Matt Baker
A Rhapsody of Gershwin
Birdland, NYC, February 28, 2020
Reviewed by Bart Greenberg
Australian-born, New Yorker-by-choice Matt Baker brought an unusual program to Birdland that was devoted to the great American composer George Gershwin. Rather than a traditional cabaret evening built around a songwriter or even a straightforward jazz concert (although elements of both were present), what occurred was effectively an original concerto with musical themes interwoven and returned to, tossed from one instrument to another, with the recurrent “Rhapsody in Blue” tying it all together. A triumphant venture it was indeed.
In the opening moments of the show, Baker, on piano, began
as a solo artist offering up the main themes of the “Rhapsody,” gently but
passionately. Soon the other instrumentalists (Max Light on guitar, Kevin
Hailey on double bass, Curtis Norwood on drums) snuck in, raising the energy
and tempo into a swing version of the composition. Then, Benny Benack III on
trumpet took charge, ramping the pizzazz even higher as the music effortlessly
slid into the Gershwin classic “A Foggy Day,” lushly performed with some
surprising Latin rhythms. Such melodic surprises dotted the evening.
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After delivering a charming and succinct verbal introduction to the show, Baker brought on the fluid-voiced Nicole Zuraitis to thrill the audience with a soulful rendition of “I Loves You Porgy,” that fully explored the emotional content of both the music and the lyrics. She later joined Benack for a lovely duet on “They Can’t Take That Away from Me.” At other times, she used her voice to blend in with the band, contributing a hypnotic element to the selections, such as the blending of three themes of the “Concerto in F” to create a film-noirish mood.
Surprises abounded throughout the evening, including a wild medley of “I Got Rhythm” and “Fascinating Rhythm” that threatened to bring the walls down with an unbridled drum solo that clearly thrilled the packed room. Another delight was a number that combined the main theme of “An American in Paris” with clever lyrics by Michael Feinstein to create a song entitled “Home Blues.” Thanks to Baker, the entire show brimmed over with invention, humor, and a passion for the genius of George Gershwin.
