May 2009

Like Larry Carlton, Matt Marshak has a taste for electric guitar music with a bite of blues and rock but, again like Carlton, he can lay down some sweet smooth jazz licks at will. - Brian Soergel, JazzTimes

Matt Marshak’s live shows overflow with passion, energy, crowd interaction and intensity, as the guitarist throws a series of blues, rock, soul and jazz licks. Now, one of the freshest faces on the contemporary jazz scene has captured the flavor of his popular live shows with his fourth major release, The Family Funktion, due out this June/July on Nuance Records. The 12 song CD builds upon Marshak’s ever-growing recognition that led the influential CD 101.9 radio station in New York to name him one of the best new smooth-jazz artists and for JazzTimes, the bible of the jazz industry, to shower his previous two CDs with glowing reviews.

Choosing the title The Family Funktion was an easy call for Marshak, who ramps up the funkiness thanks to his strong lead guitar playing the help of a talented bunch of musicians. “To me, it’s just not all about me,” Marshak says. “It’s about the whole unit and the people I work with.” Not just only professionally, but socially as well, as Marshak surrounds himself with musicians with like minds and finely honed chops.

To capture Marshak and the band’s stage excitement, four of Family Funktion’s high-energy, four tracks were recorded live to give them a organic and funky vibe that Marshak compares to the best of funk-soul icons Sly and the Family Stone. Those tracks, all recorded at the same time, boast Rodney Williams, Benjie Porecki, Hans Z, and Kevin Flournoy on keys. Carl Anderson, on drums and Kenny Harris holding down the bass on the title track, “Seduction,” “Uptown” and “I Will Be With You.” “I didn’t do any editing on those songs,” Marshak says, “and we were able to stretch out and bring a funkiness to their eclectic groove.” “I Will Be With You,” in particular, is a rhythmically gorgeous track that features the saxophone of smooth jazz star Shilts, who stopped by the studio to add his soulful blowing.

The rest of Family Funktion continues the high-energy and smooth vibe. “Real Good Time” offers the sexy R&B vocals of Deadra Aziza, while the lush sounding “Gratitude,” produced by Rodney Williams, and “Uptown,” combine smooth vibes with Marshak’s gliding fretwork. “Great Soul,” produced by Chris Marshak, a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, combines contemporary jazz with the sound of Bollywood and continues Marshak’s shout-out to world icons who have inspired him. The song was mixed by legendary Grammy Award winning producer Ben Wisch. In 2007, Marshak also released a single called “Brotherhood” to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The tune spliced in audio from some of King’s greatest speeches. The Family Funktion also also serves up some neo-soul jams featuring Kenny Harris’ “Get to know you,” and De La Soul  drummer Stix Bones on “Gas Lamp Groove.”  However, the without a doubt radio hit is the very funky and catchy “How Ya Like Me Now.” This tune features producer Carl Burnett, the hit maker responsible for smashes by Boney James, Larry Carlton, and Marshak’s 2008 hit “On The Rocks.”

Marshak, a native of Long Island, grew up on rock ‘n’ roll music in a home full of musicians. Passing guitarists inspired his muse, and in high school he honed his chops with three well-respected teachers: Joseph “Joey” Casciano, Mike Orioles and Richard Rabatin. They all inspired in him a lifelong commitment to his craft, while Rabatin in particular turned him on to the contemporary jazz and blues guitar sounds of Larry Carlton, George Benson and Robben Ford. While attending college at SUNY Geneseo, Matt had the opportunity to play with a blues and R&B group, as well as connecting and improvising with straight-ahead jazz saxophonist Joseph Yoon. Once out of college, Marshak performed a variety of musical styles with New York’s top original bands and artists, even drawing praise from Deep Purple’s legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.

In 2001, Marshak released the solo CD Preservation and began to get even more notice in New York, which led to the gracious plug by CD 101.9 in 2003. He opened for the popular Guitars & Saxes tour and in 2004 offered This Time Around, followed by Groovosphere in 2006 and On the Rocks in 2008, the latter earning praise from JazzTimes as “one of the best smooth jazz CDs of the year, for sure.” On the Rocks also delivered a Top 30 nationwide smooth jazz hit with the cover song, which was also played extensively on Sirius Jazz Café radio station.

Although Marshak is busy with live shows and the recording studio, he also finds time to write TV jingles (his guitar was featured on the New York Mets’ Mets Zone on Fox Sports) and conduct guitar clinics. But Marshak also enjoys giving back. He is a supporter of multiple sclerosis and autism awareness, and visits countless schools to help spread the joy of music to kids of all ages.

In the meantime, Marshak will continue to expose his funky, bluesy and smooth jazz music to the public through Family Funktion and his live shows. “I’m really proud of this CD,” he says. “It’s my best yet. I can’t wait to play the songs live.”