Perisflage

"Saxophonist Matt Steckler is best known as the leader of the Mingus-goes-punk sextet the Dead Cat Bounce. Persiflage, his solo debut, features a classy New York rhythm section (Michael Cain, Lonnie Plaxico, Pheeroan akLaff) and has a more orthodox sound than the DCB, but Steckler’s passionate delivery and splendidly warped sensibility make this still a pretty heady brew. His tunes often seem to be trying to weave together two grooves simultaneously, achieving a strange combination of forward momentum and self-contradiction: “Unknown Rebel,” for instance, starts as Dolphy arabesques then becomes a blues that never comfortably settles into major or minor, while “Country Rake Fight” has a witty self-consuming opening that blossoms into a monster one-chord jam. Cain’s lucid but slightly offbeat piano solos and the stellar rhythm section work provide an ideal setting for Steckler; trombonist Curtis Fowlkes pops up for a few excellent cameos, too. The results are one of the best small group jazz discs of the past year."
- Nate Dorward, Exclaim!
- Nate Dorward

by Donald Elfman


The dictionary describes “Persiflage” as “light
bantering talk” or “a frivolous style of treating a
subject.” Composer and saxophonist/flutist Matt
Steckler demonstrates that his compositional style can
seem slangy and almost casual, but repeated listens
reveal a depth of color, a true sense of shape and a
brilliant mix of the improvisational and the written.
For Persiflage Steckler has found players who
know how to stretch the tradition as well as go beyond
it. Jazz Passengers trombonist Curtis Fowlkes heads
the front line with Steckler and their sinewy and
twisting lines never seem showy for novelty‚s sake.
Instead, with the solid-yet-ever-adventurous rhythmic
pulse of more-than-rhythm players Michael Cain,
Lonnie Plaxico and Pheeroan akLaff, the band plays
themes that are both logical and completely
surprising. The tunes - all by Steckler - have the feel of
the best George Russell ensembles and take the
modern jazz vocabulary and context for a much needed
ride. The opening track “March Nor‚easter”
for example is jaunty and playful but digs into a
groove that keeps the tune in the pulse. Steckler
squawks on alto and Fowlkes bellows and brays - all
over rich sounds from Cain and a powerful akLaff -
but the tune keeps you snapping your fingers even as
you can‚t quite figure out where it‚s going to go.
Later the group does a nutty take on a Latin
groove - “Episodio pa‚ Osmany” - and spins it out into
some other world, one where the digging is down and
deep but also into new territory. All the tunes are of a
feel that we’ve come to know from listening to jazz
records but none of them feels tired or rehashed. - All About Jazz - NYC

Excellent disque proposé par le label americain Innova, qui propose une large palette de grandes artistes affiliés au jazz et à la musique expérimentale. On vous conseillera d’ailleurs de ce même label le disque de Philip Johnston qui était fabuleux. Aujourd’hui, place à un saxophoniste qui se gave, j’ai nommé Matt Steckler qui nous offre pour ce debut d’année ce très bon « persiflage ». Non, il ne s’agit pas de persiflage de tympans, mais plutot d’un jazz excellent, croisée entre la vieille ecole, les influences afro-cubaines, et un coté free vraiment intéréssant. Une formation en quintet sur une base piano, basse, guitare, trombone. Matt steckler occupe le 5eme role en prenant tour à tour un saxophone ou une flute, insufflant une tonicité aux 10 morceaux exclusivement instrumentaux. Vous rajoutez à cela un excellent artwork, et nous voila doté d’un pur opus de jazz que l’on recommandera aux amateurs, ainsi que tout le catalogue du label innova.

Punk sportif - Webzine Pepper Zone - France