Search - Matthias Lupri :: Transition Sonic

Brilliantly conceived, stunningly executed

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 10/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is surely among the finest jazz recordings of the new century. It sings, dances, cavorts, gambols, frolics, and beguiles in spectacularly uncanny fashion.



Featuring a KILLER band--young sax giant Mark Turner; out trumpet maestro Cuong Vu; leader Lupri, who is fast becoming Bobby Hutcherson's heir apparent as reigning vibes king; and three huge newcomers (Nate Radley, guitar, with his early Kurt Rosenwinkel moves; Thomson Kneeland, a bassist of extraordinary power; and drum monster Jordan Perlson, who sounds like Sco's drummer Bill Stewart on steroids)--Transition Sonic quickly establishes a postmodern eclectic jazz/electronic soundscape among the most sophisticated to be found at this time.



We seem to be experiencing a wealth of new monster vibes players--Stefon Harris, Bill Ware, Matt Moran, D. J. Bonebrake, to name a few--and Matthias Lupri must now be put at the top of that list. Conceptually, Transition Sonic reminds me quite a bit of Stefon Harris's great recording, Grand Unification Theory. There's a similar huge scope, brilliant ensemble playing, and ease of execution found only with the most comfortable and congenial leader/players.



Stop-on-a-dime aesthetic switches, casually swaggering virtuosity, off-the-charts sonic melismaticism, Cuong Vu ecstatic smears: What more do you want or need?



Nothing."