New England keyboardist, singer, and songwriter Matt Glickman has carved out a distinguished position in the music world. His collaborations with Yardbirds members, repeat performances at esteemed venues, invitations to festivals like LOCKN’, and associations with members from Furthur and The Wallflowers all contribute to his own musical trajectory.
And tomorrow November 10th, Glickman will be releasing his debut solo album, Live From Starks, Maine 10.1.22.
Glickman’s key-tickling swagger and distinct style are on full display in this new live album. It kicks off with an ethereal and atmospheric vibe with, “Steady As Footprints,” which morphs into a more pensive, cinematic ballad. As the keys become more dramatic, his voice strikes, and the almost 10-minute opus is officially underway. With this opening track, it’s clear that Glickman is not confined to one sound or wavelength.
The third track on the album, “Secrets Of The Sages,” serves as a beautifully heartfelt showcase of both Glickman’s songwriting and piano skills. With soft-yet-gravelly vocals reminiscent of Neutral Milk Hotel’s Jeff Mangum, each moment of this song feels vulnerable and raw. The refrain, “With secrets of the sages, some things were meant to be,” is introspective and sung with deep feeling and emotion. It comes off as a very delightful listening room-style track.
“Maybe Its For The Best” (ft. Darby Sabin) hits with a finger-snappin’ piano vibe fit for a 50s jazz lounge. It’s upbeat and happy-go-lucky, with catchy lines like “Paid my dues but I failed every test / Maybe it’s for the best,” peppering the track. Sabin, a singer-songwriter known for her collaborations with renowned artists like Oteil Burbridge and Tom Constanten, shares the song with Glickman for the perfect blend of smooth and raspy vocals that are filled with pep, humor, and fun.
The final track on the album, a 19+ minute cover of The Grateful Dead’s “Unbroken Chain,” serves as both the drawn-out climax and resolution to a delightfully innovative live album. It serves as an homage to one of Glickman’s strongest influences, Robert Hunter, the famed Grateful Dead lyricist. “Hunter’s dark narratives about characters who are down and out resonated with me as a metaphor,” Glickman shares.
This stands clear in Glickman’s beautiful rendition of the track, from his stunning piano melodies to his passionate vocals. Despite the length of the track, the power behind the performance leaves the listeners longing for another chord played, another line sung.
Born and raised in New York City, Glickman was trained as a classical musician, immersing himself in the works of the greats like Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven- you name it. In high school, however, Glickman began spending his time among the hippies, artists, and activists of Greenwich Village, and in this creative environment, his own path began to forge.
Along with his real-world influence, Glickman completed his formal musical education at Boston’s Berklee College of Music under instructor Dave Limina. This contrast between the technical skill of his formal training and his more free-formed experiences in jam scenes lead to the dynamic, personal, and unique collection that is Live From Starks, Maine 10.1.22.
Glickman will also be participating in the newest Yardbirds tribute release, Family Tree II.
Note* Paul Howard contributed to this article
