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Matthew Garrison DVD
- Thread starter Papersen
- Start date
Although my reference to Matt's originality and innovation is based primarily on listening to Matt's first CD for the past four years with headphones...
Some things Matt utilizes and expands upon beyond most other bassists:
l. Art Tatum like runs.
2. New Orleans reminiscent "drum rolls"/percussive rapidfire effects.
3. Layering of multiple bass parts on the first CD was done in an arguably more compositional manner than usual. His combination of sophisticated chordal playing (lots!) layered over not the usual tritone based scalar patterns.
4. His integration of various world music elements along with
"tape based" compositional segmentation. Lessons learned
and expanded upon from Steve Coleman (M Base) and his
electronica/hip hop oriented tours/recordings with Herbie
Hancock.
5. Fast Bebop meets Free playing while randomly detuning and
retuning.
6. Nothing is completely new under the sun but Matt takes all of the above to a new level in my (and lots of other's opinions). All of the above may/will not be readily evident from the Live DVD but it does allow one to see how he picks and frets a lot of what makes up his technique(s).
Peter, if you haven't heard his first CD in any detail, I recommend doing that and then re-view the DVD.
Some things Matt utilizes and expands upon beyond most other bassists:
l. Art Tatum like runs.
2. New Orleans reminiscent "drum rolls"/percussive rapidfire effects.
3. Layering of multiple bass parts on the first CD was done in an arguably more compositional manner than usual. His combination of sophisticated chordal playing (lots!) layered over not the usual tritone based scalar patterns.
4. His integration of various world music elements along with
"tape based" compositional segmentation. Lessons learned
and expanded upon from Steve Coleman (M Base) and his
electronica/hip hop oriented tours/recordings with Herbie
Hancock.
5. Fast Bebop meets Free playing while randomly detuning and
retuning.
6. Nothing is completely new under the sun but Matt takes all of the above to a new level in my (and lots of other's opinions). All of the above may/will not be readily evident from the Live DVD but it does allow one to see how he picks and frets a lot of what makes up his technique(s).
Peter, if you haven't heard his first CD in any detail, I recommend doing that and then re-view the DVD.
Jim T. said:
I bought the first one when it came out. It has a couple good tunes but for the most part not very memorable. He seems to use the same type of scale all the time in his solo's and the melodies are very weak to nonexistent. Another complaint I have is that he rarely plays any real bass grooves on his solo projects. He plays too many chords that I believe add nothing to the music that a keyboard couldn't have done better. I respect Matt's abilities and think one day he will be something but compostionally he lacks. I like the live CD/DVD better than his albums simply because they felt more real and less stiff. You had a sense of commication going on between the musicians eventhough there was still some sequenced parts in there via a laptop. I wish the DVD had more personality. There's no audience interaction and instead of it feeling like an actual live gig if feels like a filmed studio date, which I guess is what it is. But I'm still entertained though.
Peter Parker said:
I don`t agree. I totally admire his compositions and his tunes are refreshing. Not many bassists at such a young age can compose a solo cd with those compositional skill. I think it`s very mature and highly ENJOYABLE.
Peter Parker said:
I agree. Production could definitely be much better. Looks more like a rehearsal than a live gig.
I can't disagree with the points you've made Peter. His use of simple "nursery rhyme like" melodic construction is something that I usually don't care for either. In the first CD's compositions, I liked how they lent a folk/ traditional world music vibe to the jazz side of things. I felt that he was tapping into the sort of things that Bartok, Dvorak, Ry Cooder, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and Griots in Mali do.
"Shapeshifter" (2nd CD) uses more electronica which is something that's not usually my cup of tea so I'm going to have to listen a lot to arrive at an unbiased opinion for myself.
I liked how it was used in his first CD but this one is different...
On his new CD ("Shapeshifter") I'm still trying to decide if that nursery rhyme/motif approach is working as well or not. It's hard not to have strong preconceived notions about a sophmore release.
I read in Bassplayer Mag. when the first CD came out that Matt had just recently come across the Slavic (?) scale that he uses now and was enamoured of it and attracted to it.
I personally think that the use of that mode had given him a unique identity aurally as John Patitucci's use of melodic minor
(I think...) scales give him a sonic identity.
I think this had given Matt a "breakout" sound as a solo artist.
I can certainly understand why everyone wouldn't like that sound though.
I kind of feel that wanting keyboards to fulfill the chordal comping/voice leadiing role rather than the bass is similar to what we as bassists hear all the time. Why can't you just play like a bassplayer "should?" Lots of groove, stay in the lower registers, etc.
Those who like to see the expansion of the bass guitar's roles in composition, technique development, etc. are going to be more accepting of that approach. So-by realistic expectations not everyone will like this artist/music but some will dig it.
It sounds like you and I Peter are on those opposite ends of the audience spectrum in this artist's case.
I agree with you that I too wish the DVD had more personality and audience interaction. It does have the feel of a rehearsal almost. Matt seemed a bit nervous which I found surprising after his tour and filming with Herbie Hancock but when it's your first footage as a leader...it's probably pretty scarey!
So...if anyone is expecting the Hollywood-ish quality of Rush in Brazil, it's not what this is. It's got more of the feel of a semi-dry bassist instructional video. Real and not at all flashy.
VERY similar to the jams at the end of the Jaco Pastorious instructional video. If you liked the "feel/look" of those, you'll like this ok.
Remember that Matt is a completely independent recording artist who is personally financing all of his projects himself. For those of us who've produced and sold our own CD projects you know that costs can easily run in the 5 to 10 grand range if you're trying to compete with major label quality. I can't imagine what a film crew would cost!
Anyway, I'm personally overjoyed to be able to try some of Matt's fingering on my own bass and if nothing else, this DVD is a great way to see what those "banjo roll/flamenco flurries" actually are!
Check out www.garrisonjazz.com there are interviews there and reviews that talk a bit about the projects and techniques.
"Shapeshifter" (2nd CD) uses more electronica which is something that's not usually my cup of tea so I'm going to have to listen a lot to arrive at an unbiased opinion for myself.
I liked how it was used in his first CD but this one is different...
On his new CD ("Shapeshifter") I'm still trying to decide if that nursery rhyme/motif approach is working as well or not. It's hard not to have strong preconceived notions about a sophmore release.
I read in Bassplayer Mag. when the first CD came out that Matt had just recently come across the Slavic (?) scale that he uses now and was enamoured of it and attracted to it.
I personally think that the use of that mode had given him a unique identity aurally as John Patitucci's use of melodic minor
(I think...) scales give him a sonic identity.
I think this had given Matt a "breakout" sound as a solo artist.
I can certainly understand why everyone wouldn't like that sound though.
I kind of feel that wanting keyboards to fulfill the chordal comping/voice leadiing role rather than the bass is similar to what we as bassists hear all the time. Why can't you just play like a bassplayer "should?" Lots of groove, stay in the lower registers, etc.
Those who like to see the expansion of the bass guitar's roles in composition, technique development, etc. are going to be more accepting of that approach. So-by realistic expectations not everyone will like this artist/music but some will dig it.
It sounds like you and I Peter are on those opposite ends of the audience spectrum in this artist's case.
I agree with you that I too wish the DVD had more personality and audience interaction. It does have the feel of a rehearsal almost. Matt seemed a bit nervous which I found surprising after his tour and filming with Herbie Hancock but when it's your first footage as a leader...it's probably pretty scarey!
So...if anyone is expecting the Hollywood-ish quality of Rush in Brazil, it's not what this is. It's got more of the feel of a semi-dry bassist instructional video. Real and not at all flashy.
VERY similar to the jams at the end of the Jaco Pastorious instructional video. If you liked the "feel/look" of those, you'll like this ok.
Remember that Matt is a completely independent recording artist who is personally financing all of his projects himself. For those of us who've produced and sold our own CD projects you know that costs can easily run in the 5 to 10 grand range if you're trying to compete with major label quality. I can't imagine what a film crew would cost!
Anyway, I'm personally overjoyed to be able to try some of Matt's fingering on my own bass and if nothing else, this DVD is a great way to see what those "banjo roll/flamenco flurries" actually are!
Check out www.garrisonjazz.com there are interviews there and reviews that talk a bit about the projects and techniques.
dominique dipiazza has been doing the right hand thing that matt does for years. i also hear patitucci playing music more than a single tonality like matt does when soloing.Jim T. said:
personally, i think music just sounds better with keys or guitar providing the harmony rather than bass. its a more full sound. sticking with patitucci, youll hear his compisitions played with great players surrounding him and him playing bass lines. just because everything can be done with bass doesnt make it a good idea. imo,ime,etc,etc,byob,fyi,tgif
narud said:just because everything can be done with bass doesnt make it a good idea. imo,ime,etc,etc,byob,fyi,tgif
This is a great point. People have been playing chords forever on bass which is no big deal. Wooten does it, Oteil does it and many others. I just want to hear a bass line underneath to fill the sound up.
I think the Shapeshifter CD pretty much picks up where the first CD left off. He's using the same scale type and most of the music sounds as if it were composed by Matt finding a cool arrpegiator setting on a Korg Triton and made a song out of it or at least a section of a song.
hey guys-check out detroit bass fest october 24th-matt garrison is the speacial guest performer!
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Matt is part of the crew performing on Oct. 16&17 in NYC for the Bass Player live performance. lots of great players looks to be a killer show.
I just ordered this set today and I can't wait for it to arrive. Should be very cool listening and watching. 
i have only been frequenting this forum for the past week or so, but i'd like to reply to some of the other posts in this topic, though some of them we posted upto 2 months ago...
i have matt's first cd, and frankly, i just love his approach to composing and also how he is using the bass guitar, exploring newer uses for the instrument. its very original..... his compositions remind me in places of joe zawinul's music.
when i first heard it, i was so overjoyed because it was everything i wanted to hear in an album... its got so many diverse elements in it, straight from drum 'n bass to that whole world music vibe with arto on percussion. its really one of those 'landmark' recordings that has set the bar for solo bass releases in the future. i can't wait to someday own the dvd and the new cd....
i have watched the herbie hancock dvd and matt is just way too cool on that... i also once caught a tv special that had a jml performance with matt, dennis chambers, and that huge saxophonist (gary thomas??).... i think it from their 'heart of things' tour. it was really good.
matt is one of my favourite musicians.
i have matt's first cd, and frankly, i just love his approach to composing and also how he is using the bass guitar, exploring newer uses for the instrument. its very original..... his compositions remind me in places of joe zawinul's music.
when i first heard it, i was so overjoyed because it was everything i wanted to hear in an album... its got so many diverse elements in it, straight from drum 'n bass to that whole world music vibe with arto on percussion. its really one of those 'landmark' recordings that has set the bar for solo bass releases in the future. i can't wait to someday own the dvd and the new cd....
i have watched the herbie hancock dvd and matt is just way too cool on that... i also once caught a tv special that had a jml performance with matt, dennis chambers, and that huge saxophonist (gary thomas??).... i think it from their 'heart of things' tour. it was really good.
matt is one of my favourite musicians.
and yeah, i just recently checked out some samples of this guy Steve Jenkins at his website : http://www.stevejenkinsbass.com . i think some of you will like his music if you've enjoyed matt's stuff.
