Matthew Von Doran: In This Present Moment:
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The first thing that has to be said about this CD is that when you buy it (and I strongly recommend you do) you have listen to it. Turn off all other distractions. Give it your full attention and its only then that you will be able to appreciate the intricate delicacies that this album has to offer.
Recorded in 2003 his album brings together some superb musicians and the whole album gives you a pleasant mixture of styles, musicians as well as instruments with the only common factor between the whole album being Matthew Von Doran himself.
As a whole, the album progresses nicely and the shifting styles and instrumentation are enlightening to happen track by track. The result is each track offers your palate something different and it is this changing pattern that can grab hold of your attention. Three tracks feature Bob Shepherd and Bob Mintzer on tenor sax – Shepherd on the opening track ‘Balance’ and ‘Measure Once’ and Mintzer on ‘Critical Mass’ only. The tenor players have a similar tone reminding me of players such as Lockjaw Davis – and that almost altoish sound. If you didn’t check the inlay I’m not sure you would notice a huge difference in style – both Bob’s play with a confident and striking tone. They are mellow yet forceful and their improvisations use a wide range of tenor sax colours. ‘Measure Once’ sees Bob Shepherd going for almost a bop styled solo with some elaborate runs throughout.
It is nice to see Von Doran allowing the other musicians to develop on the tracks, indeed he never plays over the solos and he knows when his supporting role is needed as well as when he needs to lead. This is probably due to Matthew possibly being known as more of a great guitarist who appears with other well known players rather than as a band leader. But I think he does well in this album – he is able to gain a great balance between soloist and supporter. This is best demonstrated through the album’s opening track that is aptly named ‘Balance’. On this track Von Doran’s tone is soft and with a touch of reverb to match the gentle tone of the tenor. The instruments balance each other well and compliment each others playing too in an almost haunting manner.
There are some good changes in styles on this album and there isn’t a weak track amongst any of them. Each one is as strong as the other, many developing well with intricate and interesting solos from all artists involved and ever present is the secure and solid playing of Matthew Von Doran. It is interesting how on all tracks except one, the line-up changes to guitar / drums / organ when they are playing as a three piece. This slightly unusual shift in timbre adds a deeper resonance to the tracks and allows Matthew to solo as freely as he likes as he has the harmonic backing that he might not have if he was with a bass. ‘Swang’ is the best track in my view to hear Larry Goldings playing and the interactions between all on this light swing track soon get quite headed between players.
The bass returns on all tracks including the trio on ‘Trick’ and the playing from Darak “Oles” Oleszkiewicz remains brilliant. I will always remember something a bassist friend of mine said at a gig once - “Even bass players find bass solos boring”. This couldn’t be further from the truth for Darak’s playing and my favourite tracks are his introduction to ‘Somewhere Before’ and his solo on ‘Measure Once’ which is sublime.
This album is a great introduction of Matthew Von Doran as a soloist – his warm and mellow tone never overpowers or under fills the different styles employed on this album. My favourite guitar based tracks have to be either ‘Somewhere Before’ or ‘Z’. ‘Z’ is just so light and easy and laid back that it is perfect album for the summer months, a definite one to kick back and relax to. Not once have I been disappointed by this album and it is a good statement of things to come from Matthew in the future.