
Seekonk, MA

5. relyles
West Hartford, CT

6. rene
Manila, Philippines

7. Claude
NB Canada

8. mke
BELGIUM

9. Gerardo
Merida, Yucatan, MEXICO

10. Gentle Giant
Boston, MA

[Gentle Giant]

Yay!

[claude]

Just got the CD today, I'm looking forward to digging into this one!

[Gentle Giant]

Got mine as well. Thanks!

[mke]

I got and played mine today. Thank you!

[Lois Gilbert]

Well if mke got it than can I assume everyone did. Father Thorne? Gerardo? René?

If so let's set a review date!

How about May 1?

Thanks again to Matthias and Summit Records.

[relyles]

I received my copy this week. I started listening to it this morning.

[rene]

Received my copy this morning...

Thanks to Matthias and Lois!!!

Review should be ready by May 1.

[Gentle Giant]

Been listening and enjoying. Review in a few days.

[jazzy mary]

This somehow reached my mail box this weekend. Thanks Lois & Matthias! I have not stopped playing it yet. This is a beautiful, beautiful, lovingly realized album w/ a a real simpatico group of extraordinary players!!

I'll go into more in detail later--but the playing is just utterly amazing & beautiful. What an extraordinary group of players! Mille gracias, Matthias!

[Ron Thorne]

Yes, I have my copy and should be able to provide a review within the given timeframe.

Thanks Matthias, Lois and Summit Records.

[Boris Badenov]

Having received Transition Sonic in Mathias' last giveaway, I bought this new one with my own money, and, a listen-and-a-half later, am not regretting the expenditure. My favorite of his is still the one with Garzone, with I bought at Mathias' free gig at the KenCen, and which was stolen out of my car a couple of months later. But TS and this one give it a run for its money.

[Gerardo A]

Hi! Lois, I received the CD today. Thanks a lot!! I played it once in my car and enjoyed it very much, specially track number 3 "Lost creek". Fiery sax solos! Great group playing, and very nice compositions! I'll post a proper review soon.

[Lois Gilbert]

Originally Posted by Gerardo Alejos

Hi! Lois, I received the CD today. Thanks a lot!! I played it once in my car and enjoyed it very much, specially track number 3 "Lost creek". Fiery sax solos! Great group playing, and very nice compositions! I'll post a proper review soon.

I'm so glad Gerardo. I'm sorry you didn't get the first one, but I'm so pleased you like Matthias' new one.

Peace
Lois

[Ron Thorne]

Lois-

I've listened to Matthias' new recording once and plan to listen at least once more in the next day or two. I've enjoyed it, but haven't formulated a review as yet.

We're experiencing a computer problem at the moment, so I may or may not be able to post a proper review by Monday. I'm limiting my online time until we can rectify our computer problem. If my review is not on this thread by Monday, that will be the only reason, I promise.

[Gerardo A]

Originally Posted by Lois Gilbert

I'm so glad Gerardo. I'm sorry you didn't get the first one, but I'm so pleased you like Matthias' new one.

No problem, Lois. Thanks to you and to Matthias for sharing and hipping us to this nice music!

[huntersthompson7]

Sorry it took so long for a response been busy, but have been listening to it and shall have the review by May 1

[claude]

Ok, I will take the first shot. I apologize if this is a little disjointed but I find it difficult to express my thoughts about music and I had the added difficulty of being an accountant at the end of tax season so my brain is a little addled. Enough of the excuses, here are my thoughts on an excellent CD:

Matthias Lupri has delivered another great recording with Metalix. The band’s foundation is the same as the equally excellent Transition Sonic with Nate Radley - Guitar/Electronics, Thomson Kneeland - Accoustic Bass/Electronics, Jordan Perlson – Drums and of course Matthias on Vibes/electronics. The difference with this band is the replacement of Mark Turner and Cuong Vu with two reed players, Donny McCaslin on Alto flute, Soprano and tenor saxes and Myron Walden on bass clarinet, alto and soprano saxes.

The change in personnel works very well. To my ear I could easily mistake Donny McCaslin for Mark Turner on tenor (for me that is very much a positive since I love Mark’s playing). Both players being Berklee alumni might at least partially explain the similarities. In terms of solo time it seems that McCaslin had much more time with several very good tenor solos.

One issue is the use of electronics. As noted above three of the six band members list “electronics” as one of their instruments. Being a bit of a musical luddite I worry when I see electronics listed that prominently, but in the case of this band the electronics play a supporting role and only enhance the acoustic work being done.

As in Transition Sonic, the compositional talents of Matthias come to the fore on Metalix. The compositions are complex to my ears and the improvisations seem to spring organically from the melodies (if that makes any sense at all). I guess what I am saying is that the theme of each tune builds all the way through with the solos very tightly woven inside the melody. My knowledge of harmony is sketchy at best so I won’t try to pontificate on that area other than to say that the shit ain’t simple and I’m glad that I don’t have to try to follow the progressions.

The CD seems to me to operate as a cohesive musical unit with each tune fitting within an overall statement. None of the tunes sound out of place, although there are very different compositions within the overall CD. It is like they are movements of a symphony. There are several short preludes, abstracts and interludes interspersed through the disk that help to link the tunes.

After a short prelude the CD starts off with the uptempo Wondering & wandering. Jordan Perlson propels this tune with a hard-driving beat and each of the players takes a turn at the soloist spot. It’s a very strong opening that hints at the music to come.

Since both reed players are listed as soprano players, I’m not sure who played the excellent central theme on (Still) Lingering but the tune works very well. At first I was a little unsure of what I thought of the intonation of the sop. player, but I think that may have been due to the equipment I was listening on at the time since when I listened with headphones it sounded very nice. Donny McCaslin’s flute on this tune was also very good. It’s a slow theme that develops throughout with a dreamlike quality to it with the aforementioned solos and plenty of vibework from Matthias that add to the dreamy quality of the tune.

Glass Stairs is another upbeat number that sets off with a strong melody and immediately goes to a lengthy tenor solo where McCaslin makes full use of the entire range of his horn (and then some in a few places) in a very entertaining romp. Nate Radley is next up with a mellow sounding guitar setup that he manages to propel into a solo that befits the tempo of the tune. Matthias then comes in with a vibe solo that takes the music even further all the while Jordan Perlson is filling the gaps with his fine mix of cymbal crashes with dramatic snare and tom work.

Ghost Clusters stands out from the other compositions in that it has the sound of a less structured piece to my ears. With arco bass introducing the tune then going to seemingly disconnected flute and clarinet statements it has the most avant-garde feel of any of the tunes on the CD.

I purposefully did not review each tune in detail since I think that would have been excruciating to read so I have touched on a few of the tunes that stood out for me. Again, apologies if this is a little disjointed, I have just jotted down my thoughts as they came to me. Unlike Matthias, I don't generally synthesize my thoughts into a cohesive product.

Overall, this is an excellent CD. It maintained my interest all the way throughout it’s 70 plus minutes of excellent music. While there is an overall theme to the CD that is not to say that the music is static. The tunes all stand up individually (with the possible exception of the short interludes) and are excellent in their own right. However the overall product is more than the sum of its parts.

Thanks to Matthias and Summit records for their generosity in sending me this CD and for their excellent work in putting this great music out.

[Ron Thorne]

Matthias Lupri Group - Metalix


I'm not going to review this album in a track-by-track fashion, but rather provide my overall impressions while commenting on certain tunes in particular.

While I enjoyed the textures and overall feeling of the Prelude, I was startled and uncomfortable with the abrupt segue into Track #2 - Wondering & Wandering.

The rhythm section is very cohesive and can be quite explosive, but, thankfully, also employs wide-ranging dynamics. The first entrance of the saxophonists definitely kicked things up a couple of notches in complexity and intrigue. There is first rate group interplay to enjoy, from interesting unison lines to tasteful soloing, often against the simple backdrop of bassist Thompson Kneeland, drummer Jordan Perlson and guitarist Nate Radley.

Matthias has certainly grown, not only as a more expressive, confident player, but also in his role as a composer. And, what a range of emotions are expressed within this new album.

(Still) Lingering, is perhaps my favorite piece, overall. It's contemplative, haunting and lyrical, with Myron Waldon on soprano saxophone and Donny McCaslin on alto flute, each adding a lightness and airy quality to an already heady ballad.

Glass Stairs is a definite burner, with McCaslin's fiery tenor taking command before the interesting contrast of a cooler guitar offering from Ridley. Drummer Jordan Perlson shines on this one.

Ghost Clusters is, arguably, the most unique piece on this album showcasing some wonderful arco bass work by Kneeland, while Lupri utilizes a viloin bow on his vibraphone and alters and enhances it, electronically. Very intriguing technique and sonic effect.

Matthias Lupri, to his credit, provides more than ample room to showcase the considerable talents of the other group members. His playing is typically tasteful, often understated, and ranges from refined and sedate to highly-spirited and joyously playful.

Lonely Interlude was a pleasant surprise, like a breath of fresh air, with Myron Waldon playing unaccompanied bass clarinet for most of the piece, until Lupri enters near the end with a cascade of tones leading to the next vehicle, Flowers for Mary Jane. Lovely.

Something which struck me several times during my 2nd listening was the remarkable way in which Waldon and McCaslin played off each other, and the often unique harmonies they created in the process.

Bassist Thompson Kneeland was simply superb throughout. He provided perfect support while adding some interesting harmonic and rhythmic ideas at just the right moments. Drummer Jordan Perlson was impeccable, fitting hand-in-glove with Kneeland, displaying an extraordinarily wide range of expression and good taste. The clean, articulated style of his ride cymbal playing caught my attention immediately. What a complimentary musician!

This album is much like a series of tone poems, seamlessly interwoven into a larger tapestry. I definitely had visions of the outdoors, especially spring and summer scenes while listening. Matthias Lupri and his fellow musicians have certainly accomplished a fine and expansive sonic painting with this latest effort.

This is a recording which provides more pleasure with each subsequent listening.

Thanks again for the opportunity to hear and comment on the remarkable music created by this very expressive sextet.