Reviews:
The Gary Matsumoto Trio: Days Ahead and
The Roger Tilton Trio: Jazz Tones
From Jazz Weekly
April 2009 - by George W Harris
The unifying factor on these two excellent yet diverse piano trio releases is that both are not only anchored on bass by the LA hero Henry Franklin, but also produced by the Angeleno as well.
Pianist Gary Matsumoto studied under Miles Davis alumni Kei Akagi, and holds a regular gig at the Mission Inn in Riverside. This disc has a "nightclub set" feel to it, as both the originals and covers are handled with an assertiveness that draws attention. Matsumoto's touch is confident and bold, cheerfully bringing out the richer and brighter hues of Monk's "Four in One" and Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady." The surprise is the bop goes funky rendition of a song I thought I'd never hear by a jazzer: "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", and it works! The originals also have well constructed themes with nimble interplay between the leader, Franklin, and drummer Tony Austin. A good example of the high quality of local talent.
While Masumoto's band stings like a bee, the trio lead by full-time psychologist/part time pianist Roger Tilton floats like a butterfly on this wonderfully flowing disc. If his day gig as a psychologist is anything like his playing, he must be booked to 2010; his interplay with Franklin and the skippingly sensitive Dick Weller/dr displays empathy and an incredible sense of timing. Franklin and Tilton glide back and forth on tunes like the breezy "Triste" and playful "Tones for Jones Bones". His solo treatment of "Lush Life" is patient without being pedantic. The word "psych" actually means "soul", and there's a lot of it here; on this disc, the doctor is definitely "in."
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