Decades by Matt Tabor Trio

“Decades” is a journey through the times, places, and people of jazz — a collection of original music inspired by the genius of Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea, Darrell Grant, George Colligan, Brad Mehldau, and others.

All compositions by Matt Tabor

Matt Tabor - piano
Sebastian Owens - bass
George Colligan - drums

Recorded by Randy Porter at Heavywood Studios
May 27th, 2021

Mixed and mastered by Matt Tabor


LINER NOTES

"THAT Couple" (1940s) - Syncopated phrases and a sweet but quirky melody are on display in this album opener that is heavily indebted to the masterpieces written by Thelonious Monk during the mid 1940s. Although less angular than Monk’s own writing, the melody illustrates some of the playfulness and humor put forth in his music. The title paints the picture of a charismatic young couple out on the town, likely checking out Monk’s groundbreaking music at Minton’s Playhouse, a Harlem club where he was resident pianist.

"Tremolo Canteen" (1960s) - More of a collective free association than a traditional composition, the music here hints at some of the developments pioneered by a cutting edge jazz artist during the 1960s. The experimental middle section is bookended by only the most barebones outline: a chord-less melody that defies any conventional tonality. The abstract title is an echo of the oblique nature of the music and is also an anagram containing the name of the artist in question. Can you figure out who it is?

"Blues for Outer Space" (1970s) - The composition here conveys aspects of the music of Chick Corea: the title mirrors the science fiction imagery that pervaded much his output during this era and the playing works to communicate his incredibly crisp articulations and undercurrent of classical influences. Although this piece is acoustic in nature rather than the freewheeling electronic fusion that Corea typically released in the 1970s, I hope that it captures some of the same spacious, cosmic atmosphere.

"Mr. D.G." (1980s) - This piece is a tribute to my incredible mentor and earliest piano teacher, Darrell Grant. For those of you who don’t know, Darrell is one of the reasons I am a pianist today. While auditioning as a drummer at Portland State he convinced me to also pursue my nascent interest in the piano, eventually shaping me into a professional during the four years I studied with him. Darrell came to New York in the late ’80s and in 1988 joined the band of vocalist Betty Carter. The following year he made his debut as a leader with Current Events. This piece reflects both Darrell’s muscular piano playing and the music he might have been hearing in New York during that period. Thanks for everything, Darrell.

"Thank You, Call Again" (1990s) - The jazz tradition of wordplay continues in this title, a dedication to George Colligan — a longtime friend, mentor during my master’s program at Portland State, and one of the finest pianists in the world. In this piece I attempt to approach a bit of his Olympic-level velocity at the piano. Hopefully I’ve captured at least some of it. I want to thank George for helping make this project possible, for playing drums on this recording and most of all for his twisted sense of humor, a trait that we both share.

"Sad Girl" (2000s) - This piece pays homage to the bittersweet music of the Brad Mehldau Trio in the early 2000s. Mehldau’s writing often balances sorrow and tentative joy, unfolding from a plaintive, intimate beginning into a raucous finale of group improvisation. Here, as is typical of many of his recordings, the bass takes the first solo. As the composition unfolds you will likely perceive rock influences as well as an underpinning of Americana music, both of which are hallmarks of Mehldau’s style.

This is the page of Kansas City-based pianist and composer Matt Tabor

matttabor.net