Musician/Producer Reacts to "Havona" (Weather Report Cover) by Matteo Mancuso

[@txtamaman]

MM is killing it..a whole new level, but let's try not to forget the brutality of the bassist and drummer also!... just incredible!

[@Noname-xi7xi]

Matteo is out of this world but bass and drums are on the same page, amazing how they all follow the lead without effort and simply displaying perfection at its best, simply amazing..........especialy if you consider the age of these kids which simply incredible........it's almost illegal how good they are.....

[@acjohn6995]

It's amazing how much technical proficiency has increased over the past few decades; these young kids would blow the minds of jazz and prog-rock performers who set the standard in the past. Just faster and more technical now. Amazing.

[@StrateleStudios]

Couldn’t agree more

[@Io-Io-Io]

😂😂😂😂☝️

[@keegsmarshall6610]

​@@acjohn6995it kind of makes me sad that some of the greats like Hendrix and Valen didn't live to see how guitar techniques have developed.

[@bluescanfly1981]

His right hand technique is dangerously close to perfection. Nothing tenses, nothing moves, notes just come out

[@StrateleStudios]

Great way of describing it! 👍

[@davidlewis5737]

People forget that there are classical guitar players, and that they have astonishing facility over the instrument compared to other genres of guitar - yes maybe they can't improvise that good - but what you describe as perfect right hand is your basic intermediate classical guitar player.

[@arunkarthikma3121]

@@davidlewis5737 Definitely not intermediate lol

[@andrewkeen3129]

@@arunkarthikma3121 hahaha it's all about WHAT he can play perfectly clean 😁😁

[@pianistDB96]

@@davidlewis5737 intermediate? Funny.

[@felicehomestream1650]

What the heck! I could stand listening to Matteo's tunes for the rest of my life. He's astonishingly gifted

[@ensignbodybag]

Kudos to the Bass player too...

[@lovetrilogy]

this talent born every 100 years

[@tonya5468]

Your celebratory joy in responding to this amazing talent is truly infectious...😄

[@StrateleStudios]

Thank you!

[@niklasforsen2174]

Excellent reaction as always Jeff! Yes, Matteo is phenomenal and is adding so much beauty to this world - l can't get enough of his playing 😍

[@StrateleStudios]

Yes!!! 😃😃😃

[@jeffsouza4213]

Unbelievable talent, I love his guitar technique and phrasing, the bass player is wonderful too!

[@StrateleStudios]

And so young 🤯

[@bluescanfly1981]

His technique is absolutely amazing, super deliberate.

[@DanielVerberne]

0:34 - Love your reactions, I'm feeling the same thing. Matteo's lines are often sumptuous and exceed my expectations even when I know the coming chord changes. He's capable of incredible melodic work and there seems very few barriers around his possibilities, which makes it so unpredictable and exciting.

[@keegsmarshall6610]

Sumptuous is the word.

[@lucaprovenzi6060]

Un Grande talento,con esperienze già affermate,con dei Grandi musicisti jazz Fusion.Matteo Mancuso Group,ci darà Grandi emozioni 💓💓💓

[@bobcieslinski]

Bass player is killer! Nice one Jeff!

[@amziadi]

So nice to see someone paying Matteo due respect! He truly is a Mozart of the guitar. As a guitar player, I thought after the likes of Vai, Govan, etc… the instrument just couldn’t be mastered any further. And then Matteo comes along and literally makes everyone else look like amateurs. It’s just crazy. And he also has the chops on acoustic, which is mind blowing. Also, I agree with Jeff that despite the spectacular technique, what really sets him apart is his musical brain and improvisational genius beyond just the guitar as his particular instrument of choice. Matteo makes me happy every time I listen to him, you can just tell he’s different, simply on another level.

[@dougrmoe]

Unreal how much versatility he gets from this finger sytle. The bar is set yet again. Unreal musician

[@frafontani]

The white bar between the pickups is a thumb rest, he explains it in a interview while talking about his custom made Revstar

[@StrateleStudios]

Ohhh thank you Franceso, makes sense!

[@frafontani]

@@StrateleStudios by the way... great reaction video! I love all of them!

[@StrateleStudios]

@@frafontani thank you my friend! 😊

[@billbinnings4347]

I agree with your assessment of Matteo's level of talent and how he has achieved this much virtuosity at his young age. He is doing what he was meant to do by design, and he has parlayed it into his career objectives as a musician. I believe we are in the presence of greatness when he performs. I am a fan.

[@LuisAlvarado-rg3kc]

This guy makes me very happy,such an amazing talent almost extraterrestrial.

[@chrissommers805]

Jeff, thanks for the video. I hope you get to interview Matteo someday. I mentioned your site to him and his dad in Jan 2024 at the Vai Academy and they are aware of you for sure. I love your insights about what makes each song or musician special. Matteo is a generational genius, I feel privilaged to have seen him play up close several times and meet him in person. He is super nice and very articulate about his own musical evolution and approach. Be sure to catch him on his next NA tour.

[@StrateleStudios]

Thanks so much Chris! Ya I’d love to interview him.

[@claudiocinieri7890]

Proud of this guys!!! I'm Italian and Unfortunately in Italy nobody talk about them, I mean, they are out from the mainstream news and all the sh... news. I'm so upset because of this. The music culture in my country, Italy is a DISTASTER! keep it up Matteo!!! The rest of the world is with you. ❤

[@severinobelli8869]

Verrà il tempo che anche il "mainstream " se ne accorgerà e finalmente si dovrà parlare di musica di qualità e chiudere la parentesi dei troppi "artisti" parvenue . Per tanti giovani, Mancuso deve diventare una moda ed è l'unica via per far aprire loro le orecchie.

[@dangerich530]

Forse un invito al nazional-popolar-populista Sanremo, lo renderà famoso, chissà 😂

[@dangerich530]

Proud to be a minority in my country

[@sylviedhancarville4486]

Sanremo non andrebbe di sicuro!

[@DaveyL1954]

I watched this closely as a retired keys musician and I literally have tears of joy in my eyes and I agree with your comments and all the written ones below.

[@rgbenge7580]

There's a clip of Al Dimeola talking about how Matteo is light years above everyone.

[@StrateleStudios]

Hahaha I just watched that then came here 😂

[@BrianBrazilHarmonica]

Stratele Studios, The piece of white plastic between the picks on Matteo's guitar is a thumb rest. He uses it when he finger picks at a certain angle.

[@markdunn1931]

His drummer and bass player are fantastic. Can't say enough about Matteo ! Lovey song, cheers...

[@kingslaphappy1533]

They really were excellent!

[@alanumdor7144]

It's magical😮😮😮. The highest level of playing🎉🎉🎉

[@boreed5734]

I agree with your assessment of his his God given talent, he still had to practice, study & work on it but as you said he was born a musical genius to start with. Not many like him in the world he is that unique. There is many guitar monsters out there but Matteo seems different because he is different.

[@timgrodesky4694]

This was sensational! Heavy Weather should be in everyone's music collection. This was a real treat. These guys are tight and you can see the joyfulness this song brings to them. A Remark You Made is a sentimental favourite for me and my wife-a classic song from a classic album! I really enjoyed this one!

[@StrateleStudios]

“A Remark You Make” is one of my all time favorite songs!

[@rosventu64hover]

Questo chitarrista è mostruosamente unico al mondo!! Grande Matteo Mancuso 😱😱👍

[@playbackamusicloversjourne8620]

Guys like that make me cry because they make it look so easy.

[@giovmari]

Magnificent players, great sound

[@morko77]

You said the real truth, the only truth...you can play guitar for light years but you cannot achieve our matteo's uniqueness. Another Genius coming from Italy, once in a century..if he was anglosaxon (american or brit) would be already hyper celebrated all over the world. (As monsters of guitar are already doing, actually) Grande Matteo Leonardo da vinci Mancuso!

[@StrateleStudios]

He is a genius. The biggest issue I see is exposure. I think if more people around the world have seen him they’d love him as I do.

[@Noname-xi7xi]

@@StrateleStudios Yes he's a genius and he plays with competent musicians which helps him in his journey, bass and drums are always at his level which is not easy to say the least......😏......you also have to consider how young these kids are, they play as if they've been playing for decades......😱....and on top of that, they come from Italy were usualy, if you are talented, you have to suffer twice as much and at the end give up or leave the country and find appreciation elsewhere.....😞.....I hope he finds the success that he deserves, along with his mates.....💪

[@DA-yd2ny]

@@morko77 another great Sicilian guitarist and composer was Frank Zappa. He is regarded as the greatest modern music composer having penned over 160 albums in all genres of music.

[@davidebonannini640]

@5:36 as he has recently explained in an interview, that bar is where he places & rest his right thumb.

[@bobboberson2024]

Yes, the drums and bass are most excellent - completely. But Matteo is just one of those talents we haven't seen before. What strikes me about him - besides finding two other young masterful musicians to play alongside - is that he has explored so many classics. There are SO many young string rippers out there at the moment. But Matteo has put so much content out there with such a variety of serious genres... It's really a good this kid is interested in the masters. It grounds him in the music foundations - with his originals. And brings new listeners to the legends.

[@lasse1106]

This is one of my favorites from Matteo! Also, that little Giant Steps quote snuck in at the end there 🤣

[@ThumperKJFK]

LOL yes Iasse you caught that at the end. 👍

[@StrateleStudios]

Hahaha great catch lasse! 😂

[@andrewkeen3129]

Love this analysis. Matteo I would say is the most technically accomplished and possibly just the best electric guitarist alive today. Watch him play for 25 minutes live, he plays like this and beyond without a single mistake, this is simply the level of his playing.

[@StrateleStudios]

I agree. Did you see the interview with Al DiMeola talking about Matteo? Talk about a ringing endorsement 😄

[@andrewkeen3129]

@@StrateleStudios Oh yes haha, enjoyed that. I actually just watched a video of them playing together live a few days ago in case you haven't seen that. To be completely honest I've never been the biggest fan of Al and think he's over-rated to an extent, but he clearly knows very well what he's talking about and I have to respect him for helping to point out a very special talent in Matteo. That really blew my mind though because years ago I only knew of Matteo as the most incredible technician in some ways, but then comes Al going on about how he is the king of improvisation. I was like 'you've got to be kidding me'

[@andrewkeen3129]

Not hating on Al by the way, just was never really my cup of tea. I can think of another young virtuouso amongst virtuosos that you might appreciate, Joshua Meader from Australia. He is also absolutely freakish but plays with a pick haha, it's quite incredible to see though as it seems he can literally play anything. I really appreciate your taste and analysis and will be following you from now on good sir.

[@StrateleStudios]

@@andrewkeen3129 Joshua is amazing. I just watched his Eruption and Spanish Fly vids…wow. What chops!

[@andrewkeen3129]

@@StrateleStudios Awesome, I thought you might have already known of him haha. Well ummm, Max Ostro is alot younger but possibly one of the few who seems to be possibly on the way to reaching the level of these 2 monsters. That's most of the young guitar gods I can think of right now, but can probably give you more and loads of amazing guitarists if you'd like (I spent way too many years on this lol)

[@SONGSTICKS]

I’ve only just discovered Mateo in the last couple of days and Oh my God, what a find! The other two guys in his trio are no slouches either! Just when you think you’ve seen all there is to be done on a guitar along comes another genius 😮 Love your enthusiasm with this review too ❤

[@StrateleStudios]

Thank you! 🫶

[@ManfredElsingBielefeld]

Killing band!!!!!Sonice to hear;;good guys!They show what´s up!3 people!!Also nice to see you so happy about!Love this!

[@domenicoalesiani2411]

Complimenti, hai descritto perfettamente quello che penso di Matteo: cervello che elabora con fantastico gusto alla velocità della luce

[@MrDwayno]

This is incredible....I cannot stop listening to this....amazing

[@francescofantini3307]

He uses the white bar to put is thumb on it and play the solos just with the other fingers like a bass player basically… He is just great! Thx for these videos…keep it going

[@StrateleStudios]

Brilliant! 😃 Thank you Francesco!

[@gregsallin9385]

I don't usually like review videos BUT I liked yours. I decided to watch because I love Matteo (and his band here). I like that you are a musician, you truly do enjoy his music, you know the original artist's song and can truly compare. AND finally you have a great smile (comes from the true enjoyment of what you're doing) Hope your channel continues to grow. Cheers!

[@StrateleStudios]

Thanks you so much Greg, I really appreciate it!

[@sweper]

Very good! I had the privilege of seeing Weather Report live in Stockholm Concert Hall in 1978. It was a blast.

[@williamhelveston1344]

I will start my comment with my own observation. This man is from another planet. I have no idea what chords he is playing over but being somewhat of a guitar player myself I know that what he is playing is not of my world. He adds a new meaning to the word fabulous!!!

[@charms3609]

I really enjoyed your analysis of this wonderful session and loved you mentioning Holdsworth!!

[@StrateleStudios]

So glad you enjoyed it! 🫶

[@alanpecherer5705]

Hard to find words to describe Matteo. Unique, very special, mind-blowing playing.

[@jaimeparedes9188]

The white strip on the guitar is a thumb rest which enables Matteo to anchor himself when playing. Thanks for posting.

[@diegotrionfini6814]

Grandiiiii, viva l Italia, orgogliosi🇮🇹🇮🇹🙏

[@rochford59]

Amazing😮...great Band,couldn' t be any tighter...super video👍😊...another 'Good God' from me!!😇

[@burtmann3921]

Finally the chosen one will lead music to incredible new heights BRAVO Matt Man

[@michaelmertens813]

Breathtaking

[@mttmtmmt5701]

Matteo is a MONSTER!

[@janandersson9411]

That white bar is a thumb rest he uses when he is playing tremolo on the low strings.

[@giusepperomano3392]

Matteo è il numero 1 ormai....

[@groovedemo1163]

Great Matteo , Italian excellence 👏👏

[@LookNumber9]

Greetings from DC and great job on this KZbin series, my brother!

[@StrateleStudios]

Yeaaaaa thanks brother it’s been a blast. I’ve been turned on to so much incredible music doing this. 😃

[@shirleymental4189]

Late to the party here, and I don't know if it's been mentioned, but the white bar between the pickups is a piece of wood or plastic that he rests his thumb on while playing the bottom strings. Cheers.

[@ThumperKJFK]

Yes they are very good. Love the way they changed things up. very clever. Off the subject. "Black Market" was and still is my fav. And the one video that stands out is recorded Live at Montreux 1976. Peace Brother. 👍👍👍

[@StrateleStudios]

“Black Market” is awesome as well!

[@GregJacobs]

Black Market and Sportin' Life are also amazing.

[@tuberjr]

pure bliss....a cover with own licks......on the money.....................ace

[@robbyrob0723]

I agree. He runs circles around the best of the legends. Even Al Dimeola and Steve Vai rave about him. Al says his improv is years beyond everyone

[@StrateleStudios]

I saw that interview with Al…he was completely blown away and slightly upset about Matteo 😂🤣😂

[@robbyrob0723]

@@StrateleStudios hard not too running into a kid playing like that. What I find a crime is that no one has picked him up! He needs to he playing in a "Real" situation. Like to see him do something with Valerie Stepenov. Probably impossible now...

[@StrateleStudios]

@@robbyrob0723 omg dude Matteo and Valeriy?! 🥰😭🚨🎊

[@robbyrob0723]

@@StrateleStudios kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6vbdaBsbraHgac

[@robbyrob0723]

@@StrateleStudios kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYWagmBverKfbtU

[@scottparsons7825]

I feel the same way every time I hear Matteo!

[@CenzoL]

Great narrative and review of Matteo and his band

[@StrateleStudios]

Thank you so much Cen! 🤝😊

[@davidpeacock8283]

The white line you see is aa thumb holder he added to help with his fingering A modification.

[@gv3336]

Matteo è un prodigio, ed è destinato a diventare il piu grande chitarrista del mondo contemporaneo.

[@janjohansson2605]

Agree!

[@timgrady4630]

These Young Cats swim in a rare stream . Delightful version of this timeless track .

[@dangerich530]

Matteo, so young 🌱... already a legend

[@StrateleStudios]

Yes!

[@i_never_asked_for_an_alias]

This some goosebumps inducing stuff.

[@kmichaelp4508]

I didn’t recognize the tune at first. Well… maybe after the first 5 bars. Oh Lord, would you please show some mercy on this old man? Just one blessing? 🙏🙏🙏

[@stevehardy7584]

The white bar between the pickups is for resting his right thumb on.

[@alanumdor7144]

This is the magic of playing.. "The Pipe Piper in the World of MUSIC"😮😮😮

[@rogerrussian9750]

🤣Great reaction, same as most of us when first hearing this guy. I think that piece of "pick up surround" between pick ups is used occasionally as a thumb rest / anchor, obviously a bit of custom work by Yamaha for him.

[@mariodisalvo1941]

Bass player is glorious.

[@shredidiah]

At 5:36 I believe the white bar is a thumb rest

[@GregJacobs]

Heavy Weather is probably my all time favorite album. Weather Report has influenced almost music since the band was formed. This is the only good Weather Report cover I've heard. This is fantastic, amazing. My favorite tune on Heavy Weather is A Remark You Made. Teen Town is a close second.

[@StrateleStudios]

When I say “It has one of my favorite tracks of all time on it.” That track would be “A Remark You Made”. It puts a tear in my eye every single time.

[@GregJacobs]

@@StrateleStudios I had a feeling that was the track you were referring to. It does the same thing to me. Beautiful melody and brilliant arrangement.

[@rgbenge7580]

@@StrateleStudios Jaco literally makes the bass sing on that one. Beautiful

[@StrateleStudios]

@@rgbenge7580 he shows such control and beauty…no tricks no licks just pure beauty

[@rgbenge7580]

@@StrateleStudios I bought Heavy Weather when I was in High School right after it came out. Still one of my top two or three favorites. Saw Weather Report live, the most amazing musical event I have ever experienced.

[@jckelley4198]

I think God collects back unused potential when people die, and when the bucket was full, he dumped it on some kid in Italy. "Here Mateo, so many have wasted what I given them, take this stuff and do what you will". Maybe that's why some random person wakes up from a coma speaking French

[@StrateleStudios]

Wow you just blew my mind 🤯. You, sir, are brilliant 👏👏👏

[@liamsandal6360]

Comment of the decade.

[@oneapp7027]

Jeff, speaking of awesomeness, just to humbly remind you that they (he) played the song more than 2 years ago ...

[@ZapToyman]

Fenomeno!

[@pierfrancescobernieri-pitt1964]

Matteo the new italian master jazz.

[@attuneu]

Amazing

[@severinobelli8869]

Oh my god ! A four chords bass !!!

[@ekirakosyan]

Well said about the god given ability. Of course he has busted his butt practicing entire days and nights, but what Matteo is doing right now is pure GOD GIVEN genius and talent. When Al Di Meola says “stop embarrassing the rest of us guitar players” I think it’s safe to say this kid is something very special. I liken him to a Paco De Lucia, a Jimmy Hendrix, a Jeff Beck… all music which revolutionized what it meant to play guitar. He is currently playing at a different echelon (above all else) at this moment.

[@Tony-h8r]

That white object is where he places his thumb when doing fast runs ......

[@ChristopherMenzel]

Who caught the “Actual Proof” quote at 3:23?

[@macmat7]

Yeah! Nicely spotted !

[@lazarus4936]

he certainly is unique , plectrum manufacturers the world over will be having sleepless nights

[@StrateleStudios]

😂🤣😂👏👏👏👏👏

[@montreauxs]

That is a simple thumb rest between the pickups.

[@StrateleStudios]

Very cool

[@richardhowes4831]

The white thing between the pickups is a thumb rest, as he explained on his January 2024 interview with Rick Beato.

[@kingslaphappy1533]

That was killer!

[@GreenDistantStar]

Matteo is today's Allan Holdsworth.

[@burtmann3921]

tough to compare but they are both musical game changers for sure :)

[@GreenDistantStar]

@@burtmann3921 both have a style that was a game-changer, that made even their best contemporaries wonder what they were doing and how they were doing it.

[@ericwedin4154]

The first really interesting guitar player since Allan

[@ThumperKJFK]

Sorry for the double reply. and by the way. Thanks on this reaction. Everyone who has posted in comments is so right on. wow. I am just finishing up on the 6th listing to this with and with out my eyes closed. These guy's are really good. Now all they have to do, is the hard thing...Let us see and hear there own voice as musicians. Much harder than one would think. And now this is what I am getting from the Guitar player. Man Don't toss me off the bus guy's but Lee Ritenour is who I am getting when this guy is playing.

[@StrateleStudios]

Well said and very valid point! I’d love to hear some of his original compositions. (Maybe I’ve missed them here on YT?)

[@ThumperKJFK]

@@StrateleStudios No you did not. This is a good way for us who don't know a band or musician. Too see them pull off someone we all know, and do it justice. That's get them lots of people who did not know of them, to find a way to buy/view it. That's why i love the era we from the past now get to experience the new and up coming players. Yeh I do miss the club hopping of day's gone by. we used to be billed at two bar's or lounge back in the day. grueling gigs. LOL Gas money. :) And I would do it all over again. loved playing live.

[@GregJacobs]

I also hear some Wayne Johnson and Allan Holdsworth.

[@randybaker6042]

Love it. This and Road to the Himalayas with Evgeny Pobozhiy, Mohini Dey and David Sagamonyants.

[@masterroby5007]

Italy is not only food

[@StrateleStudios]

It’s drinks also! 🍷 hahaha just kidding

[@evidamayani4170]

We all know Matteo..but man that bass player is very very good

[@StrateleStudios]

That’s for sure!!!

[@Yochanangp]

Beautifull..

[@dmottolo]

Have to agree that concerning the "nature vs. nurture", when it comes to people with this level of originality and ability: "natural talent" blows away Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hours theory. It's hard to be a mere mortal musician, when someone like this walks the Earth.

[@StrateleStudios]

I love it when intelligent people comment on my videos! 😃

[@Joesfosterdogs]

Well stated...Howard Gardner has a book on this titled, Creating Minds...must read to understand genius

[@mindclip2000]

Check out the his other video of Allan Holdsworth - Fred i dont know what to say, magical is tve only word i can come up with.

[@StrateleStudios]

I definitely will!!!

[@popeyeman69]

That white bar is his thumb rest

[@jackiedaytona7681]

God that EJ inspired tone at 6:30...

[@ralphmunn1685]

All THREE of these cats are on 11!

[@StrateleStudios]

You said it!

[@davidosbiston9265]

What combination of effects do think he is using on his lead sound? It sounds sweet and cleanish at the first part of the tune( the jazz tone), before he dials in the distortion.

[@StrateleStudios]

He's playing through a Line 6 Helix so whatever model he selected sounds incredibly smooth.

[@ozbizbozzle]

@@StrateleStudios Thanks. What do u think the component sounds he is using?

[@StrateleStudios]

@@ozbizbozzle my guess would be he may be using the Soldano SLO-100 with compression and a little reverb. There’s not much grease(fx) on his signal.

[@charlesbrown-xp3vh]

wowzers !!!