For his debut recording, Matt Savage uses his piano and keyboard to display impressive composing, arranging and leadership skills with a team including Aaron Gratzmiller/ts-ss, Michael Wang/tb-rec, Albino Mbie-Javier Rosario/g, James Heazlewood-Dale-Soso Gelovani/b, Juan Mejia/dr and Robbie Pate/voc.
Pate’s rich voice works well on a modern and soulful take of “All the Things You Are,” as Savage’s clean and classical sounding piano opens things up into an easy beat grove, while warm embers glow on “Show Me the Way.” The team charges to Mejia’s strong drums on the big sounding “#SPLASH” while Savage re-works the theme to a more flowing mood for “Splash in G Major.” Grazmiller’s soprano is smooth on “Arigato” and beefy on tenor on the shuffling “IDGAF.” Well crafted and richly cohesive.