Musician/Producer Reacts to "Room 335" (Larry Carlton Cover) by Matteo Mancuso 

This young Man is like Chopin playing the guitar.

I am not sure we will ever be able to comprehend the unfathomable depths of his oceanic genius

Matteo improvises parts that most of good musicians would find hard writing down. He's one talent in a century.

Matteo is so humble and shy, I don't think he realizes that he's a "once in a generation" talent. When you listen to his videos of different genres, effortlessly, is mind blowing.

He can really only be appreciated by other musicians because the population has no clue on what he's able to do musically with that guitar.

Absolutely extraordinary player. It's like he's listened to everyone from Carlton to Gambale. And he's putting together such interesting lines, and so hip. AND he's got this huge blazing sound, great vibrato, and unlimited fire. Incredibly inspiring. I've never heard anyone like him.

What’s amazing about Matteo is his phrasing and timing at such mind blowing speed . He’s in control and playing actual melodies he may hear in his soul when he plays …. Thought is the enemy of flow ….

I have found out about about Matteo almost mistakenly. Saying his a virtuous Guitar player is an euphemism. He's simply gifted to the point the phrasing he figures out in his mind translate into audible music with apparently no sweat at all. He's from another universe

The clarity of each note played by Matteo is really unbelievable

There is no doubt in my mind that this guy is the greatest guitar player to have ever walked the earth.

This kid is the future of guitar, absolutely mind blowing, and you did a great job of explaining why!

You nail it. What is *mind-blowing* about Matteo is the combination of chops - his absolute mastery of the instrument - and the sheer *musicality* of his improvisation. I frankly cannot think of a single guitarist who is his equal in this regard. He takes Larry Carlton to another level. And he can do this across multiple genres. He's just not of this world.

One of the few players who can actually make his virtuoso chops sound lyrical as opposed to a stand alone feature deployed by so many shredders.

L'esecuzione di questo brano dimostra al mondo intero che Mancuso è attualmente il miglior chitarrista in circolazione

Please, please listen to more of this young man's music. He is freaking amazing! I have been a fan of Larry Carlton for many years and I am sure he would be pleased with this homage. I am a musician and loved your explanation of what he did. You nailed it!

Matteo's playing on major chord tunes like this evokes such joy, such a sense of discovering unimagined beauty, that I'm sure it does the same thing to my brain chemistry that falling in love does.

Matteo Mancuso is a formidable talent! Easily one of the most brilliant players to come along in many years.

It is really fun watching this guy appreciate Matteo as much as I do. I think he would pay to watch! Matteo is such a gem and inspiration for guitarist and appreciados of fusion and jazz. Hope he stays humble and clean.

He's 25, started playing at 10. His father is also a musician. Check out his album. "Drop D" is a precious piece of music. His drummer and bass player are also Master Class. He is the GUY at NAMM this year.

I really enjoy watching the reactions. He hears all the little nuances not only from matteo , but also from the rtjym section . Those little stutter steps done in perfect unison. Im a jazz bassist with almost 50 years of experience, and this is near perfection. Im binge watching this piece to pick up up a few tidbits to use. Absolute perfection.

Yes!!! You got it! He is not Only fast and precise, He is meaningful, soulful, tasty, harmonically correct ...perfect. He is Italian, from sicily. His father is a a longtime professional guitarist sideman for famous artist here. He studied all metal and fusione gods. Gilbert, Govan, and so on... Now is getting graduate in jazz at conservatory. Endorser for yamaha and line6. He's my favorite since some years now. He's been named by al di meola, Steve vai, and some others big ones who made video to say how good he is.

Found this here by algorithm. Thanks for this vid. Yes Metteo is an unbelievable talent, and you were right with your analysis. The choice of notes is it. But the real treasure of this vid is your smile. I know what you are feeling in this specific moments. And it is so rare today that actual music makes human beings feel that way. It is pure beauty, it is the reason we all started playing music. it is the reason we look friendly at this weird world. It is a reason for hope. Thank you

Jeff, I keep coming back to your reactions of Matteo Mancuso. It's not just that I feel a kinship with your reactions towards the young man, but that I find myself just lapping up the deliciously-wise words and sentiments you express about 1) the nature of commitment, long-term to a craft such as a musical instrument and 2) your pithy descriptions how innate human talent, predisposition and sheer potential through practice combine. It's just wonderful stuff. I'm a 44 year old Australian man who works in IT for a day-job but who picked up a guitar at age 12, having been inspired by Michael J. Fox miming through the end Johnny B Good solo at the end of Back to the Future. I figured it was the coolest thing ever. Fast-forward decades and I was the beneficiary of some years of professional tutoring but who now regrets not sticking out those lessons for longer and subsequently regretting my own lack of musical freedom and knowledge. It's not so much a sadness but a regret and one that leads me to have such admiration for those who HAVE made hay while the sun shines within their own musical possibilities. In short, thanks for your wonderful reactions and wisdom, it is comforting during sometimes troubling times and is much appreciated.

Wonderful tribute to Larry Carlton, thanks for sharing this! 🎸🍾❤️

Over and over - I can't stop listening - it's beautiful ! ! !

My husband and I are huge Carlton fans. This is spot on.

It brings tears to my eyes. Incredible.

“ It’s obvious all he does in life is play his guitar“. Apparently! Simply amazing!!!

Ogni strumentista ha il suo bagaglio musicale e tecnico e il suo stile, quindi tutti sono bravi....ma Matteo ha alzato il livello a tal punto che non possiamo esimerci dall'affermare che è lui il più bravo al Mondo.

I just love it when this guy puts on his Eric Johnson hat,but he can play anything.He comes off as really humble in interviews and I see him as a great embassador for the guitar.Truly a generational talent.

The intricacies in their playing, if you listen closely, are chill evoking. Boy I tell you, I wish I appreciated talent like this when I was younger but I'm thankful now that I have the opportunity to experience great musicians like this! Dang man another great find on your channel. Thanks Jeff! You keep reacting, I'll keep watching. It's a lot of fun to watch these with you because you are such an unabashed fan of musicianship and you're not "too cool" to show your appreciation and amazement at great talent. Appreciate your channel very much my brother!

Fantastic. I have to watch this almost every day. Super.

The best of the best...Absolutely incredible!

A great reaction to a great song. I have watched his many times and just looking at Matteo while his flying around his guitar, he lis just sooo relaxed. A sign of a master. Having seen Larry many times, this young man would make LC very proud.

Mind blowing!..For me it's pure perfection..I can die know.

I loved that part where he played and matched the same movement with the bass. Sweet player.

Woho, pure liquid gold pouring into my ears! So young and soo talented already. Thanx for sharing, Jeff❤

To know fusion is alive and well makes my day. Raised in classical music, how few discipline their ears to stretch.

Delightful playing. Matteo will be 25 years old on November 22.

his dad is an accomplished guitarist as well, mateo has heard guitar before he was born!

Congratulations on your profound comments which describe the true meaning of musicality and great musical taste and sense. Larry and Matteo are feathers of the same bird.

There is literally nothing Matteo cannot do, and better, cleaner and more lyrically than just about anyone I can think of, alive or dead, he's that good.

I've never heard anything quite like him. I've been playing for a long, long time and he is one of the very few people who gives me chill bumps.

Ten fingers, with ten little brains...extraordinary playing.

Every time I watch this guy another guitar turns into firewood at my place....🔥🔥🔥

La musica non è una competizione...ogni musicista esprime la propria musicalità ed il proprio talento.Matteo Mancuso eccelle in questo ed è un piacere sentirlo suonare come i musicisti che lo accompagnano di sua pari età ed è sbalorditivo ascoltare tanta esperienza maturata nonostante l'età.ci sono molti chitarristi bravi e fenomenali e ripeto ognuno esprime il proprio talento e non deve essere una competizione tra chi è il più bravo.Matteo eccelle perché è completo in tutti i generi che suona.w la musica🤟

Hi, Jeff. I just want to make a suggestion: for something like this... I mean the "multiple screen thing"; because it's so small, it would (to me) make more sense to enlarge the players' screen and make your own smaller. I'm only suggesting this because I want to SEE the musicians play. LOVE Larry Carlton!!!!! And this young man (Matteo Mancuso) is brilliant!!!!!

With everything that life is throwing at us these days, there’s Matteo. So thrilling and inspiring.

Matteo makes the hair on my neck stand up and gives me goosebumps every time I hear him improvising. You're right - to be this mature of an improviser at his age is almost unheard of. I am looking forward to seeing where Matteo takes his playing to the next level.

Matteo is a real " bravo" !! His sound, his notes are so clear.

Yes, he plays unbelievable. If someone is not blown away by listening to this, they have no clue about music and guitar playing.

The beauty of this solo brings me to tears every time I hear it. The only other guitar solo that has this affect on me is Allan Holdsworth's solo on Jean-Luc Ponty's "Point of No Return". There are no words to describe the beauty of what I hear when listening to this. Mateo is incredibly gifted and he augments his gift with hard work and musical knowledge.

Mateo is a genius no one can even come close to his level of playing

It probably takes a few family generations of good musicians to finally give somebody like Mateo into this world. I can't imagine this kind of playing at this age to be possible otherwise. Love Mateo ❤

His talent is unmistakable.

I cannot express myself but you nailed it exactly how I felt or feel. I always get emotional when I listen to this tune I can see it in your eyes and voice we are on the same level. Thanks! You are great!!

I love to watch videos of so talented musicians. Mancuso is one of the most extraordinary musicians nowadays, he is technically astonishing while he has a impressive creativity.

Amazing!

This young man is mind blowingly good. He got chops for days, beautiful runs, incredible ears. He has put in tons of work to perfect his craft, and at his age has already reached a level of playing that most people will never achieve. 20 some odd years old and already an absolute beast. he has got it all. One thing I love about this young man is that he's taken some of the classic jazz runs and flipped them upside down or just played the combination of nots in a different order (if that make sense). He is so creative with his playing, truly spectacular. They say he is a electric guitar player...I highly doubt that is the case. I am guessing that is is choice of guitar, but you don't develop that kind of speed and precision on an electric guitar (well you can but, that would be like learning keys on a non weighted action keyboard. No serious player would opt to train that way). I have no doubt he was trained on an acoustic instrument. possibly classically. I bet his sight reading skills are also outstanding, I could be wrong, just a hunch. No matter, this kid ill wind up as one of the players to ever play a guitar ( in the jazz genre ), as a matter of fact, I believe he has already reached that level of playing. Truly a gift. Unfortunately there are few people who really understand how amazing this young man is. Also you need to check out Tina S She put out a cover of Moonlight Sonata at the age of 16 on an ELECTIC GUITAR. Stunning . Looks like she is going to fall asleep, while she is tearing up the instrument This is the link: Ludwig van Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata ( 3rd Movement ) Tina S Cove. Classically trained. and another monster on guitar. Have a great day and thank you for your reaction, as always spot on.

This guy is in a class by himself... So Clean and no slop... Tastful too...

I would say he caught you without a word to say, mouth open and in awed , i couldn't believe it the first time i heard this either.

Matteo is from another planet, that's my only explanation for how good he is.

saw him live a few nights ago , what an amazing guitarist , and person too.. got the honor to shake that hand , amazing night , I will never forget it , and I don't know how , but somehow , live its even better.. incredible

Not only his jazz chops , but a year or so ago I saw on his channel he was playing a telecaster absolutely ripping a country lead , He’s a really special player

GREAT review. Exactly, his changes over chords is so impressive. But what strikes me so much - at 25 now, his knowledge of so many artists WELL before his time; such massive homework into the greats before him. In so MANY genres. Well beyond all the young shredders today. It's absolutely crazy. And then you deal with the technique-- jaw dropping..

Larry Carlton❤...Matteo ...incredibile..che orgoglio essere siciliano.. suonare così a 25 anni senza neanche usare il plettro A mio modesto parere ad un livello che non si era mai visto prima d'ora

Matteo makes your heart sing...every time and it looks so effortless....brilliant!

Unbelievably good, incredible! What more can I say? Just enjoy his genius…

I can only imagine what will become of him in the future. My goodness! Potent! God blesses few with this kind of talent.

Gracias Caballero por promover la buena musica...la cual todavía existe y muy buena de hecho. Lo de Mateo por otro lado es para hacer una tesis 😂...una fuerza de la naturaleza

It is so nice as well seeing Matteo playing..

Love the bass player, great grove. I like his grey beard, it looks like mine. I just hope my hair style doesn't match his any time soon. Good players, nice reaction Jeff.

Thank you for introducing Matteo to your channel! The amazing aspect of Matteo’s playing for me is that he so fully embraces all the great guitarists that preceded him over history - he “stands on the shoulders of giants”, and I think they will all be pleased with where he is going with that. I can’t wait to hear more from him.

Oh man,i can't stop listening to this solo by Matteo,he is so tight,his vocabulary and ideas are beautifull indeed,i became a fan a long time ago when i heard The Chiken by him and his trio,just amazing.

I'm a huge fan of Larry. I will definitely find more of this gentleman's work. Reminds me a bit of Robbin Ford, or Ritenauer.

I love this jazz/fusion style of music and what's not to love about Matteo, such sounds and so young. Looking forward to more great things from him. Thanks!

Pro musician here - very glad you looked into Matteo Mancuso - doing Larry's Room 335 - wow what a breath of fresh air musically - this is smooth jazz at its finest. I'm glad that some talented young people are keeping this magic alive - but like you stated, it takes years to build the skills needed to do this caliber of music - many don't have the patience to work hard enough to master an instrument - when people do, this is what you get - soundscape perfection. I also appreciate your comments on playing fast (shredding) vs playing beautifully - such a huge difference - many people (and musicians) don't understand or value this difference - which is why Matteo stands apart - he gets it - his technical skills allow him to play the right phrasing - lifts the song to a very soulful level - thank you for doing this! new sub -

I really enjoyed that! You know how I LOVE the guitar! I’m happy to have found a new player thanks to you! I loved watching him play! Interesting to see someone play without a pick. At one point I love how he looks at his fingers like they are sore or perhaps tired. He has a great tone and eloquent playing. Yes, he plays all the right notes and doesn’t just noodle away! So pleasing to listen to. And as always, you are so eloquent in what you have to say about your videos. Always educating us! Such a great reaction, Jeff!!!! You continue to never disappoint!!! #goat #societyofadvancedmusicalthought #goatreactorofyoutube

Matteo is out of this world

Mancuso is such a monster player...didn't know about his cover before so thank you aha, obviously watched/listened to some of his stuff the last few years and he's just truly mind blowing ! Technique yeah definitely but as you said : when it's used with musicality, care, and a unique feel like he does, it's what I'd call perfection 😂 I've listened to lots of Prog Rock bands when I was a teen, and it's often something I'd find in these bands : players with impressive techniques but most importantly with lots of feel and musicality. I know very little about fusion (...and I can only imagine how much I'm missing out ahaha), but I'd assume it's the same "vibe" definitely. The cover was amazing of course but I particularly enjoyed listening to what you had to say and your more general thoughts here. Very lovely to listen to, as always though ! ❤️

The lick that starts at 3:39 is so ridiculous, how is this guy so talented at such a young age?

Matteo Mancuso, orgoglio italiano 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹💪 bravoooooo

Man, this kid is nutz!

3.41 to 3.50 just makes me smile! It's all brilliant!

It’s like when Pastorius, or Hendrix came on the scene.. .. total game changer.

your sincere surprise and admiration for Matteo's guitar parts is fantastic, as a professional musician and producer as u are, you realize that you are facing a real phenomenon that we will hear a lot about in the future..Great Jeff.!! 👍

Matteo plays soulfully. Technique is impressive but it's not what remains in your heart after you hear him play. Which is the same effect that heroes like Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, George Benson, Chuck Loeb do on me.

It is hard to explain to non musicians, or even some decent amateurs how incredibly knowledgeable you have to be in order to do this.

03:41 - one of the moments where you realise you're in the presence of true musical greatness ...

My brother turned me on to Matteo recently, and I am in awe of him. I've listened to several interviews and am so impressed by his brilliance, humility, and seriousness. I admire virtuosity in any field, but especially music. The dedication and commitment it takes to reach that level of excellence is so inspirational. In a crazy world where we see some of the worst that humans can so to one another, it important to remember that people are capable of inspiring the world to be the best versions of themselves. Bravo, Matteo! Grazie mille for inspiring me to work diligently on my creative projects.

Matteo è un grande musicista. Suona la chitarra con naturalezza e sensibilità. Ottima interpretazione e assistito da dei musicisti molto bravi. Un made in Italy fantastico

Wow! Talk about doing justice to a wonderful track from the masterful Larry Carlton. Matteo has done an excellent job with this song thru his playing I could hear the tones of Larry Carlton (Naturally) and Lee Ritenour and stylings of Grant Geissman, blending all together with the flavors of Matteo Mancuso, it's a wonderful thing.

Matteo Mancuso has taken the 1990's fusion torch and ran with it to the finish line. There's no more exciting guitar player than MM !!!!

Fantastic pick to review

Well explained my friend,Matteo is a genius with the ability to play a Larry Carlton gem,I don't know of too many players who could do it that well or do it at all.

Jeff...starting to explore some of your musical tastes. I listened to this piece in my sauna(fully insulated and nearly sound proof) It gave me chills just how good Matteo is. (had to stay in longer) His fingers are like high speed tarantula legs.... amazing

His note choices were gorgeous.

I love Larry, have seen him in concert multiple times, and have his albums, but the musicality shown here by Matteo blows my mind. Combining obvious training in music theory with technical proficiency and such creative artistry is a powerful combination! I have from 2:55 to 4:07 on repeat. It is just beautiful!

Sooo beautiful!

Another great example for the increasing number of remote sessions we see on YT lately. Larry Carlton + Steely Dan equaled outstanding music. His chord progressions and phrasing are unparalleled. Great playing and flow from Mancuso here!