Now Hear This

Reviewed: 2019-09-23
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: It’s always tempting to add a qualifier when listening to a prodigy: we say he is good “for his age.” True, Matthew Whitaker is only 18, and he’s also blind, but the musicianship, arrangements, and bandleading skills displayed here would be equally impressive were this album made by someone with five times the experience. Moving from piano to Hammond B-3 to electronic keyboards, Whitaker consistently displays a sophisticated insight and a refined sense of dynamics and touch.
If You Like: Chick Corea, Bud Powell, Joe Zawinul
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Overcoat (5:20) – piano starts slow, swings into uptempo jam> guitar solo> piano solo swings up then mellows> uptempo jam> crescendo end on percussion
**2/ Tranquility (5:33) – piano solo starts, gorgeous & slow, swings to midtempo> bass solo> midtempo trio jam> piano solo> midtempo jam> crescendo end
3/ Underground (5:49) – drums start> midtempo jam swings up, then mellows> synth solo> piano/drums duet> midtempo jam> crescendo end
***4/ Bernie’s Tune (3:47) – piano starts strong> uptempo trio jam> piano solo soars> uptempo jam> piano solo> brief drum solo> crescendo end
*5/ Yardbird Suite (3:35) – drums start> uptempo jam with organ> guitar solo> organ solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
**6/ U.M.M.G. (3:57) – piano starts> midtempo trio jam> bass solo> uptempo jam> sizzling piano solo slows to midtempo jam, then swings back up> quick fade
*7/ Miss Michelle (3:36) – drums start> uptempo jam> guitar solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
8/ Thinking Of You (6:22) – organ starts> slow tempo jam> organ solo> slow jam> slow fade
**9/ Emotions (5:59) – piano starts> uptempo trio jam> swings to fast tempo, then mellows to midtempo> swings uptempo in a different melody> crescendo end
***10/ Caribe (6:47) – piano starts with flourishes> uptempo hesitating jam with Caribbean vibe> piano solo> melody shift> bass solo> return to original melody> uptempo jam> drums & percussion jam> uptempo jam> crescendo end
*11/ Black Butterfly (5:58) – drum/synth start> slow jam> synth solo> midtempo jam> organ solo> midtempo jam> melody shift, still midtempo jam> organ solo> crescendo & fade
**12/ Freedom Jazz Dance (6:05) – synth starts> uptempo funky jam> synth solo> organ solo> uptempo jam> mellows slightly, then swings full out> quick fade
*13/ The Blood Will Never Lose It’s Power (9:02) – organ solo starts slow & hesitating> builds to midtempo & majestic, then mellows, then swings back up> pause> crescendo> pause> fast tempo jam> pause> fast jam builds to lightning fast> quick fade