All About Jazz

Home » Musicians » Moppa Elliott

JAZZ POLLS | VOTE

Moppa Elliott

I was born on September 13, 1978, the first son of David and Carolyn Elliott in Scranton, Pa. Incidentally, they named me Matthew Thomas Elliott, not Moppa. My parents are both college instructors and intense music lovers, so I was able to hear a lot of music growing up. After a brief introduction to the piano, I started to play the trombone in the sixth grade, and after deciding a few years later that I wanted to also play an instrument with strings, I was given an electric bass. When I was about 17, I fixed up my father’s old acoustic bass in order to audition for a summer program. I then began to study the bass seriously with Pocono resident Tony Marino.

In the fall of 1997, I enrolled in both Oberlin College and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music majoring in biology and Jazz bass performance in Oberlin’s double-degree program. While there I was able to record my first CD, Pinpoint and to gain some experience playing in Cleveland OH for about 3 years. I was also fortunate enough to teach at the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts for four summers.

I finished school in the winter of 2001, and moved to New York City the following summer. Here in New York, I have been able to play and record with some great musicians and to continue teaching at St. Mary’s High School.

My group, “Mostly Other People Do the Killing,” has just released its third album, This Is Our Moosic on Hot Cup Records.

Gear

c. 1880 Bohemian bass
GK combo amp
Eminence Bass Warwick Custom

”A powerhouse band... populated with virtuosos who like to play rough” --Time Out New York (Apr. 2005)
Primary Instrument

Bass

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

I teach music history, theory, and chorus at St. Mary's High School. I also teach bass at the Long Island Conservatory and privately.

Photos (8) Slideshow

Discography

Jazz Band/Rock Band/Dance Band

Jazz Band/Rock...

Hot Cup Records
2019

buy
Still, Up In The Air

Still, Up In The Air

Hot Cup Records
2016

buy
 

The Coimbra Concert

Clean Feed Records
2011

buy
Forty Fort

Forty Fort

Hot Cup Records
2010

buy
 

Shamokin!!!

Hot Cup Records
2008

buy
Waddle

Waddle

Moppa Elliott
Jazz Band/Rock Band/Dance Band

Similar

Dave Holland Dave Holland
bass
Wayne Shorter Wayne Shorter
saxophone
Dave Douglas Dave Douglas
trumpet
Cecil Taylor Cecil Taylor
piano
Albert Ayler Albert Ayler
saxophone, tenor
Steve Lacy Steve Lacy
saxophone, soprano
Henry Grimes Henry Grimes
bass, acoustic
James Zollar James Zollar
trumpet
Erik Friedlander Erik Friedlander
cello
Rob Reddy Rob Reddy
saxophone
Jason Kao Hwang Jason Kao Hwang
violin
Kirk Knuffke Kirk Knuffke
trumpet