Born: July 18, 1981 Primary Instrument: Drums
Drummer/composer Matt Slocum works with many of the finest artists in contemporary improvised music. He is regarded as a musical drummer with a deep understanding of the jazz tradition and a fresh, creative, compositional approach.
Originally from New Richmond, Wisconsin, Matt Slocum started piano lessons at age 9 and began playing the drums at 11. While in high school he was introduced to the music of Max Roach and Philly Joe Jones. He has since been deeply inspired by drummers Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, Lewis Nash, and Bill Stewart (among others) and composers/performers such as Tom Harrell, Dave Holland and Alan Pasqua. Slocum received a full scholarship to attend the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California where he studied performance and composition with Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, John Clayton and Shelly Berg.
In May 2004 Matt graduated from USC and developed into one of the more in demand creative musicians on the West Coast. In fall 2007 he moved to New York to expand his musical horizons. Since arriving, he has performed at most of the city’s top jazz clubs as well as many of the premier venues and festivals in the US and abroad. He is featured on more than 20 recordings and film scores and has performed and/or recorded with artists such as Shelly Berg, Seamus Blake, Alan Broadbent, Bill Cunliffe, Larry Koonse, Wynton Marsalis, Alan Pasqua, Anthony Wilson and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
Slocum's compositions have been described as “artfully passionate” and were recently supported with a grant from the Meet the Composer Foundation. His debut CD “Portraits” (featuring Massimo Biolcati, Gerald Clayton, Jaleel Shaw, Walter Smith III, and Dayna Stephens) is on Chandra Records.
“One of his generation's most highly regarded drummers ... Matt Slocum is more than a rising star drummer--he is a composer of startling melodic sophistication.” -Andrea Canter, JazzPolice (February 2010)
“Matt Slocum's multicolored traps-at times forceful or delicate, creatively painting varied tempos with the essence of swing”define the drummer's debut, Portraits. Hailing from St. Paul, Minnesota, Slocum's introduction carries forward the torch of patriarchs Max Roach and Elvin Jones amongst others, but he also carves out his own rhythmic patterns with young contemporaries such as Eric Harland and Johnathan Blake... Present day jazz is clearly not stagnate in the very good hands (and sticks) of Matt Slocum-a young drummer who plays with empathy and verve.” -Mark F. Turner, All About Jazz (March 2010)
Portraits reaches #14 on the Jazzweek national jazz radio chart.
“Matt ‘gets’ Philly Joe Jones and Roy Haynes as good as any other drummer I know, and has managed to infuse his drumming with his own style-the man has found his drumming voice, and at an early age! Talent and hard work. Matt was always one of my favorite students at USC. Matt’s jazz credentials seem to be in order. Names and university degrees don’t say it all, however. The bottom line qualification for any jazz endeavor is that the music has to swing. This record swings.” -Peter Erskine
“Very impressive . . . A smoking drummer with plenty of taste ... splendid timing, dynamics and ideas. He's a master of the current sense of swing. Highly recommended.” -Brick Wahl, LA Weekly (October 2009/March 2010)
“This auspicious debut should put Matt Slocum's name firmly on the jazz map.” -Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide (March 2010)
“With this excellent premiere, Slocum steps out of the box as the full package.” -Terrell Kent Holmes, All About Jazz New York (January 2010)
“It's a thrill to hear Matt's creativity, artistic diversity and sound statements on this wonderful outing of his. I take personal pride in watching his amazing growth, having observed him since his college years. Matt has big ears, huge talent and always plays the sensitivity that everyone experiences in his personality.” -John Clayton
“Slocum’s modern tunes and arrangements have a warm patina and nourish the ears. Portraits is an understated gem and Slocum a genuine discovery.” Four stars -Icon (January 2010)
“A promising young drummer.” -Los Angeles Times (March 2010)
“(Slocum) has already developed his own modern style ... this CD has the quality to make him internationally known.” -Hans Bernd-Kittlaus, Kind of Blue Reviews (February 2010)
“Slocum takes chances, and understands how to use the drums as an instrument to provide the right coloration, not just the right beat ... Portraits establishes Matt Slocum as a leader who doesn't just pay lip service to the post-bop tradition, he immerses himself in it in a way that reminds us why we fell in love with that kind of music in the first place.” -somethingelsereviews.com (February 2010)
“An awesome trio … expresses the drummer’s swinging, slightly non-mainstream leanings with exceptional mates.” -Greg Burk (October 2009)
“Matt Slocum's debut is filled with good melodies, smart arrangements, strong solos, and great promise … a rewarding adventure for the listener.” -Richard Kamins, StepTempest (January 2010)
“There are sophisticated harmonies and simple melodies twisted ever so slightly to tug on the memory. “Shadows” prances atmospherically like a Wayne Shorter tune, and, like many Dave Holland songs, manages the trick of sounding busy and spacious at once. The mood ranges from the simmering sax workout of “Homage” to the gently skewed ballad “For Alin” -- named for Slocum's longtime girlfriend -- to the upward glide of “Seven Stars,” a saxophone conversation featuring Jaleel Shaw on alto and Dayna Stephens on tenor ... With reviews like the rave at Allaboutjazz.com -- “Slocum steps out of the box as the full package” -- “Portraits,” released on tiny Chandra Records, should enhance his burgeoning reputation among the jazz cognoscenti.” -Britt Robson, Minneapolis Star Tribune (February 2010)
“Slocum seems to have a fine touch on the skins, playing with pleasing melodicism, slithery sense of swing, and a keen attention to subtleties, which really shines through his mallet work on Billy Strayhorn's “Daydream.” ... The eight Slocum originals that round out the album display a refined, post-bop intelligence ranging from the lush romanticism of “For Alin” to the scintillating “Shadows”. -Rick Mason, Minneapolis City Pages (February 2010)
“Matt Slocum has created a very good CD here. The playing is top notch, and Matt's compositions are very engaging. I recommend!!!” -Alan Pasqua
“Some drummers lead groups that feature their own muscular playing. Matt Slocum, on his debut disc, “Portraits,” is more of a colorist and thoughtful composer-leader, although he can certainly pull out all the stops when he wants to.” -Barry Bassis, NY Town & Village (January 2010)
“St. Paul native Matt Slocum is making a name for himself in the jazz world and New York City.' -Dan Emerson, St. Paul Pioneer Press (February 2010)
Primary Instrument:
Drums
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
