Every year, there are a number of remarkable releases that weren’t originally on most people’s radar, and that is certainly the case with Los Angeles-based composer and pianist Matthew “Honeybee” Little’s superb debut album Liner Notes on San Diego’s Common Good Records. Over the last several years, Little has been making his mark among the LA jazz scene, playing with like-minded exploratory artists like Josef Leimberg, Shafiq Husayn, Jason McGuiness, and others.

This incredible nine-track recording features Little’s brilliant playing on an assortment of keys, including acoustic, Fender Rhodes, and synths fused together cosmic atmospheric textures, trumpet and flute solos, backed by some funky hip-hop and broken beat influenced grooves. The album flows nicely from one track to the next, providing the feeling that you are on one long sonic journey orbiting within different dimensions.

For this session, Little is joined by a solid cast of musicians, including Josef Leimberg on trumpet and percussion, Tracy Wannomae on flute, Bubby Lewis on bass, William Logan on drums, and Kam Talbert provides guest vocals on the standout gem “Hawks In Flight”.

Overall, a truly impressive debut from one of the forward-thinking musicians among the Los Angeles scene. Fans of Yussef Kamaal, BADBADNOTGOOD, and Robert Glasper should definitely check this recording out. Limited to just 200 copies!

Matthew Little — ‘Liner Notes’
(Common Good Records)

1. Clouds
2. Hawks In Flight
3. Luck Song
4. Honor
5. Kibaba
6. Last Time
7. Water
8. Hope and Despair
9. Honor Reprise

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• Cosmic
• Jazz
• Jazz Funk