Dmitri Matheny: Penumbra (The Moon Sessions)

Jim Santella

Senior Contributor since 1997

Jim Santella has been contributing CD reviews, concert reviews and DVD reviews to AAJ since 1997. His work has also appeared in Southland Blues, The L.A. Jazz Scene, and Cadence Magazine.

Recent articles (1,677 total)

Published: July 1, 1997

Dmitri Matheny and Dave Ellis are tight. Their flugelhorn and tenor saxophone complement each other well, providing harmony, added color, and tonal variety. With a theme album that refers to the majestic beauty of the moon's presence in the sky that we all experience — a common bond around the world — the leader offers a set of beautiful and interesting pieces.

The title track is a slow ballad and a feature for John Heller's guitar, while the duo of Ellis and Matheny provide an appropriate countermelody. Tom Harrell's "Moon Alley" and Lee Morgan's "Desert Moonlight" are smooth and serene, both demonstrating how well the flugelhorn / tenor sax duo work together. Bassist Bill Douglass picks up the hsiao, a primitive flute, and serves the traditional Chinese melody "Autumn Moon," which introduces the comfortable Neil Young "Harvest Moon" and its down-home feel. Matheny's composition "Moon Rocks" is subtitled "Keepnews Blues" because Orrin Keepnews provided the arrangement. The swinging piece showcases Ellis and Matheny in their most enthusiastic solos of the album.

The "Moon Song Trinity" is three of Matheny's compositions: "Sea Of Tranquility," "Sea Of Serenity," and "Sea Of Fertility." From the bowed bass melody, tango rhythm, dancing accordion harmony (by guest Rob Burger), and stirring, trumpet-like voice of Matheny's flugelhorn, to the unison saxophone / flugelhorn lines with guitar chording behind, and the extended drum solo, this set demonstrates well the variety and sensitivity evoked by the composer, and performers. Recommended.

Record Label: Monarch Records
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream

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Date	Venue	Tickets
Jun02	Jazz Church West (peace Lutheran Church) Danville, CA
Jun14	Armando's Martinez, CA
Jun14	Armando's Martinez, CA
Jun16	Piedmont Piano Company Oakland, CA
Jun21	Old First Concerts San Francisco, CA
Jun29	Concert @ The JazzSchool Berkeley, CA
Jun30	Workshop @ The JazzSchool Berkeley, CA
Jul11	Christo's Salem, OR
Jul12	Ivories Jazz Lounge & Restaurant Portland, OR
Jul12	Workshop @ American Music Program directed by Thara Memory Portland, OR
Jul13	The Jazz Station Eugene, OR
Jul14	Oregon Coast Music Festival Charleston, OR
Jul16	Workshop @ Peninsula College Port Angeles, WA
Jul17	Tula's Seattle, WA
Jul18	Workshop @ Medler Studios Portland, OR
Jul19	Boxley's North Bend, WA
Jul20	33rd Annual Cathedral Park Jazz Festival Portland, OR
Jul21	Jazz at the Chimes Oakland, CA
Jul24	Lobby Lounge, Fairmont Hotel San Jose, CA
Jul25	Kuumbwa Jazz Center Santa Cruz, CA
Jul26	Dizzy's San Diego, CA
Jul27	Vibrato Grill Jazz ... etc. Bel Air, CA
Aug02	Moody's Bistro, Bar & Beats Truckee, CA
Aug03	Moody's Bistro, Bar & Beats Truckee, CA
Aug15	Sacred Grounds Jazz Coffeehouse Scottsdale, AZ
Aug16	Chandler Center for the Arts Chandler, AZ
Aug18	Sedona Jazz at the Church Sedona, AZ
Aug22	Museum Hill Café Santa Fe, NM
Aug24	KTAOS Solar Center Taos, NM
Aug25	Seedboat Center for the Arts Silver City, NM
Sep18	Workshop @ Northland Preparatory Academy Flagstaff, AZ
Sep19	Workshop @ Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ
Sep21	Workshop @ Prescott Jazz Society Prescott Valley, AZ
Sep27	San Ramon Jazz Library San Ramon, CA
Sep28	Floyd Pellom's 57th Street Gallery (Oakland, CA) Oakland, CA
Sep29	The Red Poppy Art House San Francisco, CA
Oct30	Theater Works Peoria, AZ
Nov22	Workshop @ College of San Mateo San Mateo, CA
Dec04	Kerr Cultural Center Scottsdale, AZ
Dec05	Sacred Grounds Jazz Coffeehouse Scottsdale, AZ
Jan21	Westbrook Village Peoria, AZ
Mar01	The JazzSchool Berkeley, CA
Mar02	Workshop @ The Jazzschool Berkeley, CA
Apr25	Cliff Bell's Detroit, MI