MATT PARKER – SAXOPHONIST and COMPOSER
Matt Parker is a tenor and soprano saxophone player, born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After seeing trumpeter Maynard Ferguson in concert, he fell in love with jazz and was mentored by the legendary South Florida saxophonist Jimmy Cavallo. Parker played professionally as a teenager in New Orleans before moving to New York to study with Jane Ira Bloom, Barry Harris, and Junior Mance. Later, Parker would go on to play in Maynard's band Big Bop Nouveau for two years and is on the album “MF Horn VI: Live At Ronnie's” (2006).
Parker's career has been wildly eclectic, showcasing his tireless explorative spirit and chameleon-like style. He has paid tribute to both avant-garde players and straight-ahead stalwarts on his albums “Worlds Put Together” (2014) and “Present Time” (2016), and has collaborated with a wide range of musicians, including Reggie Watkins, Ariana Grande, Orrin Evans, Hess is More, and the Mingus Big Band. He is also a member of the viral ensemble Postmodern Jukebox and has made appearances (both musical and on-screen) in the hit action film “John Wick”. The Dorrance Dance company features Parker in “45th and 8th” premiering nationally (2022-23). He is also a featured performer with comedian, and renowned entertainer Murray Hill and Bridget Everrett (“Somebody, Somewhere”). Parker's experience with the Cape Town Youth Choir, where he learned the importance of blending and the beauty of collaboration, has had a profound impact on his music.
Charles Mingus' previously unrecorded “Song To Keki” makes its first appearance on Parker's album, which the Ottawa Citizen called "a warmly swinging showcase for his breathy, Ben Webster-esque flow." The same publication noted that Parker's playing on the tune builds momentum until his tenor seems like it will come apart in his hands. The Ottawa Citizen also described the album as having an overall compositional and improvisational contrast that catches the listener by surprise.
DownBeat Magazine praised Parker's "own tireless explorative spirit," while JAZZIZ Magazine described Parker as someone who "welcomes listeners with warmth and wit." Hot House noted that Parker's playing can recall the gruff-yet-sensuous lines of Ben Webster, while Outside-Inside-Out said, "Parker can do anything...he swings his ass off." Something Else Reviews called Parker "restlessly inventive" and "showed off his resourcefulness and playfulness," while The Village Voice praised him as a "Tenor and soprano sax whiz." All About Jazz said Parker "can't be pigeonholed into just one tradition" and that "he has arrived on the creative music scene a fully formed artist – one with his own unique voice and singular vision."
Parker is also a prolific composer and musical director. He has written music for various ensembles, including big bands, small groups, and studio orchestras for film. Parker's compositions often blend elements of woodwind instrumentation with more adventurous, avant-garde approaches. Complex harmonies, intricate rhythms, and bold, imaginative melodies characterize his music.
Parker has featured his compositions on several albums, including “Worlds Put Together” (2014), “One for Miles, One for Maynard” (2014), and “Present Time” (2016). He has also composed for the Immersive theater show “MidSummer - A Shakespearience” (Variety Life Productions), the original audio drama series “Brother, Mine” (Hand Forged Fiction 2020) and the immersive sound walk experience “Kierkbride” (Hand Forged Fiction 2022). Critics have praised his music for its originality, energy, and emotional depth.
In addition to his work as a saxophonist, composer, and musical director, Matt Parker is also a passionate educator. He teaches saxophone, composition, and improvisation at several universities and music schools, inspiring young musicians to develop their own unique voices.