DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE REVIEW:….this is an article written by…..Frank Alkyer…..
That 20-year-old pianist Matthew Whitaker is alive is a bit of a miracle. He was born prematurely and blind, given little chance of surviving with doctors saying that, even if he did, he probably would not be able to crawl, walk or speak. His story has been well-documented by shows like 60 Minutes. Whitaker can speak, and he speaks well. He can walk and walk well. But what this prodigy can do better than anything else, and arguably anyone else, is play piano, organ and keyboards. Hear for yourself on Connections (Reliance Music Alliance), his third album, this one produced by bassist Derrick Hodge. It is astounding. We’ve been listening to Whitaker take our breath away with all of the promise he showed on the first two albums. This one takes him a full leap forward. The fleetness of finger, the touch and taste, the grit and grime when he needs it, the lightness and airiness when it’s called upon — Whitaker has it all. Beyond his playing chops, his compositions have taken a leap forward, also. In part, he credits Hodge for pushing him to be more adventurous and it shows on tunes like the uplifting opener “Journey Uptown”; the organ trio jam “A New Day,” where he and guitarist Marcos Robinson fly through unison lines; the pensive title track; and the sweet, humbling “Stop Fighting.” Whitaker also delivers some terrific takes on jazz classics. He and Jon Batiste go at it like kids in a sandbox on Thelonious Monk’s “Bye-Ya.” It’s a treat trying to figure out which musician is playing which part. The chuckle at the end of the song says it all: two amazing musicians simply having a good time with one of the greatest piano tunes in jazz. The same can be said for Whitaker and violinist Regina Carter swinging through Duke Ellington’s “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” Whitaker also does a crazy take on Chick Corea’s “Spain,” playing Hammond B-3 on the opening strains, then switching over to keyboards when the band kicks in. Then there’s a serious dance-a-thon awaiting with his Latin jazz take on Duke Pearson’s “Jeanine.” There’s plenty more, with 16 tracks in all, including “His Eye Is on The Sparrow,” a beautifully rendered spiritual where Whitaker shows deep roots. With bits of spoken word between songs to tell his story, Matthew Whitaker is an inspiration as a person and as an amazing young artist. It will be fascinating to see what the future brings…..well done Matt…..keep proving them wrong!…..love ya!
STUFF I REALLY DON’T CARE ABOUT……
ADELE….announces that a new song is coming…..I really don’t care….
JUSTIN BIEBER….is selling weed named after his hit song called “Peaches”…..I really don’t care…..now if he was selling Acapulco Gold…..I’d care….
SEE BARBIE….sail through the air on a zero-gravity flight….I really don’t care….
YOU’RE PROBABLY WALKING WRONG…..and here’s how to fix it…..after doing it for 64-years…..I really don’t care….
A RUSSIAN FILM CREW….is set to blast off and make the first movie in space…..I really don’t care….but Tom Cruise might…..
BRITNEY SPEARS THANKS FREE BRITNEY…..movement for helping to end her conservatorship…..I really don’t care…..
2,700 YEAR-OLD….toilet was found in Jerusalem…..I really don’t give a shit…..
VIRAL TIK TOK SENSATION…..Tika the Iggy is a dog with 300 different clothing outfits…..I really don’t care….
MORE THAN 333,000….children were sexually abused by French Catholic clergy….now that makes me care.
THE ESTATE OF HENRIETTA LACKS SUES A BIOTECHNICAL COMPANY FOR NONCONCONSENSUAL USE OF HER CELLS…..That family shouldn’t stop at one company….they should sue every medical facility around the globe….her cells have been stolen and used….illegally by many medical facilities for decades….if you don’t know who Ms. Lacks is….do something many people have forgotten to do….read a “BOOK”…..called…..The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks….and you will realize why….the family is so pissed off.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: WEEK 4…..Let me start with…..
RAIDER NATION….It kinda sucks….when my favorite QB in the league….is playing my favorite team….in the league….but Justin Herbert…..did to Raider Nation…..exactly what he did to the Chiefs….he proved….they’re not all that….the defense killed the offensive line….and the Raiders defensive was so banged up….they couldn’t handle the Chargers offense….and Carr is being Carr a little earlier than I thought he would…..3-1 means nothing this early in the season….one thing I know for sure…..either Carr is going to get his shit together….or we’ll go down the same road….we’ve gone down before….and the taunting call on Waller….he didn’t spike the ball in front of a defensive player….he didn’t spike the ball in front of anyone on the Chargers sideline….he spiked the ball….just like he spiked the ball….when he made a first-down catch in the middle of the field….so, how was that a taunting call?…..that is the worst rule the NFL agreed to….and that rule was voted on by “Coaches”…..so what….let the players talk shit….who cares….this rule needs to go…..get rid of it….let them get up in each other’s faces….and say;…. “Yeah, I burnt your ass on that pass play – yeah, I knocked the hell out of your ass”….get rid of that rule…..as for….
THE REST OF THE GAMES……great for those who won….whatever for those who lost…..and one more thing…..
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS…..Your team is 0-4….your coach…..the one who was a college coach…..decides not to fly back with the team….and stayed in Ohio to hangout….in “Da Club”….and was seen dancing and groping on a young woman….who wasn’t his wife….and then holds a press conference….to apologize for his actions…..did I miss anything?…..people need to understand something real quick….it isn’t… “I heard…..” anymore…..it’s….. “I saw a video….”….hey, you had a chance to pick a very qualified African-American to coach your team but no….you picked this guy…..so live with it…..next time….don’t send a boy…..to do a man’s job.