Onzy Matthews - Sound for the 60's (Capitol)

Label : Capitol

Value :
Youthful Onzy Matthews has already established himself as an , outstanding pianist in this age of complex and kinetic jazz. Yet his is a vast musicianship which defies strict or traditional jazz' categorization. As a creative arranger and conductor, he rendered inventive backing for two moving blues oriented albums by Lou Rawls, "Black and Blue" (Capitol ST 1824) and "Tobacco Road" (Capitol ST 2042). And in his own first album "Blues with U a Touch of Elegance" (Capitol ST 2099), Onzy added one more dimension to his jazz spectrum — composing.

Now, in SOUNDS FOR THE '60's!, all of his arresting talents swing into dynamic focus. Fronting an orchestra comprised of acclaimed musicians from the Big Band and jazz worlds, Onzy leads the way for a unique synthesis of modern sound which reflects and utilizes the best of the almost legendary Big Band tradition together with accented uptempo sounds and restrained blues rhythms of today.Onzy takes keyboard honors on all of the tracks, sometimes filling the solo spotlight and at other times stepping to the rear while other famed members of the Matthews band take front position.

On Mexican Brass and Blues For The Reverend, two of the seven Matthews compositions included in this album, Onzy's resourceful piano swings Latin with Clifford Scott featured on tenor sax, then slows slightly for the zesty "Blues" along with guitarist Don Peakes and Sonny Crisp on alto sax. In essence, it's the compeliing piano-solo/instrument-orchestra articulation that makes the music ... an explosive yet sophisticated expression that attracts the ear not only to variations and improvisations on themes, but on tempos as well.

Taste :

Onzy Matthews - White Gardenia

Download Lp

By Electric Looser