TRIO MATT HERSKOWITZ, with Matt Herskowitz (piano) Mat Fieldes (bass) and David Rozenblatt (drums)
Pianist Matt Herskowitz is a unique new voice from within the nexus of classical and jazz traditions.
A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School, Matt is a brilliant young jazz pianist, a stunning interpreter of the classics and a composer of vast range and originality. Unwilling to divide himself into different musical personae and bewildered by the arbitrary segregation of jazz and popular music from the classics, Matt prefers to expound on their essential unity, combining them into a new mode of expression.
His deft layerings of jazz improvisation over written work have led him to many privileged collaborations. As composer, soloist and ensemble member, he performs and records regularly with Absolute Ensemble, a New York-based crossover contemporary chamber “band”. Their first release on Enja records, Absolution, which features Matt as composer and soloist on Serial Blues, was nominated for a Grammy in 2001. Matt was also featured on the Swiss television series Melting Pot New York on the recording of Serial Blues.
Matt’s first solo recording, Gabriel’s Message (CCn’C Records), features his original arrangements and compositions based on Christmas themes, and has received world-wide critical acclaim. In 2004, Matt’s solo video-taped recording for the BRAVO channel was first aired. His performance features a mix of his original music and arrangements in jazz, pop and contemporary classical styles. It has since been aired several times on BRAVO. This past February, Matt performed at the RIDEAU showcase in Quebec City, where he won two prizes for his performance; the Prix Galaxie, given to best emerging artist, and the Prix des Diffuseurs Européans/SODEC, which sponsors a tour of France for his trio.
In 2002 Matt composed an original score for a silent avant-garde French film, Jeux de Reflets et de la Vitesse, performed at Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater. His piece was one of six new compositions for silent short films performed live by Parabola, a New York-based ensemble specializing in new film music. Other contributing composers included renowned film composers Carter Burwell and Stephen Endelmen. In 2003, Matt recorded for the soundtrack of the Oscar-nominated animated film Les Triplettes de Belleville. His performance includes a raucous jazz-style improvisation on a Bach prelude, entitled Bach à la Jazz. Also, Matt recorded an extensive solo piano improvisation for the soundtrack of the film La Face Cachée de la Lune, directed by Robert Lepage.
Among his collaborations with singers, Matt writes and records with Lara Fabian and French singer/drummer Sylvie Cobo. One of his songs with Lara, Inévitablement, was released in March 2003 on the debut album of French singer Nolwenn Leroy, which was no.1 in France for several weeks. The song later became a single in 2004. Another of their collaborations, Avant, is now released on the new album of French singer Daniel Levi. Matt and Sylvie have just released their first album together, produced by Félix-winning producer Charles Papasoff, on Disques Tempête in Canada.
As a winner of the Pro Piano Recital Series Competition, Matt gave his New York debut as a classical pianist in 1994 in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Also winner of first prizes at the 1997 Orford Festival International Piano Competitions, Matt's performances there led to a recording of Glazunov's Piano Concerto no. 2 with I Musici de Montreal for Chandos records in 1998. Currently, Matt tours extensively throughout Europe, Canada and the U.S. in solo recitals and with the Herskowitz Rozenblatt Project, a group which features original music and arrangements by himself and drummer David Rozenblatt. HRP have performed in Germany at the Hamburg and Bremen International Music Festivals, in France at the Rhino Jazz Festival, and at music festivals and concert series in the US, all to critical acclaim. Their new CD, Forget Me Not, was released in September 2005 and has already received several rave reviews (to read reviews and for concert listings, please visit the Herskowitz Rozenblatt Project page on this site).
Matt resides in Montréal, where he has lived since 1999.
Thursday January 18th at 20:00
Salle Baudouin IV, rue Rey Aîné, 7090 Braine-le-Comte, Tel. : 067/55.69.10, www.centritudes.be
Friday January 19th at 20:30
Cultural Centre Arlon, Parc des Expositions 1, 6700 Arlon, Tel. : 063/24.58.50, www.maison-culture-arlon.be
Saturday January 20th at 20:30
Cultural Centre Huy, Avenue Delchambre 7A, 4500 Huy, Tel. : 085/21.12.06, www.acte2.be
Tuesday January 23rd at 20:00
Cultural Centre Dinant (Salle Bayard), rue Grande 37, 5500 Dinant, Tel. : 082/21.39.39, www.dinant.be
Guest in first part : HORS PISTE, with Didier Laloy (diatonic accordeon) and Jean-Christophe Renault (piano)
Thursday January 25th at 20:30
Eden, Boulevard Jacques Bertrand 3, 6000 Charleroi, Tel. : 071/31.12.12, www.charleroi-culture.be
Friday January 26th at 20:30
Cultural Centre Woluwé-Saint-Pierre, Avenue Charles Thielemans 93, 1150 Brussels, Tel. : 02/773.05.88, www.art-culture.be
Saturday January 27th at 20:15
Cultural Centre Sprimont (Salle Henri Simon), rue du Centre 81, 4140 Sprimont, Tel. : 04/382.29.67, www.foyer-culturel-sprimont.be
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