Matt MacKellar's Senior Recital, Berklee, Boston - April 13

The Chillingham, Heaton, Newcastle, Dave Weisser's legendary Take it to the Bridge jam session, or as Dave prefers, 'workshop', welcomed a new, fresh-faced participant, drummer Matt MacKellar. That must have been all of ten years ago. That was then, Matt in his early teens, now, April 2022, Matt is the graduating music student at Berklee, Boston, USA. 

Six o'clock BST, one o'clock in the afternoon in Berklee, Matt was about to give his Senior Recital. Initial difficulties logging on, then, out of nowhere, the stream materialised, Matt in full flow on Nardis. Was this the first number? Possibly. Multiple camera angles, a multitude of top class musicians rotating in support of Matt, it all looked very professional. The Lady in My Life as recorded by Michael Jackson, Robert Glasper's Resting Warrior, it appeared Matt was having a ball. 

Earl Zindars' Elsa, as recorded by Bill Evans, then, in marked contrast, Kendrick Scott's Cycling Through Reality, this was tremendous stuff! Going by H.E.R., arranged by Ben Lawrence (Matt giving a 'shout out' to friend Ben), the r 'n' b of SWV's Weak, as covered by Gretchen Parlato, this was Matt in his element, killing grooves. In closing his recital Matt thanked all of his musician friends for their participation, these guys were the business. To conclude a momentous occasion, Matt dedicated Donny Hathaway's Someday We'll Be Free to his late father George MacKellar. Russell