Matt's Mood [Import]

Matt Bianco | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 15, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal I.S.
• ASIN: B00022UTJ8
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #430,668 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Ordinary Day

2. I Never Meant To

3. Wrong Side Of The Street

4. La Luna

5. Say The Words

6. Golden Days

7. Ronnie's Samba

8. Kaleidoscope

9. Slip & Sliding

10. Matt's Mood III

Editorial Reviews

After changes on changes, the original lineup of Matt Bianco returns: Mark Reilly, Danny White...and including Basia! The sound is much more sophisticated and concise than their original recordings together as all have learned so much with age and experience. Welcome back one of the shining stars of the 1980's and 90's...and not a moment too soon!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

110 of 112 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning return-- and a brilliant album, March 1, 2005

By 

Leslie Osborn (Bay Area, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Matt's Mood (Audio CD)

Old bands reuniting twenty years later can really spell trouble, but for Matt Bianco it's proven to be a freaking great idea, and Matt's Mood demonstrates the monster talents of its original lineup. It's a fantastic amalgam of pop, jazz, swing, Latin, retro, lounge, spy, even chill, thrown into a great spin. It won't shock fans of Basia's solo work, yet it has plenty of surprises, and heads in a notably jazz-oriented direction. You can hear influences from Brazil '66 to Manhattan Transfer to soundtracks from swinging movies like Pink Panther, Mission Impossible or the James Bond series-- all done with love, not with cheap irony. These three tried this twenty years ago on the Whose Side Are You On album but Matt's Mood truly brings the sound into its own.

Danny White has become an even bigger piano virtuoso since the last Basia album. Not only does he deliver gorgeous straight piano work, he also handles the more electric-sounding keyboards and organs with finesse-- in lesser hands, the '60s feel of the music could have been turned into a schlockfest. Instead, the arrangements are complex without being overdone, and everything sounds organic even if it comes from electronic equipment. He's always been underrated and one truly hopes he gets the acclaim he's long deserved.

Basia Trzetrzelewska sounds as if eleven years had never passed, and these songs are definitely some of her best vocal work. She seems to be having a great deal of fun too, particularly on the energetic samba La Luna, while the pensive Say The Words is beautifully emotive. Her lyrics, while not as confessional as on her solo work, have enough intrigue to add another dimension to her vocals, and true to form she sings a bit in Polish, notably on Wrong Side of the Street. A couple of songs sound like lost solo tracks, but instead of relying on past glories, Basia goes far more jazzy on the rest of the album. Her voice fits right into the retro feel of songs like Kaleidoscope and Slip and Sliding. Let's hope this brilliant singer at the top of her game doesn't go into hiding again.

Hardly the least, Mark Reilly provides the swagger and the 'tude of the group. Kaleidoscope, in his hands, is a swinging bachelor pad anthem, and I Never Meant To is swoonworthy. It's not too often that someone can both compliment and contrast with another voice, but Mark does both, and it really makes the album work. His brand of cool is a necessary part of the group's chemistry, and I really hope we get to hear more of it on a future MB project with this lineup.

And if all that weren't enough, the musicians are top shelf throughout. Killer flute and sax work comes courtesy of Andrew Ross, and his solos on Matt's Mood III are just knockout. Kevin Robinson contributes right-on '60s-styled trumpet and flugelhorn arrangements. Peter White delivers lovely guitar work that fits right in with his own solo repertoire. Most have worked with MB or Basia over the years, and on this album it sounds like a gathering of friends. Especially great is the incorporation of recently unearthed baritone sax solos by the late Ronnie Ross-- absolutely ace playing.

At the same time charmingly retro and freshly current, both emotive and just plain fun to listen to, Matt's Mood is more than just the return of Basia-- it's a stunning album with a solid sound and hopefully an indication of great things to come.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music for imaginary spies, July 25, 2004

By 

Leslie Osborn (Bay Area, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Matt's Mood (Audio CD)

Old bands rounding up their old members usually spells trouble, but for Matt Bianco it's a freaking great idea, and Matt's Mood demonstrates the monster talents of its original lineup. It's a fantastic amalgam of pop, jazz, swing, Latin, retro, lounge, spy, in both English and Polish, thrown into a great spin. It won't shock fans of either the '86-'03 Matt Bianco or of Basia's solo work, but at the same time MB changes up the game by going more retro on many tracks. You can hear influences from Brazil '66 to Manhattan Transfer to soundtracks from swinging movies like Pink Panther, Mission Impossible or the James Bond series-and all done with love, not with cheap irony. These three tried this twenty years ago on the Whose Side Are You On album and while that was quite good, Matt's Mood fulfills the promise that the first album didn't quite deliver.

Danny White has morphed into an even bigger piano virtuoso than on his last recording with Basia. Not only does he deliver gorgeous straight piano work, he also handles the more electric-keyboard and organ sounds with finesse-in lesser hands, the '60s feel of the music could have been turned into a schlockfest. Instead, the arrangements are complex without being overdone, and everything sounds organic even if it comes from electronic equipment. He's always been underrated and one truly hopes he gets the acclaim he's long deserved.

Basia Trzetrzelewska sounds as if ten years had never passed, and it could be argued that these songs are among her best vocal work. She seems to be having a great deal of fun too, particularly on La Luna, and tracks like Say The Words are beautifully done. Her lyrics, while not as confessional as on her solo work, have enough intrigue to add another dimension to her vocals, and true to form she sings a bit in Polish, making it sound sexier than French on Wrong Side of the Street. Some of the songs sound like lost solo tracks (Ordinary Day, Say The Words), but instead of relying on past glories, Basia goes far more jazzy on the rest of the album. Her voice fits right into the era-specific feel of songs like Kaleidoscope and Slip and Sliding. Let's hope this brilliant singer at the top of her game doesn't go into hiding again.

Hardly the least, Mark Reilly provides the swagger and the 'tude of the group. Kaleidoscope, in his hands, is a swinging bachelor pad anthem, and I Never Meant To is swoonworthy. It's not too often that someone can both compliment and contrast with another voice, but Mark does both, and it really makes the album work-especially on the striking Wrong Side of the Street. His brand of cool is a necessary part of the group's chemistry, and I really hope we get to hear more of it on a future MB project with this lineup.

And if all that weren't enough, the musicians are absolutely top shelf throughout. Killer flute and sax work comes courtesy of Andrew Ross, and his solos on Matt's Mood III are just knockout. Kevin Robinson meanwhile contributes right-on '60s-styled trumpet and flugelhorn arrangements, but then will go completely left field with an offbeat trumpet solo here and there (speaking of solo records, Robinson should put one out). Peter White delivers lovely guitar work that fits right in with his own solo repertoire. Most of these guys have worked with MB or Basia over the years, and on this album it sounds like the best kind of gathering of friends (as well as brothers and partners). Especially great is the incorporation of unreleased baritone sax solos by the late Ronnie Ross-absolutely ace playing.

At the same time charmingly retro and freshly current, both emotive and just plain fun to listen to, Matt's Mood is a fantastic album. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up now--even on import, it's a bargain.-

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Basia's Wonderful Return!, March 22, 2005

By 

Glenn Morris (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Matt's Mood (Audio CD)

A new Matt Bianco album is always an event and Basia's return to the group doubles the joy! Golden Days is the standout track with Basia and Mark Reilly totally in sync to the upbeat, feel good, Latin beats. Please stay with the band Basia and give us more of this fabulous music. By the way what became of Mark Fisher?