Sun Prints
Ears & Eyes, 2024
9/10
The bassist and composer Matt Booth treats us to his first album of all original music, where Steve Lands, Sam Taylor, Oscar Rossignoli and Peter Varnando are in attendance for the 11 meticulous tracks.
“In Tongues” starts the listen with Booth’s lively bass acrobatics amid Varnado’s animated drumming, and “For Your Consideration” follows with Rossignoli’s dreamy keys complementing the rich delivery of timeless jazz.
In the middle, “Time To Spare” leads soft before building into an adventurous album highlight thanks to Lands’ soulful trumpet and the quick drumming, while “Old News” is an intimate moment that’s not without a playful rhythm section and precise piano playing.
Further yet, “You Came Along” benefits much from a mesmerizing delivery via the hypnotic keys and technical bass prowess, and “Happenstance” exits with much focus on the sax and trumpet before fascinating drums and bass enter the busy finish.
A technical and dynamic effort, Booth and his company are never short on melody for this complicated but easily accessible, jazz fun.
Travels well with: The Paul Carlon Quintet- Blues For Vita; Bill Banefield’s Jazz Urbane- Take Time To Listen