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Matt Richard

Matt Richard studied classical piano with Ken Manzer and jazz piano with Dr. Billy Taylor. Workshops and performance master classes included jazz legends Max Roach, Marian McPartland, and Michael Brecker. A native of Fairhaven and a graduate of Westfield State College with a degree in piano performance, Matt taught choral music at both Fairhaven High School and at Tabor Academy in Marion from 1988-1997. Matt was a vocal coach and accompanist for the nationally recognized Jazz In July Workshops at UMASS, Amherst from 1985-2006.

Matt has performed throughout the New England area for the past thirty years as a soloist, an accompanist, and with many different ensembles including jazz vocal legend Sheila Jordan, Dick Johnson and The Artie Shaw Orchestra, Bombay Jim Porcella and The Swingin' Sapphires, Fred Tillis, Emil Haddad, Lou Columbo, Gray Sargent, Nnena Freelon, Marshall Wood, Bruce Gertz, Dave Zinno, Greg Hopkins, Jim Robitaille, Lisa Thorson, Semenya McCord, and Marcelle Gauvin.

Matt currently teaches private piano lessons at The Symphony Shop in Dartmouth, Massachusetts in addition to providing accompaniments for St. John The Baptist Church each weekend. Current projects include teaching and arranging for the new Umass/Dartmouth Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

Matt played solo piano at The Roadhouse Cafe in Hyannis, Massachusetts from 1997-2008 as well as joining with Lou Colombo and Dick Johnson on the famous Monday Night Jazz Series beginning in 2002. In 1999, Matt released a compact disc recording entitled Hawthorne Street Connection and the disc was very well received, playing on many major jazz stations throughout New England.

Additional recording projects include: a piano/guitar duo CD, The Art of the Duo, with Jim Robitaille, a piano/vocal CD, Opening The American Songbook, with Marcelle Gauvin, and a supporting role on Jim Robitaille's CD, To Music, which features saxophonist Dave Liebman. In 2004, Matt released his first jazz solo piano recording entitled Talking To Myself, OFF SEASON featuring drummer Gary Johnson and bassist Dave Zinno in 2007, and most recently, In The Sky, a collection of original duets with saxophonist Rick Britto.

Tags

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Recording

"In The Sky" by Rick Britto & Matt Richard released on TrineArc Music label

"In The Sky" by Rick Britto & Matt Richard released on TrineArc Music label

Source: Rick Britto

New CD on the TrineArc Music label released in September 2010! “In The Sky" by Rick Britto and Matt Richard. Featuring Rick Britto on tenor sax and Matt Richard on piano Recording at Wheaton College on August 16, 2010 NOTES FROM RICK BRITTO: Recorded in only a three hour session, this recent collaboration with Matt has been a labor of love. Matt and I have played in numerous ensembles for years from big band ...

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Recording

Matt Richards' "Trio" Now Available on CD Baby

Matt Richards' "Trio" Now Available on CD Baby

Source: Michael Ricci

Matt Richards' most recent release Trio is now available at CDBaby.com. The CD features Matt with his straight-ahead trio (Dave Kaczorowski - upright bass and Mike Morelli - drums) in a live performance at Chris' Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia PA. “It was one of those 'right place at the right time' situations when we did this date," Matt reveals. “Mike was actually subbing for our regular drummer and we didn't have the chance to get any original material together--I had ...

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Performance / Tour

Matt Richards at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, 12/18

Matt Richards at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, 12/18

Source: All About Jazz

JAZZ / ACOUSTIC MUSIC / SOLO GUITARIST MATT RICHARDS PLAYS WORLD CAFE LIVE 12/18

On Sunday evening, December 18th, guitarist Matt Richards will be featured in a solo performance at World Caf Live, 3025 Walnut Street in Philadelphia. Sets begin at 7:00pm. There is no cover charge.

Drawing upon nearly 30 years of jazz, classical and world music experience, Matt has evolved an eclectic but highly musical identity, what one listener calls “solo guitar with a world of influences". Improvisation, ...

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Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

The Symphony Shop Dartmouth, MA 508-996-0331

Photos

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