Matana Roberts Quartet - Live Theatre

Matana Roberts (alto), Robert Mitchell (keys), Tom Mason (bs), Chris Vatalaro (dms).

This was something else! Not least the venue which made for a great atmosphere. Not too formal not too loose - just right. The same can be said about the music. It was free, without being out of sight, and formal inasmuch as the pieces were structured - more or less.

Chicago Girl, New York based, Matana blew some great alto; as contemporary as tomorrow yet with respect for tradition. An Ellington/Strayhorn piece saw her in Johnny Hodges mode before later, and earlier, doing some Braxton, Von Freeman. But Matana is no copyist - she is her own girl and proud of it.

The interplay and the theme statements with pianist Mitchell were almost telepathic as they connected every time.

Robert Mitchell also did incredible things soloing - imagine Cecil Taylor playing stride and you're getting close, throw in some Monkian chords and Keith Jarrett technique and you're there - well almost - the man is amazing!

Tom Mason and Chris Vatalaro were less up front but, nevertheless, did their job efficiently subtly anticipating what was going on around them.

In between tunes Matana talked at length on everything from the President of the United States to the difficulty she had getting shoes to fit. The girl is a natural orator!

We were very lucky to see her at Live Theatre - Matana's MySpace lists her as being at The Cluny! - come back soon.

Photos.

Lance.

Link from comment by Ferdinand.