Matt Glickman’s seven-track album Live from Starks, Maine 10.1.22 further burnishes the blossoming fame of one of the best musicians working in the jam band world today. I’m always pleased to hear first-rate composers who are unabashed about paying homage to their influences and Glickman definitely qualifies. Much of this live release relies on his original material, but Glickman’s talents are capable of re-envisioning songwriting from other sources in such an individualistic way that those covers are transformed into de-facto Matt Glickman originals.
First, however, we’re treated to the full force of Glickman’s impassioned and personal creativity. “Steady as Footprints” is one of the unquestionable peak moments of the Starks set and relies a great deal on Glickman’s ever-tasteful yet dazzling electric piano playing. He unleashes one melody after another with a minimum amount of gloss. The substantive movement of this first track benefits, as well, from well-crafted lyrics that smack of poetry at some points, yet never become too obscure for their own good.
The extended searching of the opener gives way to the more concise expression of his art with the track “Secrets of the Sages”. Moving from the extended ten-minute journey of the opener into a song much more traditionally focused like this will be a little bit of a shock for some listeners, but it demonstrates the responsiveness that Glickman’s songwriting possesses. “Leave It To Me” is the first of two tracks on the live release featuring the tremendous singing talents of Tom Constanten and Oteil Burbridge cohort vocalist Darby Sabin.
Glickman takes the reins for most of the song’s vocals. Sabin, however, energizes the track with superb accompaniment at assorted points throughout the arrangement. I especially love the flourishes that Glickman weaves into his piano playing and there are particular passages when he sounds infused with the spirit of life itself. The near ragtime tenor of “Maybe It’s For the Best” spotlights Sabin’s singing in a much more pronounced fashion and it’s a relaxed, yet confident, respite from the two behemoths bookending the release.
His take on the obscure Grateful Dead gem “Unbroken Chain” penned by band bassist Phil Lesh takes this neglected cut in a very different direction. His stewardship of the piano obviously imbues the cut with a much different tenor but elongating the song into a nearly 20-minute workout sets it apart as well. It’s a fitting conclusion to this outstanding live set that serves plenty of notice about where his imaginative loyalties lie. Glickman sparkles with nearly boundless inspiration and creativity throughout the performance.
It sends listeners off from Live from Starks, Maine 10.1.22 on a high note. The album illustrates the creative tightrope that Glickman walks between paying appropriate tribute to his influences and likewise heeding his own distinctive muses. He’s up to the challenge, however. This seven-track live set shows that he thoroughly immerses himself in each song rather than coasting on auto-pilot and it isn’t difficult to come away from these songs believing that the best is yet to come for this transformative songwriter, singer, and musician.
Garth Thomas