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MATT BIANCO with BASIA
Matt’s Mood

as reviewed by Jack Crompton at Amazon.com, April 30, 2008

Sophicsticated jazz/pop at its best.

This is great stuff! Although I’ve been quite well acquainted with the wonderful music of Basia for some time, I was quite unfamiliar with the group Matt Bianco when I first purchased this album. But on the strength of the quality of Basia’s music, I thought it was a good risk. I wasn't disappointed.

I don't know anything at all about Matt Bianco except for the fact that they are a collection of monster musicians at the very top of their art. Whoever the male singer is and the other talented musicians that create this music, they really have an infectious groove going on. This is sophisticated jazz/pop at its best.

Basia, the polish singer who has had a great deal of success in the contemporary pop genre, shares the singing on almost every track here, and the effect is very complementary. The songs would fit very well on any of her earlier albums, particularly the excellent ‘Sweetest Illusion’ (1994). I say that because the instrumentation on that album was just killer, and so is this. It's slick, it's listenable. It's ear candy. I've been listening to this recording off and on for several months and still enjoy it immensely.

The album really mixes up a nice blend of creative tunes that really defy categorization, although there are several that are quite brazilian in their feel (latin, swing, bossa nova, samba, retro) yet they seem to create a flavor all their own. The singing is really augmented when combined with the extraordinary vocal talents of Basia, as the two (male/female) together create a really nice balance of textured vocal sound.

What I appreciate most about the album is the actual song structures and instrumentation arrangements. I like every track on here, although I have several favorites: 'I Never Meant To' is a wonderful laid back tune that has a killer hook in it. Basia's backing vocal of 'ha haha hahaha' are sweet and soft and create a wonderful 'cushion' that fits perfectly with the male lead vocals. 'Golden Days' is quite infectious. I defy anyone to sit still listening to this. Upbeat, postivie and feel good stuff. Great changes and creative arrangement, the song is built around a great energetic piano riff that hits the off beats. Very cool. 'Slip and Sliding' is also very addictive to listen to, and just continues with it's own momentum.

The most unusual track on the album is the last one: 'Matts Mood III', and it has got to be my favorite. It's another energetic, kinda 'techno' piece, this time all instrumental. It's built on a great little 'rhodes' electric piano riff with a bit of delay and layered against a canvass of sound that builds bit by bit full of ear candy I've never heard before, but it all works in a wonderful way. In fact, it's downright addictive! With each cycle, new bits of free form and very creative improvisation is introduced. I just love it.

This album will delight fans of Basia and anyone else who really appreciates sophisticated pop/jazz music. I highly recommend it.

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