Matt began his musical studies at age nine in Denver when he started playing saxophone in his school band. Private lessons soon followed. His first teacher turned Matt on to Charlie Parker when he was 11 or so. At age fifteen Matt caught the fever irrevocably when he met tenor giant James Moody at a jazz camp, and his decision to walk the path of the musician was firmly set in place. By age sixteen Matt was sitting in with his teachers at clubs around Denver, and earning first chair spots in citywide and statewide jazz ensembles. In college he studied classical and jazz saxophone, as well as theory, harmony, and arranging. Much of his time in college was spent close to New York City, which afforded him access to all the great masters living and playing there. He received saxophone and improv instruction from Joe Lovano, Gary Smulyan and Steve Wilson, as well as lessons in ensemble playing from Rufus Reid, Todd Coolman, and Jim McNeely. While in college Matt also had the opportunity to perform with many visiting guest artists such as Joe Henderson, J.J. Johnson, and Benny Golson.

 

Matt returned to Denver in 1992 and started playing as much as he could, with whomever he could. This led him to playing in jazz, funk, rock, and latin bands, as well as combing the city every night looking for jam sessions or a band to sit in with. He also started teaching private piano and sax lessons at Gilpin Elementary school, an arts magnet school in downtown Denver. It was also during this time that Matt met and recorded with George Clinton and Gary Shider from Parliament/Funkadelic, and sat in regularly with local greats like Fred Wesley, Joe Bonner, and Bruno Carr.

 

In 1995 Matt accepted an invitation from a friend living in Rome to come and visit. A two month vacation turned into a nine month adventure in which he recorded and performed throughout Italy. During this time Matt led his own Jazz quartet and played with the popular bossa nova group "Quintetto X," working extensively with DJ/producer Nicola Conte and Brazillian singer Rosalia De Souza.

 

Not long after his return to the states, Matt moved to the west coast, first trying the Bay area, and then eventually landing in Los Angeles, where many of his musician friends from Denver had gravitated. His first year in LA was spent playing in various groups, including The Jade Vincent Experiment and the Breakestra. Then Matt joined singer Macy Gray's band, and the

following two years took him on a ride around the world promoting Macy’s platinum selling CD, “On How Life Is.” Highlights for Matt during this time included jamming with Prince and performing Coltrane's masterpiece, "A Love Supreme" with Carlos Santana, as well as playing nightly to big houses all over the world with one of the tightest live acts on the circuit.