Search - Matrix :: Wizard

My Ears Are Still Dancing!

A. Davis | Greenville, SC | 09/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the crackling bass lines on the opener, "King Weasel Stomp", to the lovely head bobbing bounce of "Brown Boy", Matrix sounds fresh and inspiring even though "Wizard" was originally released in the late 70's. Matrix was one of the few groups to create a successful marriage between big band Jazz and boundary pushing Jazz fusion. Their horns were tight and vibrant while the melodies, rhythms and grooves bobbed and weaved like a agile boxer in a championship title fight. I did not have this disc in my original collection when it came out on vinyl in 1978, but after acquiring "Tale of the Whale" on CD earlier this year, I decided to give this one a shot. I am glad I did! This music smokes and succeeds on every level. I just love the heart-felt trombone solo on "Come September", the brilliant muted trumpet on "Mountolive", and the Jacoish bass solo on "Brown Boy". There is enough musical diversity on this disc to keep you fully engaged in an enjoyable listening experience for a long time. I am truly hopeful that music like this will make a comeback and relegate computer generated smooth Jazz to the lower end of the music spectrum. This music is organic, soulful and a real treat to hear in this digital age. Thanks go out to Wounded Bird Records for providing another treasure from the past. Enjoy!!!"