Matt Skellenger

Bassist Matt Skellenger pulls double duty on Parentheticals, simultaneously laying down the pulse and the lead, taking cues from Victor Wooten and Michael Manring (both masters of two-hand tapping) on a bulk of the songs, which are steeped in funk, jazz and world. Trumpeter Ron Miles lends his gorgeous tone...

By Jon Solomon

January 22, 2009

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Bassist Matt Skellenger pulls double duty on Parentheticals, simultaneously laying down the pulse and the lead, taking cues from Victor Wooten and Michael Manring (both masters of two-hand tapping) on a bulk of the songs, which are steeped in funk, jazz and world. Trumpeter Ron Miles lends his gorgeous tone to each of the tracks, while Skellenger's brother Andy adds some deft ethnic percussion throughout. "Storm," the album's standout number, is an epic ten-minute composition that begins with Miles laying down swirling, atmospheric trumpet lines; about halfway through the tune, Skellenger and drummer Dave Miller, whom Skellenger plays with in Katalyst, get down on a seriously nasty groove, sounding like Stanley Clarke doing a take on "Tommy the Cat."

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