First Light

Enjoyable from the beginning to the end. Beautiful instrumentation.

Beautiful arrangement. Great instrumentation. It takes you on a beautiful melodic journey!!

There are quite a few rather unusual (but compelling) things about Matthew Shell’s "First Light." The first is that the music is the product of a single twelve-hour session. On the day that the music was created, Shell’s wife started a new job and Shell went into the studio to fully explore the range of emotions she was experiencing. Another unusual aspect of the album is that although this is not a concert performance, there are no breaks between the eighteen tracks - they flow from one to the next (except the bonus track at the end). The individual pieces range in duration from 53 seconds to almost nine minutes for a “performance” that lasts a bit more than an hour. Within this jazz opus is a complex arrangement that features seventeen key changes and twenty tempo changes. The music is beautiful, impeccably recorded and often very rhythmic. It is a unique listening experience and one that I have been enjoying immensely. Executive produced by Arun Shenoy, Matthew Shell handled production, songwriting, arrangement and guitar. Shell is the founder and CEO of MTS Music Productions as well as a music producer, audio production engineer and music business instructor. He has released several albums under his own name as well as collaborations and productions with other artists. Guest artists on First Light include vocalist Kenny Wesley, Nicolas Laget (flute and sax), Vahagn Stepanyan (piano and upright bass), Kenny Darby (Rhodes keyboard) and Curtis McCain (percussion). Although there are vocals on most of the tracks, only Shell’s arrangement of Mel Torme’s “The Christmas Song” has lyrics - the others are vocalizations. There are too many tracks to mention them all, but I’ll cover a few of my favorites. I love the opening track, “Intimate Awakening,” one of the more piano-driven pieces. Piano, bass and percussion are cool and breezy, but there is an emotional complexity that intensifies as the piece evolves. The flute enters near the end, adding another soulful element as the piece gradually segues into “Euphoria,” another favorite. Laget switches from flute to sax after a couple of minutes and Kenny Wesley’s voice enters and becomes a fifth instrument in the ensemble. Later, the piece changes rather dramatically and slows to a more mysterious, sensuous feeling that melts into “Infinite Love,” a shorter but equally evocative track. Jumping ahead a little bit is “Altered Perspective,” an exhilarating mix of vocals, piano, sax, bass, keyboard and percussion that leads into the smooth and magical “Peaceful Connection.” “The Flavor of Desire” picks up the tempo and intensity, giving Laget plenty of room to soar on both sax and flute. “Romantic Emotion” is a sensual slow dance with piano and sax creating a warm and inviting ambiance. “Dancing In the Rain” is enchanting, slow and relaxed. Even with its under-a-minute brevity, I love “Dare to Live” - some music makes its full impact very quickly! “Actualization Celebration” is one of the longer pieces and is simply gorgeous. Cello (Yoed Nir String Productions) and guitar make a wonderful pairing in this warm and stirring expression of love and contentment that eventually includes most of the ensemble. Shell’s arrangement of Mel Torme’s classic “The Christmas Song” is included as a bonus track. The piece was originally intended as a gift for Shell’s family, but is a lovely closing to the album. "First Light" is an exceptional listening experience and I’m looking forward to hearing more of Matthew Shell’s music! Recommended!!!

Matthew Shell is a gifted composer and producer, and has the unique ability to be able to infuse his music with subtle ideas and emotions. First Light is an album that will bring the listener back for more time and again.

'First Light' epitomizes the spirit of Jazz music. It has a surprisingly tactile and raw quality to it that is achieved through its free-flow form, spontaneity, and superior instrumental / vocal execution. One of the most striking and effective aspects of the album is the mix of multiple instruments and non-specific vocals that allude to a deeper message. This pure and open presentation of music frees the listener to have an unprescribed experience which is open to unique interpretation. Matthew Shell has done a fantastic job orchestrating this masterpiece of art. I highly recommend 'First Light' for a great listener experience.

Credits Production, songwriting, arrangement and guitar by Matthew Shell Vocal artistry by Kenny Wesley Flute and saxophone by Nicolas Laget Piano and upright bass by Vahagn Stepanyan Rhodes keyboard by Kenny Darby Percussion by Curtis Jerome McCain Tracks 17 and 18 feature cello ensemble arranged and performed by Yoed Nir String Productions Track 18 features vocals by Zane Alan Latta | Saxophone by Marcus Mitchell | Flute by Wouter Kellerman | As written in 1945 by Bob Wells and Mel Torme | As made famous by Nat King Cole Recorded, engineered and mixed by Nicolas Laget and Matthew Shell at The Sweet Spot Studio, Annandale, VA Mastered by Nicolas Laget and Matt Veirs at the Sweet Spot Studio, Annandale, VA Art design by Alexandra S. Haris Executive produced by Arun Shenoy, Terra Tuono-Shell and Matthew Shell

A brilliant new release by composer and producer Matthew Shell and his many talented musicians who played on this album filled with Jazz, Instrumentals and vocals, even "The Christmas Song" my favourite for the upcoming holidays! My other favourite track is "Euphoria"! Please listen and download this album to your playlist! The music was definitely written from the heart, you can really hear it!

When I first came acorss this, I expected something more vocal driven, but after giving this album a spin, I've really warmed up to the Jazz/Fusion Soundscapes that are arranged to envelope you into the music!!! Great job team!!!!