LIVE: Matt Munisteri and Danton Boller @ Senate Garage Jazzstock, Kingston, 07/24/2021
KINGSTON — As I parked my car in uptown Kingston, I just realized it had been 16 months since there was a performance at the Senate Garage. When I entered the space, I realized how appropriate it was to have the space open again with a performer that plays music from the 1920s and 1930s when the Garage was at its peak serving as an actual garage for chauffer driven limos during Uptown Kingston’s heyday.
Matt Munisteri is a versatile guitarist who has played with many who inhabit the acoustical, roots Americana world but most recently has been known as the musical director for singer Catherine Russell, whose ‘thing’ is 1920 & 30s jazz as well as part of the rhythm section for the nostalgically voiced MTO ( Millenial Territorial Orchestra) led by Steve Bernstein.
This evening, Matt and bassist Danton Boller celebrated this style of music in a quieter setting as a duet.
For many of the tunes, I would have been tempted to foxtrot (if I knew how) as it was all danceable, lyrical and harkening back to an earlier day and time.
Equipped with a 1930s style hollow-bodied electric guitar and bass along with vocals seemed to harken back to Dixieland, Mississippi John Hunt along with the roaring twenties. Many of the tunes came from Matt’s CD, “The Lost Music Of Willard Robison Vol 1: Still Runnin’ Around The Wilderness”. Willard Robison was a leading writer of that period whose songs reflected all of the above influences.
“I’ll have the Blues Until I Get to California” and “A Cottage for Sale” were tales of woe with a great refrain. “Georgiana”, a Count Basie number originally sang by Jimmy Rushing worked just as well without the big band.
A nice way to reboot the Jazzstock series again. Starting soon, it was announced that they are looking forward to monthly Saturday evening performances celebrating the many forms of America’s classical music. We will keep you posted.
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