INTERVIEW: Matt Baker brings Gershwin songbook to Chelsea Table + Stage
Photo: Matt Baker will soon present A Rhapsody of Gershwin at Chelsea Table + Stage in New York City. Photo courtesy of the artist / Provided by Fortune Creative with permission.
Chelsea Table + Stage is set to welcome Matt Baker, a well-respected jazz pianist, for a special evening called A Rhapsody of Gershwin on Tuesday, June 6 at 7 p.m. The musician will bring along his special band for the project, which consists of Nicole Zuraitis on vocals, Benny Benack III on trumpet and voice, Max Light on guitar, Kevin Hailey on double bass, and Curtis Nowosad on drums.
Baker will be in the driver’s seat for the evening, and the guidebook will be George Gershwin. Audience members can expect “Rhapsody in Blue,” a piece that is a dominant theme of the new Broadway show Good Night, Oscar, plus songs from Crazy for You, Porgy and Bess, Shall We Dance and An American in Paris, among others, according to press notes. That means tunes like “Summertime,” “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” and “I Got Rhythm” are likely to be included.
Baker, originally from Australia, has played in some of the most vaunted jazz clubs in the world. He’s also been a sideman to everyone from Bucky Pizzarelli to Judy Collins, according to his official biography. His recording efforts have also been impressive, including Almost Blue.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Baker about the new show at Chelsea Table + Stage. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
When did you first fall in love with Gershwin’s music?
I first fell in love with the “Rhapsody in Blue” when I was in high school and a friend of mine played the work. I always dreamed one day of playing it! But it happened again in about the year 2000, when Herbie Hancock released a Gershwin album called Gershwin’s World — I literally fell in love with this, and this album became one of the prime inspirations for the project.
What can audience members expect at A Rhapsody of Gershwin?
The show features a very diverse selection of Gershwin’s work all within the one performance, from his American songbook jazz, though Broadway and classical, the Second Prelude, An American in Paris and sections from “Concerto in F” and “Rhapsody in Blue.”
In the arrangement of the “Concerto in F,” the group takes some of the main themes and arranges them as individual songs in their own right, with voice as one of the main melodic instruments, the bass and drums playing in both orchestral and jazz modes and of course improvisation by all on the song’s form. The arrangements bring a fresh presentation to the music whilst at the same time keeping the spirit of the original work. “Concerto in F” has never been presented in any way other than with solo piano and symphony orchestra.
A lot of the standards are presented in their original traditional style, (e.g.: “I’ve Got a Crush on You,” “The Man I Love,” “They All Laughed,” “There’s a Boat That’s Leaving Soon from New York”), though become new gems when interpreted with the unbelievable voice and beaming presence of Grammy-nominated vocalist Nicole Zuraitis.
The biggest element giving the presentation a new spin is bringing “Rhapsody in Blue” (traditionally performed with piano and symphony orchestra) to the jazz stage and arranged for sextet and voice, with improvisation too in some of the more “jazzier” sections.
The Rhapsody’s arrangement is treated slightly differently to the “Concerto in F.” The original piano score of the Rhapsody is preserved throughout the work, whilst at the same time the sections are arranged for the double bass and drums to take on a more “rhythm section” accompaniment, though at times playing orchestrally as well. The trumpet and guitar add counter lines, chords and textures throughout, and the voice takes the role of an instrument, often singing the main themes usually played by instruments of the orchestra.
Are you trying to put the Matt Baker touch on these classic tunes or stay faithful to the original compositions?
It’s really a bit of both! In some arrangements, I’ve reharmonized and rewritten some of the chords and forms like in the “Concerto in F,” but in some like the “Rhapsody in Blue” score, I play it exactly as in the original, yet have written and arranged a new accompaniment for the band. Some of the standards too are straight and old fashioned in a sense, and some (like “I Got Rhythm”) are very contemporary and different!
How did you assemble the band for the night?
This is my regular band for the Gershwin project. I asked Nicole originally if she wanted to be in the project, back four years ago, and when she said yes, I wrote all the music to suit her voice, with her in mind. Benny on trumpet was also a first choice, and I’m grateful he can be on the bandstand for this one, too! Max the guitarist I met along the way, Curtis I’ve been playing with for about eight years, and Kevin the bassist I’ve known longest of all, meeting him in Australia back in 2000 — he now lives in New York, too.
Are you most at home in jazz clubs? What do you love about these types of venues?
I certainly am. They’re my favorite type of venue. I love the intimacy, the great sound, the lighting, the tight arrangement of the band on stage and filling a small space with dynamic beautiful music — everything about them!
What’s next for you after this June 6 concert?
After this concert I’ll be traveling overseas for a month on vacation, but then in August I’ll be back at the Birdland Jazz Club on Monday, August 14 at 7 p.m. We’ll continue to keep the Gershwin project as well and perform it again later in the year. I’ll also be keeping my eyes and ears out for new inspiration for the project — for every show we do, I try to add in something new — a Gershwin gem we haven’t included before.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Matt Baker presents A Rhapsody of Gershwin at Chelsea Table + Stage on Tuesday, June 6 at 7 p.m. Click here for more information and tickets.
