self-released
Thank God that Matt Geraghty put explanations for his
songs in his linear notes. His latest album with the
Matt Geraghty Project, Mosaic, is all over the place
when listened to without reading his motives behind
each tune. After reading while listening to each piece
of what is definitely a musical mosaic, things begin
to make more sense — you will even hear pieces and
influences that you may have missed the first time.
Here, piece-by-piece, are mini dissections of his
tunes, his explanations, and the conclusions that one
may draw from putting the pieces of the puzzle
together.
The eight-minute long opening track, "Sevilla," is
hymn-like and transcends into funky piano-driven jazz.
Geraghty says that he tried to capture North African
influences, and he did a so-so job — you hear them not
so much in the music itself, but in the chanting that
opens the track and is peppered throughout.
For the second track, "A Procura," he enlists the help
of friend Luciano Antonio to compose and sing the
lyrics. Sung in what sounds like it could be Spanish
or Portuguese and then translated into English, it’s
indecipherable, except for the "la la la"s and "ba ba
ba"s. But, it’s also got the jazz and funk that
Geraghty is known for.
Jazz legend Ornette
Coleman lends his tune "Turnaround." Thick with bass
and lyricless, Geraghty takes us back to the roots of
his passion and does a fine job doing so. John
Coltrane’s "Naima" has been reworked from front to
back. Geraghty has reharmonized, arranged it to play
as a bossa nova, and has even included some of
Coltrane’s "Giant Steps" chord changes, though they
are barely noticeable. Getting in touch with his
romantic side, Geraghty has included a love theme from
the Italian film Cinema Paradiso. He features Ben Lewis
on piano, and though the song is Italian, it sounds
more like ragtime.
The reason that upon first listen one might feel that
Mosaic is all over the place is because of the many
worldly influences that he uses — North African,
Indian, Italian, Portuguese, etc. At first it’s a bit of a
mess, but as you listen and get deeper into Geraghty’s
mission, things fall into place. There is no better
title.