Jazz Composer & Performer

• #31 for Top 50 Jazz Albums of 2009, Cafe Jazz Radio (Canada). "Another Year" - Honourable Mention for Top 50 Songs of 2009



• "Matt Finley has one of our top 2009 Traditional Jazz Golden Selections. That is one of the top 7% of all jazz CDs we reviewed last year! Congratulations." - D. Oscar Groomes (O's Place Jazz Magazine)



• Playing is top notch. Your playing, as well as that of the cast of fine players with you, certainly is top notch - best of luck. - Russ Davis (Program Director, Beyond Jazz at XM Satellite Radio)



• A stunning achievement. Matt Finley has produced a very polished product. As a world-class trumpeter, Matt holds his own with some renowned jazz performers featured on this CD. Brazilian Wish is a beautiful showcase of his skill as a composer and performer. Matt's execution is virtually flawless; he smokes on every tune. I greatly enjoyed listening to Brazilian Wish, and will return to it often. - Frank Villafañe (Reviewer for WWW.VINILEMANIA.NET)



•   Melodic & catchy with complex chord changes. Matt Finley has been a professional musician in New York since before high school. He has had a long and busy career, actually several overlapping ones including being a college professor and dean, studio musician, sound engineer, arranger-composer and multi-instrumentalist. Skilled on brass instruments as well as doubling on reeds, Finley has worked along the way with such notables as Nick Brignola, Bill O'Connell, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette and Danny Gottlieb.
  
  On Brazilian Wish, Matt Finley performs nine of his Brazilian jazz originals on flugelhorn and trumpet. While one automatically thinks of Antonio Carlos Jobim when Brazilian jazz and bossa-nova are mentioned, Finley's songs have their own personality. His pieces are melodic and catchy while often utilizing complex chord changes. His melodies are fresh and his solos are a logical outgrowth of the themes.
  
  Finley is joined by a soothing and quietly expressive rhythm section consisting of two guitarists (including Romero Lubambo), either Warren Bernhardt or Jon Werking on keyboards, Mark Egan or Dave Finck on bass plus drums, Latin percussion and (on four of the nine songs) a three-piece horn section. While the guitarists and keyboardists have short solos, the spotlight is mostly on Matt Finley's warm flugelhorn and trumpet. Occasionally he hints a little at Chet Baker in his lyricism and ability to make every note count. Finley's warm and romantic tone perfectly suits this music.
  
  Brazilian Wish is well worth close listening. There is a lot to discover in Matt Finley's very appealing brand of Brazilian jazz.
  
  - Scott Yanow, author of 11 books including Trumpet Kings, The Great Jazz Guitarists, Jazz On Film and Jazz On Record 1917-76



• No substandard tracks on this album. I've always enjoyed jazz with a Latin lilt, whether from the Caribbean region, Central America and South America itself. Well, it appears trumpeter and flugelhorn player Matt Finley shares that interest and has composed an albums' worth of instrumental tunes based on his deep affection for the rhythms and melodies of Brazil . Brazilian Wish opens with the funky and party vibes of Father's Day, a track that should hook in even the most disinterested of listeners, and this is followed by the smoother and more sultry album title track. I could pick out virtually every other track for mention, but simply put, there are no substandard tracks on this album, every one is different and a winner to my ears. Matt Finley is a lyrical horn player, rather than one of those who just blasts out as loud as possible and takes no prisoners... His horn sound is well modulated and richly rewarding. This is a quality album backed by a superb group of musicians who add a lot to the overall sound, as you would expect. I'm reminded a little of Shorty Rogers and his smooth west coast style of jazz, but obviously with that extra bit of Latin added to the mixture. I think there is also a dash of classic era Crusaders in there too. Overall, Brazilian Wish is an excellent album, deceptively easy on the ear but with expressive depths to explore. Highly Recommended - even for non-jazz lovers! - UK publication, The Borderland; the column is named Musicwatch; issue #14 for 2009



• Very special debut - gem of an album. Trumpeter/composer Matt Finley performed as a musician for several years before deciding on education over music as a career choice. Music however, was never far from his heart, and in 1988 he formed Rio JAZZ, a Brazilian concert band based in New York's Mid-Hudson Valley, allowing him the opportunity to express his love for music in general and the Brazilian genre in particular. With the release of Brazilian Wish, Finley has realized a lifelong dream of recording an album containing the best of his compositions. Brazilian Wish is a gentle album that taps into sambas and bossa nova rhythms in a highly pleasant package of soft Brazilian music with Latin jazz overtones.
  
  Finley plays the flugelhorn and trumpet on nine delicious originals starting with the buoyant "Father's Day," with Jon Werking weaving his magic on keyboards, while guitarist Jeff Ciampa and soprano saxophonist David Mann weigh in with splendid solos of their own. The beautifully bossa-colored title tune features Finley's flugelhorn dishing out warm-toned lines on one of the disc's softer ballads. Drummer Joel Rosenblatt takes a well deserved bow on the percussive burner "There You Are," in support of Finley's steamy flugelhorn passages.
  
  Providing a taste of the Latin jazz sound, "When She's Gone" becomes a showcase for both the leader and guitarist Ciampa. "So Close" sports a hard-driving samba beat, offering Rosenblatt and percussionist Tomas Martin Lopez the floor behind a whirlwind performance from Finley, this time on trumpet, aided by solo shots from guitarist Romero Lubambo on one of the liveliest charts here. In a departure from the album's theme, "Another Year" sounds almost smooth in texture, but is nevertheless quite appealing.
  
  This gem of an album rounds out with the melodic "Calm Waters" and sprawling light jazz closer, "Softly Speaking," where Finley layers the music with breezy trumpet lines. This very special debut from Matt Finley is getting rave reviews from all corners, so hopefully his next project comes much sooner because, if Brazilian Wish is any indication, there's far more stylish Brazilian jazz to come from this master of the horn. - Edward Blanco (Reviewer for AllAboutJazz.com). Read the review here.



• Authentic Color. Trumpeter Matt Finley wisely eschews the "Great Brazilian Songbook" on his Kingsmill Music release, Brazilian Wish. The material is all original, and Finley brings authentic color to the tunes by bringing Romero Lubambo to add his guitar to all nine tracks. The music captures the rhythm and swing of Brazilian music without mimicking bossa nova or samba sounds.
  
  "Brazilian jazz is the most fun when its played loud", Finley says in the liner notes, and this is a CD that benefits from cranking it up a bit. Veterans like Warren Bernhardt on piano, David Mann on saxophone, Mark Egan on bass and Joel Rosenblatt on drums filter through the tracks, with the drive of percussionist Tomas Martin Lopez a constant. - Review, April 15, 2009 in straightnochaserjazz.blogspot/



• Warm, bright and relaxed! "Brazilian Wish" has a great energy: very warm, bright and relaxed. The nine original tracks by trumpeter and flugelhorn player Matt Finley feature arrangements by Jon Werking that sparkle and pop, with a propelling rhythmic infrastructure. The music is inspired and not pedantic; ideas are fully developed without overstatement. The album is nicely paced, and the performances are top-notch. Finley's playing is fluid and melodic, with satisfying nuance, and he has assembled some of the finest jazz artists around, including guitarists Romero Lubambo and Jeff Ciampa, bassist Mark Egan, keyboardists Warren Bernhardt and Werking, and former Spyro Gyra drummer Joel Rosenblatt, who plays drums on six of the nine tracks. The CD's opener, "Father's Day," is hip and assertive, more straight-ahead jazz than the others. The title track follows, a dusky little number reminiscent of Sergio Mendes and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Other standouts include "Childhood Home," a melodic showcase for the flugelhorn, with rhythmic counterpoint creating additional interest. "So Close" charges out of the gate and keeps up the pace throughout busy solo sections. The percussion break is wisely kept short and sweet, although it would lend itself well to extension in a concert setting. "Another Year" is sleepy and sensuous, nicely syncopated but more straightforward than some of the CD's other offerings. "Calm Waters," the longest song on the disc, lives up to its name at first, with a smooth-as-silk melody line that only hints at what's ahead. A double-time change in the middle indicates rougher waters, with an expressive piano solo by Bernhardt, before calmness is restored in the final third of the piece. "Softly Speaking," the wistful and introspective closing track, conveys the musical equivalent of the tropical sunset pictured on the CD's back cover. " - Kate Goldsmith (Editorial Director, Specialty Publications - Taconic Press)



• High Note! Trumpeter Matt Finley's Brazilian Wish, with its jazz sambas and bossa novas, is an easy-on-the-ears treat and nice background for lazy lakeside afternoons-especially "Calm Waters," which he wrote at Lake George. Finley's sound is velvety and his band, a combo of pros, makes his compositions flourish and flow. - Annie Stoltie (Senior Editor, Adirondack Life Magazine)



• Consistently Strong Performances. From the pen and flugelhorn of Matt Finley comes an appealing collection of jazz sambas and bossa novas enhanced by superior arrangements from pianist Jon Werking and consistently strong performances from Finley's excellent group. Finley is a veteran composer/arranger, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist based in central New York State who performed for years with Nick Brignola and has led his Brazilian jazz sextet, Rio JAZZ, for over twenty years, a group that includes several of the musicians on this recording (Mark Egan, jeff Ciampa, Joel Rosenblatt, Tomas Martin Lopez, perhaps others as guest artists). The nine Finley compositions showcased here are consistently good melodies which employ a variety of rhythmic grooves, time concepts, and moods, from the energetic "So Close" and popularly appealing "When She's Gone" to the slower and slightly somber "Another Year." Finley's muted horn is enchantingly paired with Romero Lubambo's acoustic guitar on the beautiful "Softly Speaking." Finley and chief arranger Werking make use of two rhythm sections on alternative cuts (one led by Warren Bernhardt on acoustic piano and the other by Werking on electric keyboards), an acoustic (Lubambo) as well as electric guitarist (Ciampa), a Latin percussionist (Lopez), and a strong horn section (Barry Danielian, Dan Levine, and David Mann) to craft a varied musical program with a high likeability quotient. The lyrical and articulate Finley on trumpet and flugelhorn leads the outstanding lineup of featured soloists, which includes Warren Bernhardt, Lubambo, Werking, Mann, Ciampa and Lopez. Moviemakers looking for attractive theme music in the Mancini mold will find much to choose from in Finley's music. - Don Lerman (Cadence Magazine, Oct-Dec 2009) www.cadencebuilding.com



• Long overdue debut. On "Brazilian Wish", Matt Finley, a New Yorker that’s been around the block and knows how to enlist some first call pals others would kill to get, turns up the heat for a date of his original Brazilian compositions. Sprightly, fun set that bounces like the sun beams off the ocean in some tourist town you’ve only been to in your mind but know you have to visit somewhere belo the horizonte. An accomplished date that’s a long overdue debut, Finley cuts the fat, gets right to the meat and makes music for gringos that they’ll relate to and enjoy. - MidwestRecord.com



• Great music! As I was listening to this CD, it occurred to me the transitions between each song was like a storyline to a perfect date. Each cut flows to the next with beautiful storylines and musical and textural emotions. It bounces with fun, frolic and dance-ability, each musician contributes beauty to this team effort, with class "A" musicianship to boot. Finley's compositions offer so many emotions you feel you are listening to your best friend talk about your favorite subject; this ability to connect immediately with the listener is a rare and commendable quality in a performer and composer. The musicianship is superb; each musician creates a complete chemistry. Finley's trumpet and flugelhorn work on this CD is tonally immense with colors and textures, always musically creating beauty, intensity and using all the right notes to communicate to the listener the joy of life through the language of music. I cannot say enough about him as not only a technician, but a mature seasoned player. I am not alone in my high regard for Finley's abilities; already the compositions from Brazilian Wish have received recognition at the Los Angeles Music Awards, and have charted in the "Top 50" jazz albums in Italy! Don't miss this rare opportunity of musical joy. - Geannine Reid (Reviewer, eJazzNews, February 1, 2009 )



• Vibrant Bahian rhapsody. From the first few notes of Brazilian Wish, you would swear Matt Finley was born playing Brazilian-flavoured jazz. Now here’s as tasty and stylish a collection as you’re likely to hear in quite some time. It’s true that Finley has performed professionally for the past 45 years – however, for a good chunk of that period a career in teaching computer programming side tracked his musical ambitions. To paraphrase an old saying, you can take the man out of music, but you can’t the music out of the man – so it was that back in 1988, the flugelhorn-player formed Rio JAZZ - a dynamic project based in the sounds of Brazil ! With many years of gigging under his belt, a few years back Finley committed his music to disc with the issue of his Brazilian Wish debut. Aided by bassist Mark Egan and drummer Joel Rosenblatt - and a few 'ringers' such as Romero Lubambo, Warren Bernhardt, Barry Danielian, and David Mann – the selections presented therein are always melodic and never rushed. Ranging from the Carnaval-like spirit of Father’s Day to the soothing warmth and longing of the title track, Matt Finley’s Brazilian Wish will envelop you in a vibrant Bahian rhapsody unlike any other!! - Ted Hasiuk for Café Jazz



• Quality to rival any of the big labels. "Brazilian Wish", the debut recording by trumpeter and flugelhornist Matt Finley is an independent release of a quality to rival any of the big labels. A fantastic production, with top-notch accompanists, great arrangements, well written, catchy Latin flavoured songs – all composed by Mr. Finley and performed in a high energy joyful spirit that flows from the opening track and throughout the nine songs that make up this truly fine first effort. The opening track “Father’s Day” begins in a funky manner, think of the Tower of Power horn section. The song bridges to a catchy melody that repeats itself while the soloists provide some enchanting riffs, Matt Finley displays a clear, smooth tone on the first solo. Jeff Ciampa on electric guitar glides over the rhythm with some fine riffs and opens the door for Dave Mann on soprano sax who communicates with fluid passionate lines. The next song, the title track “Brazilian Wish” takes it down a notch and plays in a Bossa groove with Mr. Finley producing a warm mellow tone on flugelhorn. Warren Bernhardt leads the rhythm section of Jeff Siegel (drums) and Dave Finck (acoustic bass) with gorgeous piano playing, adding breaks of delight to compliment the gifted horn playing of Matt Finley. “So Close” is one of the highlight tunes, featuring wonderful horn arrangements and exciting solos by guitarist Romero Lubambo, trumpeter Matt Finley and percussionist Tomas Martin Lopez. Drummer, Joel Rosenblatt and electric bassist Mark Egan drive the tune forward with ferocious energy and a spirit that virtually leaps from the speakers. The CD Brazilian Wish maintains the theme of refined Brazilian music from beginning to end, with influences across the map - that make for an interesting blend. The arranger and producer, Jon Werking has done a superb job with this recording. Mr. Werking also plays piano and keyboards on some of the tracks. A smooth listening pleasure of jazz-flavoured Latin grooves for all those who require some spirit, some soul and some hot dance music - check out Matt Finley’s Brazilian Wish, very nice. - Paul J. Youngman (KJA Advocate for WWW.VINILEMANIA.NET)



• Brazilian Wish Granted! Brazilian Wish showcases thirteen of the hippest Brazilian jazz performers in the world. Silky smooth grooves are expertly crafted and easy on the soul. The title track is soft and sensual, cool and breezy. Not the hot, sweaty, dirty dancing associated with the music of Carnival. No rough edges anywhere, the sounds are effortlessly delivered. Glossy, urban sophistication is energized by precision interplay between musicians. This disc never takes its eyes off its roots, and is a hybrid of Brazilian sonic structures under sleek, melodic American style jazz. - J. Spica (WVKR Radio and The Chronogram)



• Your CD is great! Brazilian Wish is Awesome! - Rachelle Bivins (Publisher, ABYSSJazz magazine)



• Fantastic CD! Hey... se amate la dolcezza dei suoni e della musica brasiliana questo è un CD veramente da non perdere!!!!! Difficile da descrivere... solo ascoltandolo si riesce a capire!!!! CD molto apprezzato anche in Italia già al TOP degli ascolti!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! Ciao Ciao Pietro - (Radiovinilemania)



• Serious music credentials. Retired professor, now full-time musician and trumpeter/flugelhornist, Matt Finley, the front man for Rio JAZZ who hails from the Poughkeepsie/Kingston area, has added to his musical wares, Brazilian Wish. Finley must have serious musical credentials to attract the likes of jazz guitarist extraordinare Romero Lubambo, venturesome pianist Warren Bernhardt, bassist Mark Egan of Pat Metheny and Sting fame, Joel Rosenblatt, the rhythm master for Spyro Gyra for fourteen years, and a host of other bona fide musicians. - Randy Treece, www.albanyjazz.com



• Wow!!! Great Brazilian/Latin Jazz!!!!! Hello Matt, my name is David Arivett and I just came across some online audio samples of your music! Wonderful lineup of musicians as well as great compositions and arrangements! - Smooth Pizzazz Radio, Arkansas



• Cool, groove-oriented cuts. Really nice, smooth jazz with a Brazilian flavor. Despite the fact that this album features a large group of musicians (thirteen to be exact), the compositions on Brazilian Wish never sound overly complicated or overproduced. Matt Finley is a real pro. The guy has been a professional musician now for over 45 years (!)...playing flugelhorn, trumpet, flute, and soprano saxophone. He composed all nine tracks on this album. Having been a player for so many years, Matt has obviously made a great many solid connections over the years...and several of them accompany him on this album (including but not limited to Romero Lubambo, Warren Bernardt, Mark Egan, Jeff Siegel, and Dan Levine). This album was recorded way back in May of 2005 but is only now being made available to the public. Cool, groove-oriented cuts include "Father's Day," "There You Are," "So Close," and "Soft Speaking." Cool classy stuff delivered with style. (Rating: 5) - March 2009 edition of LMNOP magazine



• Romantic feel. Matt Finley’s album Brazilian Wish captivates the soul with its distinguished sounds and various musical instruments. The music on Matt Finley’s album "Brazilian Wish" proves that he has the talent and the ability to be a premiere jazz artist. The music allows listeners to use their imagination and picture themselves at different locations. Listeners could be spending a romantic evening with their loved ones either at an actual jazz concert in a park enjoying the music, dancing at a restaurant or in front of a warm fire at home. The various musical instruments on this album range from saxophones and pianos to drums and guitars or all of these together. These instruments contribute to the romantic feel listeners get from the music. The various musical instruments are played by Matt Finley, Romero Lubambo, Warren Bernhardt, Jon Werking, Jeff Ciampa, Mark Egan, Dave Finck, Joel Rosenblatt, Jeff Siegel, Tomas Martin Lopez, Barry Danielian, Dan Levin and David Mann. With a romantic feel about it, "Brazilian Wish" can be enjoyed by many people, especially those who are in love. - Stephanie Hill (Metro Spirit, Augusta, GA)



• Definitely a dream coming true. With a stunning ability to garner the strength and passion of the trumpet, Matt Finley brings to light a beautiful form of jazz in “Brazilian Wish.” Finley has been performing for over 45 years, and in the process, he has established a reputation for gritty talent and smooth sounds. In this latest release, he offers nine original compositions creating a flurry of sounds of Brazilian jazz. With a strong injection of samba and bossa nova, Finley invites listeners into a castle of sound filtered through a poetic passion. Particular delight can be taken from the precision and craftsmanship found in songs like “Father’s Day,” “Childhood Home,” and “Another Year.” All of these circulate through the senses creating an impression of magic in the ears of the listener. With an all-star lineup and a spirited set of compositions — such as the moving work of “Softly Speaking” — Finley roars into the stereo with a sense of passion directed at pure expression throughout the best of Latin intentions. Built with a lineup that soars over instrumental landscapes, “Brazilian Wish” is definitely a dream coming true with a sense of delight for the listeners within earshot of the thumping bow of Finley’s trumpet. - J. Edward Sumerau (Metro Spirit, Augusta, GA)



• Another winner. Matt Finley - BRAZILIAN WISH: After listening to only the first few bars of Matt's horn on the opener, "Father's Day", I knew we had another winner, folks... he's an all-round talent, & besides trumpet & flugelhorn, he also plays flute and soprano sax! Though he's been at this music thing for over 45 years, this is my first listen to his excellent talent; I can tell you now, I hope to be hearing many more of his works. I suspect one of the reasons I like this particular CD so much is that all 9 of the pieces are original Finley compositions... the energy is scorching, as it always seems to be when the player has a "stake" in the outcome... "When She's Gone" features some stunning keyboards by Jon Werking as it opens, but the whole group is focused clearly on making this track come alive. Another excellent piece that keeps the Latin flavor, but stays unquestionably in the jazz lane is "Another Year" - it's my favorite on the CD. Matt's work will be in my ears for a long time - this one is a KEEPER, & gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me, especially for jazz lovers who dig a little Latin flavoring! - Rotcod Zzaj (issue #88 of Improvijazzation Nation)



• "Brazilian, Texturally Rich.. Brilliant Colors" - Kari Gaffney (Kari-On Productions)

• "I like it a lot! It's well produced and arranged. You played beautifully. Very good album, very pleasant. Good for the radio. I love the musicians that you chose and the great arrangements. Congratulations on a great project!" - Romero Lubambo (acoustic guitar)
  
  
• "Yo Matt, been listening to the record. Man, you have a first rate product there! Congrats!" - Jeff Ciampa (electric guitar)
  
  
• "Thanks for the mixed CD. It sounds HOT." - Tomas Martin Lopez (Latin percussion)
  
  
• "I did like it very much. Really nice stuff (but don't tell Werking!!!) Matt, Nice record!!! Congratulations. I think it came out very well. When do we go on the road???? - David Finck (acoustic bass)
  
  
• "The CD looks and sounds great! I really enjoyed listening to it. You and Jon did a great job of putting it together and all the players really made it happen. Thanks for having me on the project and much success with the release." - Mark Egan (electric bass) 
  
  
• "Hi Matt- I received the CD and I just want to let you know that I'm blown away! It sounds FANTASTIC, and it was a pleasure to be a part if it. You played your butt off! Congratulations on a great CD. PS- Yes the parts were hard! :>" - Dan Levine (trombone)
  
  
• "Hi Matt, Thanks for sending along the CD- it sounds great. Nice songs and arrangements and excellent playing- I also like that you featured so many of the great soloists on the record. I'm happy to have been included on your project and I hope we can work together again. All the best, " - David Mann (tenor and soprano sax)

•   "OMG! Matt, thank you so much for your CD. I can't tell you how much I enjoy it - got it in my car and play it all the time. The arrangements are superb and the final product was mastered to perfection. Sherwood would be proud of you!" - Danny Lombardo (keyboards)
  
  
• "Your album is world class, top of the food chain and your playing is a wonderful amazement on so many instruments it is dizzying." - Don Miller (bassist)
  
  
• "You have such a great way of finding the spaces in your improvisations, creating melodies that seem to float over and through some complex changes, turning something that to some might seem complicated into something very lyrical." - Doug Correllus (pianist)
  
  
• "Brazilian Wish" is a fantastic CD featuring tightly played, captivating arrangements performed by a group of top flight New York City professionals. The band is perfectly suited to backing up trumpet/flugelhorn player Matt Finley in his solo explorations of his own compositions. Matt is a truly natural player; i.e., an "ear" player whose musicianship is on par with the great band he's surrounded himself with. His solos are smooth, perfectly executed and always logical." - Kelly Conner (pianist)
  
  
• "I have listened to it and it's fantastic. I've had it looping on the computer here at work. A beautiful mix of tunes - nice writing! Very nicely balanced and I liked the use of the "Dubway Horns". Impressive personnel list. And your playing on it is excellent. I can see this fitting in nicely in many settings. Thanks for caring about my opinion. I really enjoyed it." - Steve Horowitz (trumpeter)
  
  
• "Clean and beautiful trumpet tone! Greetings, Haroldo" - Haroldo Mauro Jr. (Brazilian pianist)
  
  
• "Hi Matt, Well done! Your playing and your tunes never sounded better. I'm probably most attracted to the more acoustic material (predictably). The level of arranging and production are on a much grander scale than I would have imagined, and very well done. My hat's off to Jon also. Best of luck with it, Peter" - Peter Tomlinson (pianist)
  
  
• "Just got back from Italy a few days ago and wanted to write you again and say how great your writing/playing is on your new CD Brazilian Wish. Wonderful warmth and lyrical lines. Great work Matt." - Brad Upton (trumpet)
  
  
• "Anyway the real pleasure was to hear you play! What a beautiful player you are! And your CD is great...I'm going to play it for the trumpet players in the Amherst Jazz Orchestra." - Bruce Krasin (saxophonist)
  
  
  • I played it for some of the trumpet players in the Amherst Jazz Orchestra, and their response was. "Wow, who is this guy? Man, he can play." No doubt, it's a great CD.
  
  
• "Your cd is wonderful, I listened to it on the ride home and it sounds beautiful." - T. Xiques (drummer)
  
  
• "I have enjoyed listening to it very much. Congratulations on a fine recording project!" - Paul Evoskevich, Chair, Music Department, The College of Saint Rose



• "Hi Matt, I just got it today and it sounds great! Impressive personnel as well. You sound terrific on all your solos. Congratulations! Its very impressive and very beautiful." - Peter McEachern (trombonist)
  
  
• "The CD sounds great, nice work!" - Peter Gannon (PG Music; creator of Band-in-a-Box software)
  
  
• "Matt: All your tracks sound great! Please extend our best wishes to all our friends at Local 238." - Paul Sharpe (AFM Director, Freelance Services and Membership Development)
  
  
• "Yo Matt, Great CD. I just finished listening to it. I will - I am sure - play it many more times. Tunes, charts and your solos are great. Really really nice. Also, special mention to that solo of Warren's on Track 8 - Calm Waters - absolutely beautiful. Band is of course the best - nice charts by Jon Werking. Mix and mastering is excellent too. You might do really well on this - the Indie market is tough, but you have a product that will compete with the best of them. Thanks for sharing with me , John" - John Ferrara (pianist & former Berklee prof)
  
  
• "Hey, Matt. Well, you certainly earn praise for your beautiful playing, man. I am thoroughly enjoying listening to your CD. Very refreshing to listen to. It's getting very heavy rotation in all of my iPods. I love the brass arrangements, all of your solos are gorgeous, and you've got some great players backing you up. Keep up the great work, Matt." - Herb in L.A. from the Trumpet Herald forum
  
  

• "I liked it very much, I think that is a very rich and balanced fusion of sambas and bossa novas with powerful melodies and solos. There is certainly a lot of passion, and well..."magic" on it. Congratulations for a great job. I hope there is a second volume soon. Now, you have a new follower from the other side of the sea." - Jose Carlos Agullo Hernandez (Spain)
  
  
• "Matt, you guys sound great, and I love your new CD -- great tunes, great players, great arrangements. I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Keep up the great work! ... Advice to anyone listening to this music, buy the CD at CD Baby. It's a real musical treat." - Motifator61 (L.A., from YouTube)
  
  
• "Dear Matt, We heard you and your abbreviated group at the Pink Elephant the first night you were playing there, and very much enjoyed the sounds. You then offered me and I purchased your latest CD "Brazilian Wish." I never thought that it was possible to wear out a CD, but from the very first time we heard the first number on the disk, we were captivated, and it just got better and better. I have a substantial collection of Brazilian sounds, and Joan and I often attend performances here in NYC. I don't mind telling you that many years ago we regularly heard Claudio Roditi when he had just come here and played for the first time in a little walk up club which I believe was called the Jazztone or something like that. And by the way, he played there with Paquito and with the late Jorge Dalto and another percussionist who is quite well known today (I momentarily forget his name), and with a trombone player named Steve Davis (I think it was Davis). And since then and even before, my wife and I have been pretty much hooked on the Brazilian sound. We were not prepared for your excellent compositions, arrangements, and the marvelous group of sidemen that you assembled. This is one of our favorite CD's, and we are telling all our friends about your work. You should be receiving some CD orders from them soon because we do not rip copies for anyone. Please put us on your mailing list, and let us know wherever and whenever you are playing in the area. You have two very devoted fans here, and we are very anxious to hear you again soon. We reside in Manhattan and spend weekends in Woodstock, so we have a pretty large area in which we are more than willing to travel to hear you and your group." - Peter and Joan Stern
  
  
• "Hi RioJazz! Your Jazz music is breathtaking!!!! Beyond breathtaking, your compositions are exciting, polished, refined, and pleasing." - Ari, Joseph, Jaye Cobb Guth-Rosenstock brothers (from the Cakewalk SONAR User Forum)
  
  
• "I do like the Brazilian Wish CD. It's pleasure to listen to it, very nice work indeed. Rest assured that I'll be back for more should you succeed in making another CD." - Sincerely, Elzbieta.
  
  
• "Your CD is always a great listen. One of the things I'm responsible for is the music CD collection where I work. We have a 300 CD changer that plays around the clock, and I have bought many used jazz CDs to fill it in order to keep the costs down. But your music is so pleasing and of such high musical quality that I sprang for the album new from CD Baby, just to be sure to have it in the collection. Thanks for the terrific work!" - Steve Miller
  
  
• "5.0 out of 5 stars. Great Brazilian Music !!!!!!! Just love all the songs on this CD, the songs make you feel like you are always on vacation, so relaxing to the mind, body and soul. Thanks again Amazon!. I would surely recommend this to anyone who appreciate relaxing music." - Gerald Lee (Amazon Customer Review)
  
  
• "I ordered one of your CDs online and gave it to a friend for Christmas. He said it is one of the best jazz albums he has ever heard. He wanted to know how I came to find you... :)"- Christa Alm
  
  
• "Love the CD, and so does my little guy, Matthew. He starts dancing as soon as I put it on." - Duane Beyer [Note: Duane is the photographer who took many of the fabulous photos on this site; Thanks, Duane! - Matt]