With Eyes Closed Matt Panayides Trio

• 1 Simone 04:48
• 2 Straight Up and Down 03:59
• 3 I Fall in Love too Easily 07:05
• 4 Hindsight 05:06
• 5 Nefertiti 05:08
• 6 Serenity 04:42
• 7 Ju Ju 06:49
• 8 Mode for Joe 05:07
• 9 Moon River 04:32
• 10 The Moontrane 05:22
• 11 Darn that Dream 04:15
• Total Runtime 56:53

Info for With Eyes Closed

Matt Panayides proudly presents his fourth album, a landmark release as his first trio recording, under the Pacific Coast Jazz label. Joined by the remarkable talents of Steve LaSpina on bass and Anthony Pinciotti on drums, the trio revitalizes the works of iconic jazz composers like Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, and Cedar Walton. Additionally, Panayides offers his unique takes on classics such as Moon River and I Fall in Love Too Easily. This album features an acoustic sound, with Matt playing a guitar crafted by the esteemed luthier Victor Baker. Built during the pandemic, this guitar symbolizes resilience and renewal, producing a resonant, clear tone--a notable shift from Panayides' previous effects-driven release, Field Theory. The trio aimed to capture a spontaneous, loose feel in this performance, akin to a live setting, honoring the music's exploratory and experimental nature. Their profound respect for the compositions is evident, making each track distinct and engaging. Across these 11 tracks, listeners experience a blend of original pieces and masterful reinterpretations, all performed with exceptional skill and creativity. The album's clear acoustic tone and the trio's dynamic interplay create an experience reminiscent of riding ever-changing ocean waves, immersing the listener in a constant ebb and flow of sonic exploration. This album promises a captivating and transformative journey for both jazz aficionados and newcomers alike.

Matt Panayides has created consistently stimulating music throughout his career. Originally a pianist, he initially became a guitarist inspired by Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page before discovering jazz. Panayides studied at the Manhattan School Of Music (guitarist Rodney Jones and pianist Garry Dial were important inspirations) and earned a Masters from William Paterson University. He has since headed his own creative jazz groups and led three albums for the Pacific Coast Jazz label before With Eyes Closed: Tapestries Of Song, Conduits, and Field Theory. Each of those albums featured Panayides exploring his own colorful originals. Throughout With Eyes Closed, Matt Panayides puts his stamp on jazz standards, showing just how innovative and fresh his playing has become.

Matt Panayides Trio:
Matt Panayides, guitar
Steve LaSpina, bass
Anthony Pinciotti, drums

Matt Panayides
a guitarist/composer, has had performances all around New York City and the globe. Panayides was inspired by the music of jazz musicians, rock bands, and singer/songwriters. He has created a unique body and style of music through numerous performances and recordings. Panayides is a Jersey City resident and can be found performing with his own bands and working with musicians from around the world.

FIELD THEORY is his current musical project. It was founded in 2018. Panayides was looking for new ways to express his musicality. He began woodshedding with MATT VASHLISHAN (a saxophonist, multi-woodwind instrumentalist) and experimented with different guitar pedals. RICH PERRY, ROBERT SABIN, and MARK FERBER complete the band. In 2020, the band recorded the music they had been performing. FIELD THEORY, the new CD will be released on April 9th 2021 by PACIFIC COAST JAZZ.

RICH PERRY was also featured on his previous projects. This led to two albums: CONDUITS (2015) with MARK FERBER (drums and THOMSON KEELAND (bass), as well as TAPESTRIES of SONG (2011) with STEVE LASPINA and DAN WEISS. To much acclaim, both CDs feature Panayides’ compositions. Panayides has been bringing his music to Asia for many years, working with Oh Jong Dae, the Korean drummer, and Alec Haavik (a legend in the Shanghai jazz scene).

Panayides, a native of Indianapolis, IN and Springfield, OH, was a pianist when he was a child. He switched to guitar after being inspired by Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, and changed his instrument to the guitar. In high school, he discovered jazz and went on to study at Manhattan School of Music. There he was influenced by jazz guitarist Rodney Jones as well as pianist Garry Dial. Matt has a BM and MM degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, as well as a MM degree from William Paterson University.

This album contains no booklet.