Matt Glickman releases debut album

Coming out of the New England jam scene, a remarkable artist named Matt Glickman plies his trade as a keyboardist, singer and songwriter. His impressive sonic output is marked by collaborations with Yardbirds members, performances at prestigious venues and invitations to renowned festivals, while his rich musical background includes formal training at Berklee College of Music and a master class with the legendary keyboard player and composer John Medeski.

Born and raised in New York City, his musical journey started out with intense classical training, but it was his immersion in the Greenwich Village scene during high school that shaped his unique artistic perspective. Bringing us the perfect distillation of his creative vision, he now shares with us his brand new debut full-length release with the album titled Live from Starks, Maine 10.1.22.

The LP is a stunning showcase of his diverse influences, blending classical training with the free-spirited energy he picked up during his time in Greenwich Village. Influenced by Glickman’s personal struggles with mental health and the impact of COVID, the album provides a space for him to dive into these emotions and filter them through his unique artistic expression, delivering a a journey of transformation that turns grief into authentic and heartfelt songs.

Opened by the brooding synth textures of “Steady As Footprints,” the album kicks off with a spacey atmosphere. Joined by the strike of bass piano notes, intense top notes punch above, rattling in a roomy setting, the song slowly settles into a delicate piano rock sound as the lead vocals float above, injecting engaging melodies and picture painting lyrics. The dazzling piano performance shines as the energy ebbs and flows between bold chord stabs and fluttering leads with subtle jazz touches on its extended instrumental outro.

“Colour Fields” follows with the whimsical, balletic plinks of piano flowing freely before becoming grounded around Matt’s rich vocal leads. It’s an elegant song that pulls you right in and holds you throughout as Matt delivers another masterclass in piano performance and songwriting. Other highlights on the record include songs like “Secrets Of The Sages” with its lively piano backing and soulful vocal work, crafting a truly timeless song that’s as moving as it is graceful.

“Maybe Its For The Best” showcases another side of Matt’s sound, this time seeing the warm voice of Darby Sabin take the lead, backed by Matt’s vocals to form a superb duet. Backed by a bouncy rhythm of spirited piano work and acoustic guitar strums, it’s a catchy slice of enduring songwriting delivered via a stellar collaboration between two talented artists.

The album closes with an astonishing 20 minute cover of The Grateful Dead’s “Unbroken Chain,” a song that holds a special place in Matt’s heart having been written by one of his greatest inspirations, Grateful Dead bass player Phil Lesh. Across this expansive solo piano re-imagining of the song, Matt’s fingers glide across the keys to spin an intricate backing for his emotive vocal work to deliver the lyrics. Taking an experimental turn, the song shifts to a prog inspired sound as spacey drones and gentle electric piano notes collide to create a hypnotic moment before diving into a jumpy piano solo section for the rest of the song, showcasing Matt Glickman’s creativity and performance panache.

With his sensational debut effort, Matt Glickman has made a compelling artistic statement and is sure to continue going from strength to strength on his musical adventure. The anticipation surrounding his upcoming projects, including his participation in the Yardbirds release Family Tree II, reflects the excitement within the music community.