Slocum, Matt
Chandrare Records, 2009, CD
Instrument: Drums
Issue: 16.1
Jazz Ruler Type: Fusion
Performance: 4
Sound: 4
Score: 
O’s Notes: Drummer Matt Slocum leads a band with Gerald Clayton (p), and Massimo Biolcati (b) with sax from Walter Smith III, Jaleel Shaw or Dayna Stephens. We enjoyed the mid tempo groove of “Cambria” with Clayton dancing on the keys. This was followed by “Daydream”, the lone cover, featuring Smith’s warm tenor. Slocum wrote the rest of the tunes and also injects ‘special drummer moments’ into each tune. Those features (brushwork, cymbal chatter…) are subtle but impactful and add character to the music. They pick up the pace on “Shadows” with each member of the rhythm section making waves. Both Shaw and Stephens are featured on “Seven Stars”, another mid-tempo ballad with lots of punch. As the liner notes state, this is real jazz and it will actually delight both bop and jazz fusion fans.
Publicist: Red Cat Publicity
