Matt Dwonszyk, a stellar bassist who’s performed with everyone from trumpeter Dr. Eddie Henderson to trumpeter Wallace Roney to pianist David Hazeltine, is thrilled to announce Donny Time: The Music of Don DePalma, an album-length tribute to the late, great Hartford, Connecticut, one-man piano institution. Credited to “Matt Dwonsyk and Friends,” the album will be released September 27 via Truth Revolution Recording Collective.

For such a crucial mission, Dwonszyk assembled a top flight, ever-shifting ensemble — which alternately includes vocalist Linda Ransom, spoken-word artist Alexis Roy, tenor saxophonist/flutist Kris Jensen, trumpeter/flugelhornist Joshua Bruneau, guitarist Tony Davis, and trombonists Steve Davis and Rose Roy. Holding it down on drums are Curtis Torian and Dwonszyk’s Vision Ahead ahead, Jonathan Barber; Nelson Bello appears on percussion.

Dwonszyk comes to Donny Time with a wealth of experience and plaudits. A teacher of Jazz Bass at Central Connecticut State College, often called to coach ensembles at the University of Hartford’s Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz, Dwonszyk has been hailed by trombonist Davis as “a calm, steady, inspired presence to any musical situation he is part of.”

Additionally, trombonist Peter McEachern called him “deep, sincere, a fine musician… there is a decency to Matt that is palpable and this comes through in his music.” Noted saxophonist Kris Allen, “You can hear a lot of history in the melodies he plays. You can hear evidence of a lot of listening to musical elders." And as pianist Jen Allen recalled, “I was always blown away at how creative he could be… Matt is so humble in a real way, not in some fake way."

Here, it’s not about Dwonszyk, though — as passionately and fluently as they musically deliver. No: it’s Donny Time. As the bassist explains: Hartford, Connecticut, is a crucial hub of the music, and DePalma was part and parcel with that scene. “A lot of great, legendary jazz musicians stop in Hartford,” he says, noting its proximity to New York City and Boston and its colorful, defunct jazz oasis, the 880 Club. “And Don was the house pianist.” This meant the likes of baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams, tenorist Junior Cook, and tenor/soprano saxophonist Frank Foster stepped through DePalma’s doorway. 

“Everybody that played with him [noted] that he would bring this energy — every gig was a party,” Dwonszyk says. “He always had this infectious smile and groove; it was always about community with him, and having a good time. The music was never rocket science. It always came from the tradition and soul of the music.” Tragically, DePalma passed away from Covid in 2021; three years later, how better to tip a hat to the maestro than throw one heck of a party?