Matt Maltese Creates an Ethereal Jazzy Night at House of Blues
On Thursday, October 23, the House of Blues in San Diego filled up quick for a sold out night with Matt Maltese. The crowd is young, eager, and buzzing as the minutes count down, leading to a night of indie, chamber pop with gorgeous instrumentals.
The night begins with the lovely Cornelia Murr opening. She is a British singer-songwriter who released her first album, Lake Tear of the Clouds, in 2018. She stands at a keyboard during her set, her ethereal voice hypnotizing the room. Her band had a saxophone player, bringing a smooth and jazzy vibe to the set. She enchanted the audience and left them ready for Maltese to take the stage.
The audience was captivated, enamored as Matt Maltese walked on and sat at his piano. His set was furnished and sweet, a wooden piano sitting center stage and a little side table for his water. He has a great band that are able to amplify his piano focused songs, creating a seamless and cinematic arrangement. His baritone vocals are smooth and mesmerizing. A special moment in the show is when he sings his song Happy Birthday, and invites an audience member whose birthday it is up to stage to essentially serenade them. This particular shows birthday fan was so enthusiastic and giggly, making the crowd giggly. They were also extremely prepared, bringing their own party hats on stage to give to each band member, while Matt also had a birthday hat to give her. The stage was party hats galore as he sang his own “Happy Birthday” to the fan. It was so sweet, consider the crowds’ hearts warmed.
For his song “Arthouse Cinema,” he makes the song a duet by bringing Cornelia Murr back to the stage. Their vocals blend gorgeously for this jazzy, dreamy song about the tempting escapism cinema can provide, with a reminder that it won’t save you! Their rendition is stunning.
The show closes with “Anytime, Anyplace, Anyhow,” and Matt leaves the stage. The crowd wastes no time chanting for more, their excitement palpable as some fans still wait for their favorite song. He comes back out to perform two more songs, ending with “Everyone Adores You (at least I do)” The crowd is almost stiff, fully in awe during his final moments on the piano, bringing an end to a romantic and ethereal night of music.
Photos and Review by: Claire Irigoyen
