Matt Marshak - Family Funktion (2009)

Long Island born guitarist Matt Marshak gave us already the albums Preservation (2001), This Time Around (2004) Groovosphere (2006) and On The Rocks (2008). Now he is back with his brand-new album Family Funktion (2009). Guest musicians on his new album are Shilts (Down To The Bone), David Mann, Stix Bones, Benjie Porecki, Kevin Flournoy, Carl Carter, Chris Marshak, Hans Z, Carl Burnett, Deadra Aziza and more. Matt comments his new album: “To me, it’s just not all about me. It’s about the whole unit and the people I work with.”

With The Family Funktion Matt Marshak jumps on the funky wagon again. Benjie Porecki sprinkles the funky sparks on organ and Rhodes delivering finest additions to Matt's guitar riffs. Kenny Harris lets his bass sound concise and significant.

Great Soul was recorded in Matt's new studio called Drum Shak. Chris Marshak's dry snare and Tablas introduce into and accompany Matt's guitar lead. Mike Dimeo sets the fire with his shouts on fire, while the humming along the guitar melody reminds me of the legendary Jimi Hendrix.

Seduction is one of the songs on this album which were recorded without editing. Matt comments:" I didn’t do any editing on those songs, and we were able to stretch out and bring a funkiness to their eclectic groove.” Matt performs this song with a delicate carefulness.

On Gas Lamp Groove Matt excels with a superb guitar modulation perfectly underlined by Franklin Brown's bass and drum programming. Better known under his pseudonym Stix Bones (De La Soul) he released his albums Groove Like This (Smooth Jazz) and Bones Beats Volume 1 (Hip Hop).

Mellow guitar tones caresses your ears on Gratitude, a song by keyboardist Rodney Williams. The song also features David Mann on sax. Yes, you can also find on this album vocals. Real Good Time presents charming singer Deadra Aziza. Really, Deadra deserves more merits. A good start was her contribution on Matt's album Groovosphere.

The easy going We Gonna' Make It is a perfect good-morning-sunshine-song. Benjie Porecki supports with precise key strokes Matt's guitar riffs. Benjie is in recent times preparing the release of his new album. The title says it all, Funkology is a tutorial about Funk in particular and good music in general. Get To Know U is featuring singer and bass player Kenny Harris, who wrote the song as well. Kenny was also guest musician on Matt's album This Time Around.

Long Island is Matt's homage to his native soil. Matt comments: "Just 1.5 hours outside of the capital of the world (NYC), there are beautiful fields, farms, a taste of the past, and a blossoming vineyard scene producing some amazing wines." You can follow Matt's impressions of his hometown on this tune. What Would Have Been (JH's Song) seems to be a sad reverberation to Matt's lost favorite radio station CD101.9, although it's conceived as reminiscence to the late Jimi Hendrix.

Matt's soothing guitar sound is always a listening pleasure. Support Matt and his music. We want more of these blissful joys in the future.