SASHA MATSON
Molto Molto
Matson, composer, conductor; 20-piece orchestra
Stereophile STPH 023-2 (auditioned as CD). 2023.
John Atkinson, Joe Harley, prods.; Ryan Streber, eng.
PERFORMANCE
SONICS
Sasha Matson is a unique thinker. Among the things he thinks about are jazz, rock, classical music, blues, film scores, and opera, to name just six of the genres he frequents. Sometimes he visits several genres in the same composition. His pivots can be jarring. Styles transform in the moment, and so do tempos, tonalities, moods, amplitudes, and clear distinctions between notation and improvisation.
The title track incorporates a hard-charging full band with a tuba blasting out front, a graceful, gliding piano/bass duet, some 1937 Count Basie swing, an interlude of somber atmospheric quietude, a wild piano outbreak over slamming band
