Matt Nelson Trio
Nostalgiamaniac
Chicago Sessions
www.chicagosessions.com
By George W. Harris

The jazz label Chicago Sessions is justifiably dedicated to promoting local talent from the Windy City. Speaking as someone from the West Coast, I deeply appreciate the gesture, as it makes me want to spend a week or two taking in the local sounds in between bites of pizza and hot dogs.

Pianist Matt Nelson is one of those guys making a living as a sideman, but he leads his own trio which is quite impressive. Along with Graham Czach/g and Matt Nischan/dr, Nelson has put out an impressive collection of originals, and the band executes them like a diamond cutter. Almost all of the tunes have a foundation of bop, but they can switch gears in the middle of a song like a taxi driver on the North Side changing lanes and making a sharp turn. Ballads like “Alternate Antioch” and the solo track “Longing For” spotlight a pianist with a rich and personal touch, not in a rush to impress with mindless dexterity, while on the more uptempo “Infatuation” and “Dave’s Blues” he melds with the rest of the team with symbiotic effects. A touch of Wynton Kelly, a dash of Bill Evans, and a hint of Bobby Timmons, and you’ve come up with a nice recipe for an excellent new pianist in the Toddlin’ Town.