The TAUK member blends jazz, funk, and progressive rock on stunning record Sauce Buffet
Finally, the sweating days are coming to an end. With this new calm coming into play, the tunes are following suit. Leading the charge are sounds that blend across styles and Matt Jalbert, of TAUK, honors that craft. On “Righteous on Rye”, a highlight off his stunning debut record Sauce Buffet (purchase HERE) fans will lean into the exploration of musical class within. It is a journey well heard and well-deserved.
“Righteous on Rye” wins with its percussion-led intro, which is both unusual and welcome, especially when the other instrumentals kick in. That guitar is smooth, light and easy on the ears. With a solid bass hook that links, the rest of the track is set for gold. Jazz, funk, afro and general lovers of music will find something they like with each listen. A fine melting pot of audio glory. The key in this song is really a solid flow that soothes a restless mind. As chaos reigns outdoors, the comfort of a good chair and headphones with Matt’s work can ease the pain of the day. Listeners will deepen their respect for the musical ambition and relish future sounds to come. Take a minute and relax.
To elaborate further, Jalbert gave his bits on it all in the lead-up to Sauce Buffet‘s release:
What was it like working with Curtis Kelley and Devin Runco? Are there any memories that stood out to you?
Working with Curtis and Devin is such a joyful and creative experience. Devin has been running front of house for TAUK for over ten years. Over that time we’ve gotten the chance to jam a bit and I’ve always known he’s a great musician but this recording experience was the first time we really got to work as musicians in a band together and his guitar work is effortless and adds so much all over the album. Curtis has an endless groove and feel as a drummer and in general is just a creative force. I love going into the studio with musicians who keep the energy and sense of curiosity and exploration going at all times. Curtis is always dialed, always making suggestions, always has ideas to tap into… I have to mention Nick Campbell on bass who was such a pleasure to work with. He learned these tunes so quickly and was the kind of bass player you can trust to hold things down instantly.
Devin and Curtis are also amazing producers and were instantly able to get the vibe and help make the musical world I was going for. They also know where to get the best cemitas in town, a heavy part of our diet throughout the session. One of my favorite memories of the session was when we first started jumping into some overdubs after recording all the tracks live. We started with “Hover If You Have To.” We stayed up til maybe four or five in the morning without realizing it. We were just picking up different instruments around the studio and trying everything. That just set the tone for what we were getting into and the direction this album was taking.
What is your ideal flow state when working in your instrumentals? Do you have a routine for the day or what?
I wouldn’t say I have a routine per se but there are definitely moments when I find myself in a flow state while writing and that is always the best place to be. Things just happening naturally, no second guessing, no judgments of what’s coming out. For a lot of these songs I found myself writing strictly on guitar. I was going for simple but memorable melodies. It became a practice in being able to write something where I could play the melody, chords, and a simple bass line all at the same time. Creating restrictions can actually open up creative doors. You enter a mindset of problem solving and searching for new ways to approach the instrument and song writing.
How has this body of work been with the times? Is there a relation to your life or the world around you as you write?
A lot of these songs were written when I moved to Denver. I found myself in a new city and jamming with a lot of musicians. There’s a lot of great jam sessions and gigs around town and I wanted to be able to write songs that could be easy to learn on the spot so that I could add some originals into the mix in a casual way. Not material that really required rehearsal.
What hopes do you have for the rest of 2025?
I’m just excited to get this album out. It’s my first solo record so this is really just an exciting learning process for me to be able to put something that is really my own out there. As for the rest of 2025 – I’m putting some finishing touches on a follow up. So between a new TAUK album that just released, touring with TAUK, and new original music on the way, I’m looking to finish 2025 strong.
What advice would you give musicians entering the space that you wish you had known starting out?
Don’t overthink things, just work hard, trust your instincts and FINISH whatever you’re working on. Whether it’s writing a song, recording a song or album, planning a tour. Just get it to 100% done, not 99%. Put it out, promote it, trust in your work and keep moving forward onto the next project. You can spend so much time trying to get one thing “perfect” when you could be getting 20 things really good.
