Album Notes

Allaboutjazz review 2006

By Tom Greenland

Making his transition from the academy to the “streets,” pianist/organist/composer/arranger Matthias Bublath has released a trio/quartet album boasting a motley mix of sounds and skills. Simmered and steeped in soulful grooviness, tracks like “Jazzy Jazz,” “Preachin’,” “Stacy,” and “Pain Relief” owe a debt to the church, blues, and funk roots of African-American improvisational music, greatly aided and abetted by drummer Simon Lott’s crackling dry snare and just-behind-the-beat backbeat, played in-the-pocket with relaxed authority. The trio cuts (with Nathan Peck on bass) include a serious take on “A Girl From Ipanema” (a risky business given the tune’s overplayed history, but pulled off with panache here), rendered in rich reharmonizations and muscular solos.

The second half of the CD is Bublath’s Hammond B3 quartet, “feet”-uring the organist standing in for the stand-up bassist, walking (literally) his own lines; check out his footwork on “Bublath’s Idea.” With the addition of Takuya Kuroda on trumpet and Tim Collins on vibes, cuts like “Beltissimo” and “Young Lion” add additional layers and funk-tionality to Bublath’s catchy tunes. This is feel-good, think-deep party music, a strong start for a young lion stalking the jazz dream.

Track listing: Jazzy Jazz; Preachin'; The Girl From Ipanema; Stacy; Pain Relief; Reverend Scott; Bublath's Idea; Beltissimo; Young Lion; Decision.

Personnel: Matthias Bublath: piano & Hammond B3 organ; Simon Lott: drums; Nathan Peck: bass; Takuya Kuroda: trumpet; Tim Collins: vibes.

BIO:

Matthias Bublath is a pianist, organist and composer/arranger.
He has performed around the globe on many festivals and events such as: Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland),Kora Awards Johannesburg (South Africa) and The Kennedy Center Of The Performing Arts (Washington DC) to name a few.
Currently he is performing at Jazz Clubs around NYC ( the U.S. and Europe), composing and arranging for various ensembles including full orchestra and recording for film and television.
Being a versatile keyboardist he is also in full command of the Hammond B3 organ and performs regularly with his organ trio and a bassless funk quartet.
Besides his Jazz, R&B, Gospel and Funk influences Matthias is also a specialist for brazilian and afro-cuban piano styles and always searching for new ways to play.
His latest CD "Matthias Bublath Band" features two Bands:
A traditional piano trio with drummer Simon Lott and bassist Nathan Peck and a hammond B3 driven groove band featuring Takuya Kuroda (trumpet), Tim Collins (vibes) and Simon Lott (drums).
The Piano trio features Matthias' jazzy side with four original compositions and a reharmonisation of Jobims "Girl From Ipanema"
The Organ Band features Matthias on the B3 -including Left Hand/Footpedal bass- and is more one the Souljazz/R&B/Funk side: five original compositions.