new album
BE WITH ME comprises six standards and four compositions by Gordy, who also arranged the album. The album opens with Topsy,” written by Eddie Durham and made famous by Count Basie and Benny Goodman. Gordy’s arrangement was inspired by Oscar Peterson’s version of the tune that appeared on his Oscar Peterson Plays Count Basie recording. Gordy dedicates “You and the Night and the Music” to the late pianist Mulgrew Miller. The tune opens with a solo bass playing the verse followed by a brief solo on the drums and then followed by the horns playing in unison before each soloist gets their turn to improvise.
BE WITH ME was released on January 28, 2022 and is available everywhere.
reviews
“Drummer Matt Gordy swings hard and with taste with his mix of standards and originals on this release. Drummers, like umpires, are best when you don’t notice them, and on this session, Gordy leads by setting the right background for the colorful portraits.”
JazzWeekly
“A very fine recording: swinging, sophisticated, varied and most musical. Matt Gordy reminds his listeners that you can have respect for the past, but not be a prisoner of it.”
“Be With Me is a laudable sextet date on which everyone shines in turn, bolstered by handsome arrangements and an impressive choice of material… inspired timekeeping by Gordy.”
All About Jazz
“Matt Gordy’s new album, Be With Me is one of those albums where the players practice good taste and interplay and present music that hits a perfect balance. A great album for jazz fans, but because of its careful focus, it is also one of those albums that could appeal to those who don’t normally dig the jazz scene.”
Music Archives
"The album opens with a delicious rendition of “Topsy.” This arrangement offers plenty of opportunities for Matt Gordy to shine on drums, but also features some excellent work by Alan Pasqua on piano, Ron Stout on trumpet, Jeff Ellwood on saxophone, and Ido Meshulam on trombone, with Chris Colangelo keeping everything moving just right on bass."
Michael Doherty
"Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Los Angeles-based Veteran Jazz Drummer, Percussionist, Arranger & Composer Matt Gordy. We had a good, long conversation on December 30, 2021 and covered his long life in jazz and his first album in 20 years, the 2022 CD release of Be With Me."
Joe Dimino, host of Neon Jazz
“Swinging vibrantly between intensely percussive whirlwind cookers like the dashing “Topsy” and subtle and sensual but no less breathtaking original gems like the light funk “Camouflage” and the dreamy and beautiful, horn textured “Chloe.” All of these fresh compositional concepts are brought to sparkling life with players so intuitive with each other that it’s no surprise to learn most tracks were recorded in a few takes.”
JW Vibe
“A wonderful album that I have often listened to with pleasure -- perfectly performed and cleverly arranged.”
“I very much enjoyed listening to this album and will happily add it to my collection. I like Matt Gordy as drummer, arranger, and composer. His playing is understated but just right for each of the tracks included on this album.”
“An album full of vivacious and versatile jazz… “Be With Me” (composed by Matt, with lyrics by Gregg Arthur) is one of the sweetest and most enchanting songs I’ve listened to (yet) in 2022. Most highly recommended!”
“An album with very good taste, with well-chosen, well-arranged and performed pieces.”
“Entertaining and unique, Be With Me is a marvelous, tasteful session. The Matt Gordy Jazz Tonite Sextet’s Be With Me is a very well-done outing, just as immaculate, elegant and emphatic as you would expect from these stellar, experienced musicians.”
“’Topsy’ opens the listen with frisky drumming, quick bass lines and the soulful brass finding plenty of grooves, and “You And The Night And The Music” follows with carefully plucked bass alongside bright horns in the playful jazz climate. Swing and funk moments impress us, as does the more intimate areas of this exceptional effort.” Take Effect
"Matt Gordy is an elegant drummer whose subtle contributions perfectly complement the needs of his ensemble both with sticks and brushes."
be with me
On BE WITH ME, Gordy is joined by ALAN PASQUA (piano), CHRIS COLANGELO (upright and electric bass), IDO MESHULAM (trombone and valve trombone), JEFF ELLWOOD (sax), RON STOUT (trumpet and flugelhorn), and vocalist SHERRY WILLIAMS. The album comprises six standards and four compositions by Gordy.
“Camouflage,” one of Gordy’s originals, has a swing/funk groove. “Spring Ahead,” which Gordy dedicates to Chick Corea, is a contra-fact based on the late pianist’s classic composition “Spain.” Gordy wrote “Chloe” for his granddaughter’s 10th birthday. Gordy worked with Joni Mitchell in Boston on her Both Sides Now tour in 2001, and he composed the title track, “Be With Me,” based on the chord changes to “A Case of You” from Mitchell’s Blue album. The song features vocalist Sherry Williams singing lyrics written by Gordy’s good friend Gregg Arthur.
Gordy dedicates Mal Waldron’s “Soul Eyes” to McCoy Tyner. It was inspired by Tyner’s version on John Coltrane’s 1962 release, Coltrane. Gordy studied piano with Boston educator Charlie Banacos. Gordy used techniques that Banacos taught him on “My Shining Hour.” Oscar Peterson’s “Wheatland” is from his Canadiana Suite. Gordy re-imagines Peterson’s solo as short fragments that became a shout chorus for the horns. Gordy closes the album with the pop classic “Sunny,” written in 1963. The song again features vocalist Williams, whose performance on the tune Gordy says, “sounds like Sade meets Aretha.”
Matt Gordy is one of the finest drummers in the country. He has honed his skills by playing across genres in some of the highest profile, most technically and artistically demanding venues and settings in the U.S. and around the world. Joined by his stellar musical compatriots, BE WITH ME is an exciting presentation of jazz playing and arranging at its best.