Matthew Rybicki – Driven – Matthew Rybicki Music

by | Jan 3, 2011 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

Matthew Rybicki – Driven – Matthew Rybicki Music/ Kickstarter.com – 67:30 ****:

(Bassist/leader: Matthew Rybicki;  Ron Blake – tenor and alto sax;
Freddie Hendrix – trumpet and flugelhorn; Michael Dease – trombone; Gerald Clayton – piano; Ulysses Owens, Jr. – – drums; Matthew Baranello- percussion; Selloane Nkehla – vocals)

New York City’s reputation in drawing the cream of the crop of younger jazz musicians is both well deserved and honored. After all, the Big Apple is where you need to go to prove yourself as it has, by far, the most jazz clubs, and opportunities to record as a sideman. You can play every night instead of just weekends. Many times once you make it on the New York scene you can get a teaching gig elsewhere to provide benefits for yourself and family. The only problem is that the rest of the country seldom gets to hear you  live.

Such is the case with jazz bassist, Matthew Rybicki. Rybicki graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 1995 and received his artist diploma from Juilliard in 2004. He is an artist/instructor for Jazz at Lincoln Center, and has played with many of the city’s jazz elite. At age 37, it was about time to record as a leader, and even from a cursory listen to his CD, Driven, the wait was overdue, as this CD has a polish and professionalism that rises well above an artist’s first CD. Helping Matthew is a roster of first rate musicians including saxophonist, Ron Blake, pianist, Gerald Clayton, and trombonist, Michael Dease. Rybicki wrote all the compositions save for covers of “Yellow Bird” and “Secret Love.”

“The Slow Stride” starts out the CD swinging as it has a 60s Blue Note groove with the horns blending like warm toast with jam. Gerald Clayton’s progress as a soloist is amazing and Freddie Hendrix contributes a Freddie Hubbard-like sassy solo. “Seventh Sun” is sans horns and Ulysses Owens, Jr. (who also produced Driven) lights a fuse for Clayton and Rybicki. Matthew is locked into Clayton’s groove and mid-track has a strong solo.

“A Mean Lean” is taken at a relaxed pace and Rybicki is as steady as swinging metronome in another trio number. “Yellow Bird” takes us on a Caribbean voyage with its Calypso jaunty groove set by Ron Blake’s soprano and Michael Dease’s mellow trombone. “Lisa’s Song” is a sublime ballad with a tender Hendrix solo matched at track’s end by equally moving solo statements by Blake and Dease.

“Someday I May Be Far Away”, done in waltz time, shows Rybicki’s  composing talent and his melodic lyricism is striking. Hendrix shows again his warm tone on flugelhorn. “Low Country Boil” begins with Matthew’s  slow bluesy intro, before Gerald Clayton takes over with late night blues runs. He was taught well by Papa John and Uncle Jeff.

Driven
is closed with a African beat on “Nouakchott” aided by percussionist Matthew Baranello and vocalist Selloane Nkehla. Matthew Rybicki has shown on this CD his compositional talent on a varied range of styles all the while keeping a keen sense of swing. This CD will be available on both CD Baby and on Matt’s website – www.matthewrybicki.com.

TrackList:
The Slow Stride, Seventh Son, A Mean Lean, Yellow Bird, Lisa’s Song, Big Money and the Left Side, Someday I May Be Far Away, Driven, Lowcountry Boil, Secret Love, Noukchott

— Jeff Krow

Related Reviews
Logo Pure Pleasure
Logo Crystal Records Sidebar 300 ms
Logo Jazz Detective Deep Digs Animated 01