Urban Folktales

Matt Marshak (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 1, 2011)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nuance Music Group
• ASIN: B004QETK0C
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,080 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

I m confident that Urban Folktales will be regarded as one of the top contemporary jazz CDs of 2011. This is the Matt Marshak you ve been waiting for. Absolutely stunning. Brian Soergel, JazzTimes There s no denying Matt Marshak s mastery of the contemporary jazz format, as he lays down original, stylish guitar licks with shades of the blues, rock, pop, soul and of course jazz. On April 1, 2011, Marshak returns with his freshest and cohesive work to date with Urban Folktales (Nuance Music Group). It s his sixth major release and bound to be on Top 10 lists. It's my first theme record, one that sticks to the same vibe from top to bottom, says Marshak. I really wanted to capture the essence of the late-night city sound, an intangible vibe I've always been drawn to. Marshak is known for his lively, fun and energetic live shows, and it s on stage where he drew the inspiration for Urban Folktales. He d recently noticed that fans enthusiastically responded to the tune Seduction from his 2009 CD Family Funktion (Nuance Music Group). It has a combination of neo- soul, R&B, jazz and funk, he says. People always ask about Seduction after we play it. They told me they really like the open-ended, airy sound that s at its essence. With the positive feedback fresh in his mind, Marshak decided to craft an unforgettable CD of the style of music he knew his fans would love as well as new listeners. The 13 original songs on Urban Folktales, from Next to You, A Silent Knowing, Harlem River and others, certainly capture the Seduction vibe, making for a stunning work and cohesive whole, a welcome change from today s single-song-download mentality. Of course, Marshak s guitar work sometimes refined, sometimes gritty, always compelling and listenable is what Marshak s sound has always been about. But on Urban Folktales, his guitar often yields to the overall sonic palette. In fact, on several excursions, Marshak dials down his chord changes, allowing the emphasis of dynamics and emotions to carry the listening experience instead of overwhelming it with musical information. Being one of the finest guitarists in the contemporary jazz genre means that Marshak also digs experimenting with his guitar sounds. The straight hollow- body jazz guitar sound to me is everywhere today, he says, so I really wanted to experiment and have the guitar leads to be a bit different and fresh. Specifically? Well, you ve no doubt heard plenty of contemporary jazz songs that use the cool wah-wah guitar pedal sound as a rhythm accompaniment. Marshak decided to turn that on its head. I had never heard anybody using it on the lead in contemporary jazz, he says. On the tracks Teddy P and Glen Burnie, he does just that. The funkiness and expressive sound it allowed me was refreshing. Not only do you have hands at work, but the foot pedal adds another level of expression to the lead sound. It a sound that sound more vocal. --Brian Soergel, Jazz Times

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very, Very Good June 14, 2011

By Rick McCarty

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is my first introduction to Matt Marshak, and I must say, he has hit a home run here. It's not just some of the individual tracks - the whole album in its entirety has an overall great listenability to it. The songs flow nicely from track to track and I feel no urge to skip through any of them. Matt is definitely going to be on my playlist going forward. If you're looking for some fresh, highly listenable smooth jazz, buy this - you won't be disappointed!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Urban Folktales September 8, 2011

By Toni

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This artist is new to me. I asked several friends never heard of him. Went on Youtube decided to take
a chance and buy the cd. It was really really good. Now several friends purchased the cd. Very rare for all the songs to be good. This one is a keeper.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Concept CD IS GREAT! April 23, 2011

By Ernest L. Davis

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is my 3rd Matt Marshak cd and by far the best. It's always a musical treat when an artist comes up with a unique project. Matt has scored "big time" on this one. The music just seems to flow like folktale musical stories. This a different sort of recording that you put on and just listen to the great vibes unfold. Having seen Matt in concert before I know first-hand what a great live performer he is. The man can really "pick the guitar" with the best. One can definitely "chill-out" to this cd. It started with me when I picked it up from my post office box and putting it into my car cd player on the drive home. I knew I had a winner. What a great concept! You won't be disappointed with this one. It's truly a must have. Matt thanks for giving us some great music to "feed-on". You will never get enuff! An that's the bottom-line cause Ernie Davis "said so".