Matt Lavelle Quartet - Handing The Moment

Styles: Trumpet, Clarinet Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:04
Size: 243,7 MB
Art: Front

(11:10)  1. Amadou's Passage
(10:09)  2. The Kitchen
( 7:36)  3. Creator School
( 7:31)  4. Chant 1
( 4:39)  5. Chant 2
( 7:59)  6. Roy Campbell
( 7:24)  7. Mars and Aries
( 5:34)  8. The 5 Faces

Thirty-two year old trumpeter Matt Lavelle hails from the Rockland County area of New York State. With this release, he reaps the benefits of a seasoned rhythm section, featuring seminal CIMP session drummer and solo artist Lou Grassi. In addition, Lavelle matches wits with tenor saxophonist Ras Moshe for an abundance of group-based highlights. At times the band spurs remembrances of the late Art Blakey’s fabled Jazz Messengers, as they commingle open-ended improvisational flurries with compact exchanges amid breezy choruses. Grassi serves as the catalyst via his sweeping fills, snappy rim-shots and peppery beats. On “The Kitchen,” Moshe churns out angst-ridden lines atop bassist Francois Grillot’s blustery patterns. Here, the band conveys gobs of movement as Lavelle and Moshe separate into pairs with the rhythm section by way of various mini motifs. Lavelle’s phraseology consists of rapid 16th notes mixed with poignant statements to counterbalance his penchant for detail and nuance. The musicians integrate some of Ornette Coleman's ideas into their arsenal while venturing off into various mood-evoking passages on “Chant 1” and “Chant 2.” Handling the Moment stays strong throughout, as the quartet intelligently covers a wide spectrum, spanning free-bop, mainstream and the avant-garde. Lavelle has seemingly embarked upon the fast track with this superfine exposition. (Passionately recommended) ~ Glenn Astarita https://www.allaboutjazz.com/handling-the-moment-matt-lavelle-cimp-records-review-by-glenn-astarita.php

Personnel: Matt Lavelle: trumpet, flugelhorn, pocket trumpet, bass clarinet

Handing The Moment

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Matt Lavelle - Goodbye New York,Hello World

Styles: Cornet, Trumpet And Clarinet Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:59
Size: 152,0 MB
Art: Front

( 5:09)  1. Rose
(19:02)  2. You're the Tonic
( 9:26)  3. Endings and Beginings
(10:13)  4. Wayne
( 3:19)  5. Mi Manchi
(11:32)  6. Choices
( 7:14)  7. Goodbye New York,Hello World

Multi-instrumentalist Matt Lavelle's CD is entitled Goodbye New York, Hello World and he means it. Since 1999, Lavelle has been a vital part of the New York City avant-garde jazz scene: in addition to electrifying live performances and impressive CD releases, he has also been a thoughtful commentator on the music world, including blogs, Facebook posts, and a memoir-in-progress that's creating a buzz both online and off. These days, Lavelle's music and life have been taking him increasingly to Europe including an upcoming trip to Sweden, his first European tour as a leader and Lavelle finds himself at a crossroads: is it still possible to make a life and a living as a jazz musician in New York City, or does the action now lie elsewhere?  Goodbye New York, Hello World ponders these questions and more. Lavelle is a great storyteller, and each song is an original composition that documents his journey. He covers an astonishing spectrum of emotions in these seven tunes, aided by his facility on a wide range of instruments: cornet, flugelhorn, alto clarinet, and bass clarinet. As J.R.R. Tolkein made clear with The Lord of the Rings, good traveling companions are essential, and Lavelle is accompanied every step of the way by three musical blood brothers: tenor saxophonist Ras Moshe; bassist Francois Grillot; and drummer Bob Hubbard. Tunes such as "Choices" and "Endings and Beginnings" address Lavelle's questions straight on, offering no-holds-barred access to a human heart in flux. But there's also the beautiful "Mi Manchi" ("I miss you" in Italian), an elegant meditation on longing that's subtle and private. 

The CD's ground zero is "Your the Tonic," an 18-minute song without a single wasted breath. Lavelle's previous recordings are uniformly excellent, but here he breaks new ground. The heart of the song is Lavelle's relationship with legendary saxophonist and musical pioneer Ornette Coleman, with whom Lavelle studied formally from 2005 to 2009. "Your the Tonic" possesses some of the most urgent, intimate music on record, with such intensely propulsive swing it feels like the CD is going to burst out of the boom box. Lavelle releases his soul with primal cries of ferocious passion, leaping fearlessly through the door opened for him by Coleman. The tune's honesty, humanity, and keen intelligence are truly breathtaking, and not to be missed. In recent decades, New York once such a welcoming haven for jazz musicians in terms of cost of living and range of venues has become a tough place to survive. And yet, by virtue of his tenacity and musical mission, Lavelle has done just that, receiving an education that has included priceless contact with luminaries such as Coleman, multi-instrumentalist Giuseppi Logan and bassist William Parker. Whatever Lavelle's next step might be, let's hope he continues his generous sharing, much to the benefit of jazz lovers in New York City and beyond. ~ FLORENCE WETZEL https://www.allaboutjazz.com/goodbye-new-york-hello-world-matt-lavelle-music-now-review-by-florence-wetzel.php

Personnel: Matt Lavelle: cornet, flugelhorn, alto clarinet, and bass clarinet; Ras Moshe: tenor saxophone (2,4, 6); Francois Grillot: bass; and Bob Hubbard: drums and gongs (2, 4, 6, 7).

Goodbye New York,Hello World

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