Bass CDs
Matthew Jamal Releases Debut Solo EP, Itinerant
Matthew Jamal Releases Itinerant…
After performing with artists Wycliffe Gordon, Damien Sneed, and Billy Childs, Matthew Jamal is releasing his debut solo EP titled Itinerant on February 23, 2020.
The project features improvised music using only the sound of his voice and upright bass. It is rooted in Jazz harmony while maintaining a style that is indie, experimental, and classical.
Matthew is currently in his third year at the Manhattan School of Music studying under Buster Williams and Jeremy McCoy, but he also draws inspiration from a diverse list of artists including Ron Carter, Bilal, Dev Hynes, and Bach. He has made the decision to create his own lane/genre, like so many of those artists have done and continue to do. This much-anticipated exploration is genre-bending and personal. It is not meant to be flashy instrumental music, but rather a look into his early life and why he is so passionate about music.
Stream Itinerant here
Visit online at matthewjamal.com
As a teen, Matthew Jamal played on the streets of Washington, D.C. in order to raise money for school.
A lot of what is on Itinerant comes from improvisations he made playing for hours every day outside of subway stops (using loop pedals and effects). The project is inspired by a time in his life when he and his family were homeless:
“Growing up, there was a period in my life where things were hard for my family and me. The three of us were homeless for a year, and emotionally things were taking a toll on all of us. That time has deeply affected my approach to writing and performing music. I always try to connect the music back to a personal experience or feeling that I’ve had.”
Itinerant brings you into his world and speaks to something that many people can relate to. Matthew Jamal also directed and styled the cover photo and full collection of photos that will be released the same day as Itinerant. Following this release, he will be dropping a music video for “Pretty Like A…” one of the EP’s tracks. The video will illustrate the story he is telling with this project, also to be directed and styled by him.
In conjunction with the release of his EP, he will be performing a solo show, “Sunday Apple Pie,” at Studio 525 on February 23rd at 6pm. Admission is free and Apple Pie will be served. The show will include some of the music from his new EP, as well as some of his earlier compositions.
Matthew Jamal will be setting up a solo tour soon and has some big collaborations in the works.