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Mat Walerian

Mat Walerian is a jazz saxophonist and woodwind player (alto saxophone, bass clarinet, soprano clarinet, flute), composer and bandleader who specializes in improvisation and avant-garde music.

His studies were mostly focused on eastern philosophy and Japanese culture. With the exception of a few lessons he is self – taught musician, occasionally taking lessons from acknowledged masters Matthew Shipp and Hamid Drake, lessons which he has cited as being crucial to his development.

His style is firmly in the mainstream of modern jazz and improvised music, somewhere around hard free bop with a tribute to the atonal avant-garde heritage. Classical music, jazz classics and the classical music of Japan and India have all left a distinct impression on his creation. Walerian cooperates in diverse musical projects with musician who represent various musical streams; jazz, classical, contemporary, improvised avant-garde music and electronica.

His most frequent collaborators are drummer Hamid Drake, pianist Matthew Shipp, and bassist William Parker. His musical projects inculde The Uppercut, M-theory project, Toxic, Jungle, Sainthunter, White Lotus, Predator Gone Wild, Zen, Mutant Definition, Blackadmin or Demiurge Droppin' Acid. In his projects Walerian mixes classical chamber music, jazz classics and Asian scales along with the modern expression of improvised music.

Art director for the 'OKUDEN MUSIC : sound to the deepest' concert series presenting the mainstream of modern jazz and improvised avant-garde music heritage.

Mat loves nature and experiencing wildlife phenomena.

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26
Album Review

Okuden Quartet: Mat Walerian/Matthew Shipp/William Parker/Hamid Drake: Every Dog Has His Day But It Doesn't Matter Because Fat Cat Is Getting Fatter

Read "Every Dog Has His Day But It Doesn't Matter Because Fat Cat Is Getting Fatter" reviewed by Karl Ackermann


A student of eastern philosophy and Japanese culture, reed player/composer Mat Walerian coined the Okuden series name from a Japanese word meaning “inner teachings." Walerian had studied piano at six and taught himself saxophone while in his teens. He expanded his self-taught regime to include clarinet and flute in 2008-9. Walerian has sporadically taken lessons from Matthew Shipp. His musical interests are broad and he had earlier played classical Japanese music, heavy metal, psychedelic, funk, and jazz. Walerian's original music ...

4
Album Review

Mat Walerian/Matthew Shipp/Hamid Drake: Jungle: Live At Okuden

Read "Jungle: Live At Okuden" reviewed by John Sharpe


Polish reedman Mat Walerian's second album is in many ways a follow up to his first, Live At Okuden (ESP-disk, 2015). The two CD set was recorded live in Torun in central Poland, as part of Walerian's Okuden concert series, six months after his debut, and similarly features pianist Matthew Shipp. However this time out drummer Hamid Drake joins the pair. Although Walerian is credited with all but four of the 13 tracks, his compositions seem as oblique as those ...

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"Walerian is one of the most talented young jazz musicians on the Polish scene, if not the most talented. He runs several different projects as a leader, and his musical interests range from the contemporary musica da camera to jazz classics and free jazz, employing oriental scales along with free improvised music." - Maciej Lewenstein, "Polish Jazz Recordings and Beyond" _________________________________________________________________ ___

"(...) Mat Walerian, whose playing reminds me of the Japanese paintings of Sesshu, full of fine lines, images, and sounds that tell haiku-like stories, arresting and mysterious. As the music progresses from clarinets to alto sax to flute, you can hear sound and space disrobe to reveal villages with beautiful clouds over trees laced with seraphic hues and birds dancing. The musicians are never concerned about style or genre. What do I call this music ? One word comes to mind : “Exquisite.” (...) This music is more concerned with poetics because it is poetics, not technique or academics, that will allow the music to go inside and change the soul of the listener. It is transcendence of music that will lead us to transcendence. I enjoyed this music on many levels; the more I listen to it, the more layers of brilliance I discover. (...) Mat Walerian plays some of most lovely and relaxed uncompromised beauty that I have ever heard in a long time. (...) the most important thing is that he is alive on the scene. Mat Walerian is one of the special ones, and along with Matthew Shipp they have created a new music called Elusive Beauty. I invite you to enjoy it and learn how to cherish life." - William Parker, Live at Okuden liner notes _________________________________________________________________ ___

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