Matt Herskowitz - Mirror Image (2019)

For Matt’s second solo album with Justin Time, he wanted to explore what’s become an increasingly prominent theme in his playing and composition: the reconciliation of his jazz and classical sides. Matt’s been blending elements of both for a few years now, but one always seemed to favour the other. And, after two albums of Bach arrangements, a Chopin project with his jazz trio and a few other hybrid outings, he wanted to explore this fusion as it relates to his own music as well as through classical compositions, but this time it’s just Matt and the piano, pure and simple. Recorded in November and December 2018, the album brings together Matt’s classical and jazz sides, both old and new, in a very organic way. The repertoire consists of original and cover material, all arranged by Matt. The overall mood of the recording is reflective, contemporary and relaxing but not in an ambient way. It’s a beautiful recording that it will appeal to a wide-ranging audience.