Jazz Articles about Matthew Steckler

Matty Stecks & Persiflage: Night Cravings

by Mike Jurkovic
March 22, 2021

Like sneaking into the boy's room for a smoke, bassist Dave Ambrosio intros both Night Cravings, the concept and title track, with a sinister ease, sparking a slow burning fuse that once lit, ain't going out until all in attendance damn well reach accord. Or don't. Either/or, it's a spilling energy not unlike the frisson encounters of Keith Jarrett's storied, 70's American and European quartets. That alone makes Night Cravings well worth your investment. New York is not ...

Dead Cat Bounce: Chance Episodes

by AAJ Italy Staff
March 27, 2012

Basso, batteria e quattro fiati. Si presentano così i Dead Cat Bounce ensemble fondato nel 1997 da Matt Steckler e giunto con Chance Episodes (lavoro originariamente commissionato dalla Chamber Music America) alla quarta pubblicazione. Potenza e ricchezza espressiva da big band, duttilità da piccolo combo, flessibilità nell'attraversare con leggerezza gli stili e i generi più disparati è la cifra espressiva di Dead Cat Bounce. Che considerano la loro musica una sorta di rielaborazione catartica di storie ed eventi personali sottoposti ...

Matt Steckler: Persiflage

by Donald Elfman
March 1, 2006

The dictionary defines “persiflage as “light bantering talk or “a frivolous style of treating a subject. Saxophonist/flutist Matt Steckler's compositional style can seem slangy and almost casual, but repeated listens reveal a depth of color, a true sense of shape, and a brilliant mix of the improvisational and the written.For Persiflage Steckler has found players who know how to stretch the tradition as well as go beyond it. Jazz Passengers trombonist Curtis Fowlkes heads the front line with ...

Matt Steckler: Persiflage

by AAJ Staff
January 10, 2006

Matt Steckler is a young saxophonist, flautist, and composer with an edgy saxophone style. Judging from this recording, he's got some provocative ideas. However, he still seems to be developing his craft and his approach. Not to imply that Steckler lacks something technically--rather, to this reviewer he seems unformed, as if he's not certain of his direction, other than the fact that he wants to play jazz.

Steckler gets around the horn reasonably well, yet I find his alto sax ...