Matt Newton: PUSH

Toronto, Canada-based pianist Matt Newton comes up with a convincing performance on his debut, PUSH. Born in Ottawa, Newton started on classical music before he moved to jazz. After his education, he began playing gigs at clubs and at the jazz festivals in Toronto and in Ottawa, appearing as a sideman on two CDs. With that under his belt, Newton decided to get his own CD in the works.

Newton's music reflects his sense for melody and his ability to weave a string of stirring ideas over a compact under-layer of chords. The program balances his compositions deftly to lend them a nice overview.

Petr Cancura (saxophones), a fine cohort, sets up "Take Aim" with a potent evolution of the melody. He vents a stark atmosphere of phrases on tensile turnstiles. Newton adds to the ambiance, diffusing his runs across a well defined canvas that is blobbed with sharp interjecting chords. When Cancura returns to unfurl a heady beacon of flying lines, the intensity roils and leads into a slamming climax.

The gentle side of the band is profiled on "Through Valleys," a ballad that is set up by Newton with a wistful, delicate air. His interaction with Mark McIntyre (bass) and Ethan Ardelli (drums) is seamless, the dynamics stirring a soft fall of colors.

"Push" evolves constantly. Cancura's tonality is dark and sharp, scouring alleyways and springing quick surprises. Newton moves from that though, augmenting the tune with a lighter devolution before slamming down and getting into a meatier pulse. The composition is molded by the vision of the players to bring in an indelible presence.

If Newton continues with the same commitment and focus, he will be one to watch. .