Matt Olson's first CD, featuring original compositions and music by Jerry Bergonzi, Wayne Shorter, Billy Strayhorn, and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
On the CD:
Vern Sielert, trumpet and flugelhorn
Mike Kocour, piano
Dwight Kilian, bass
Dom Moio, drums
Recorded in September, 2005, at Tempest Recording in Tempe, AZ, Clarke Rigsby, engineer.
Influences
Lots of music! In no particular order, let's go with Trane, Bird, Joe Henderson, Jerry Bergonzi, Rich Perry, James Moody, Michael Brecker, Steve Grossman, Dick Oatts, Bob Berg, Bob Mintzer, Sonny Stitt, Dexter Gordon, Chris Potter, Eric Alexander, Miles, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Art Blakey, Joe Lovano, Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley, Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly, Red Garland, Jim McNeely, Maria Schneider, Bob Brookmeyer, Gil Evans, David Sanborn, Stevie Wonder, Lou Rawls, Frank Sinatra, Gyorgy Ligeti, Igor Stravinksy, Gustav Mahler, John Cage, Radiohead, Nat Cole, and on and on. So much great music! My teachers have been a big influence on me as well.
Sounds Like
I suppose I hope that I'm starting to sound like me, whatever that means. After all, that's what we're all trying to accomplish, but I'm not sure if we can really answer that for ourselves. That's more for you to decide, I think.
A native of Racine, Wisconsin, Matt Olson is an Assistant Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Studies at Furman. Matt’s professional work includes performances with Randy Brecker, Kurt Elling, Benny Carter, Kevin Mahogany, Chris Vadala, Doc Severinsen, Manhattan Transfer, Lou Rawls, Johnny Mathis, Wayne Newton, Aretha Franklin, the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble. His performances have taken him to the Montreal Jazz Festival as well as to Chicago’s Jazz Showcase and Orchestra Hall. His article on Jerry Bergonzi’s approach to intervallic improvisation appeared in the January 2006 issue of Downbeat magazine. His big band compositions are published by Walrus Music.
Hey Matt, some the tunes I played on for the recital I had several months back is on my page. If you get a chance, tell me what you think! See you Wednsday.
Hi Matt, Thanks for the add, it's a great pleasure be your friend! All the best to you and keep in touch, hope meet you someday!! Kisses from Brazil, Beth
A big thanks to all my friends... I just went over 10,000 listens on my player. I've added a fifth tune to my player, an arrangement of Scott Henderson's "Harpoon", the leader and guitar player of Tribal Tech.
Thanks, I enjoy your playing as well. Hopefully, we'll run into each other at some point. Maybe we can trade clinics at our schools or something. Take care.
Hey Matt-
Glad to hear from you! I assume you remember me, I hope. You sound great as always!! I must tell you that you were such an inspiration to me in high school; you and William T. I really owe a lot to you! Really! Hope to play with you someday!
DUDE! You're on Myspace now, that means you're cool... i guess. hey man, thanks for the lead sheet you sent me. sorry it took so long to respond. school is killing me, for better or for worse. hope you're doing well.
