Check out 5 video clips below from Matt's Live DVD/CD
(requires Quicktime):

		1. Family (bass solo #2)
		2. Family (bass solo #3)
		3. Shapeless
		4. Duet
		5. Groove Tune

You can order the DVD directly from Garrison Jazz and get a personalized signed copy: GarrisonJazz.com

MATT GARRISON INTERVIEW
with Jazz-Rock.com - DECEMBER 9, 2004

1. Congratulations on your LIVE DVD/CD! It is quite excellent. How did it come about? the music? the video? the players?

Thanks. The DVD was an idea that I had floating around for a couple of years and it finally came to fruition when I met Pete Teresi and Carolina Saavedra from Pefaur Productions (www.pefaurproductions.com). I originally wanted to just make a live recording but of course once I had the option of filming the recording session it all just came in to place. The music is primarily from my first CD. We actually recorded even more material that didn't make it to the final output but that's for a reissue with bonus tracks later. All the musicians except for Jojo Mayer were on my first recording and that's who I wanted to feature on the live DVD.



2. How about your ShapeShifter CD? How did it come together? What was the inspiration?

The title itself is kind of a self description. I feel I have become somewhat of a mutating character that takes on the shape that is necessary for the type of music work at hand. It's also a statement of independence of thought. Having started my own record label has given me a sense of hope, pride and strength when composing music in the sense that I have no one to answer to when I have an idea to layout. The project was constructed over a period of 2 years and just took on a life of it's own once I got to about the 4th composition. Everything just rolled on naturally and as new influences became available they appeared in the music immediately. Shapeshifter was really inspired by my first record, Squarepusher, Bjork and Sergei Prokofiev's music.



3. How do you approach composition and live improv with such original ideas?

I guess I just don't pay attention to what is traditionally or technically considered jazz. I just do what I like and dare to make my own decisions concerning sound, style, approach, concepts... I hate limitations and evaluations. That's not my field. The worst thing is that those limitations and fears usually come from other musicians in my same field. Really some sad shit....

4. What are some golden moments with all the great musicians you have played with?

The golden moments have been just knowing and feeling that while you're performing with these geniuses you share a common bond, even if it's just for a split second, that we're all moving in the same direction. I love it when I'm welcomed into a space to share the experience of music, and over the years I've been blessed to be welcomed into spaces of pure musical bliss. I'm very thankful to all of them...



5. What's going on with GJP and what is your vision for your future?

Well first I'd like to thank all of the incredible people that took the "plunge" and actually purchased my 2 latest projects "Shapeshifter" and "Matt Garrison Live". I posted a notice on my site prior to the release of them both stating that file swapping and CD ripping were only going to make my future productions impossible and that I needed folks to seriously consider supporting my label rather than opposing it. In the past 3 months I've sold more CD's and DVD's than ever before and I cannot possibly thank people enough for their support and respect. We are responsible for our actions and that's the most important reality to understand at the moment. Now that my production war chest is basically full again I'm going to take a breather and decide which project to develop next. Whichever it will be, I will begin that actual work early next year.

Thanks for having me as a guest on your site.

- Matt G.

MATT GARRISON:
NO LIMITS, NO FEAR
By John Pritchard

I first heard Matt Garrison's amazing bass playing on Joe Zawinul's "My People" in 1996 and John McLaughlin's "The Heart of Things" in 1997. Tracing back Matt's roots to his legendary dad, the late Jimmy Garrison (bassist with John Coltrane), it is cool to see a son not only carrying the jazz bass torch of his father, but also blazing new musical trails with incredible five string chordal bass music of his own!!! Check out the video clips on the left to see what I mean.



In 1998 Matt took the bull by the horns and founded GarrisonJazz Productions to record, produce and market his music. In 2001, his self titled solo debut CD "Matthew Garrison" received critical acclaim immediately and featured guitarists David Gilmore and Adam Rogers, keyboardist Scott Kinsey, drummers Gene Lake and Ben Perowsky, percussionist Arto Tuncboyacian, saxaphonist Dave Binney, along with Pete Rende on accordion and Amit Chaterjeeon on sitar. Many of the tracks are featured on Matt's Live DVD with much of the same lineup with additional talent such as Jim Beard on keyboards, JoJo Mayer on drums, and singer Sabina Sciubba.

In 2002, Matt toured with Herbie Hancock on the "Future 2 Future" tour and can be seen jammin on the "Future 2 Future" DVD Herbie produced from a gig at the Knitting Factory in LA.

In March of 2003, Matt began his most adventurous album, "Shapeshifter," which was released simultaneously with his Live DVD this past August 2004. The album features guitarist Adam Rogers, keyboardists Jim Beard and Scott Kinsey, vocalists Sabina Sciubba, Joy Garrison and Veronika Garrison, drummer JoJo Mayer, percussionist Arto Tuncboyacian, Elliot Mason on Bass Trumpet, Gregoire Maret on harmonica, and a special appearance by Will Calhoun on Wusuli.

What I love about this album is the fact that Matt has no fear of mixing in electronic programming with more familiar composition styles in the world fusion, instrumental, vein. He is so much more than "one of the world's best bass players." The 10th tune, "Changing Paths" blew me away and features Matt playing all the tracks with some phenomenal acoustic guitar to boot! While all the music showcases superb musicianship throughout, it is Matt's tasty computer-driven morsels that surprise and engage my curious ear (check out "I Told Ya So" and "Mirror Image" mp3's below). Matt is simply not afraid to explore the boundaries he 'shapeshifts' into with the wide range of musicians he plays with, and the original music he composes and performs.

As yet further proof of his fearlessness, the 9th song, "Exchange," (an unquestionable "Bjork" tribute song) is an absolute delight in that it features his wife Veronica's magical singing. It is produced with a perfectly processed vocal effect. The end result creates an ethereal, almost spiritual dimension that is certainly better sounding than anything found on commercial radio! No smooth jazz, retro-Cher/top 40 vibe here... just simply great music, period. Check out this poetic excerpt from the "Exchange" lyrics (translated from Icelandic of course):

"The stars fall into my palms
I put them into me where you are
I rise up against the sky
Open and ready to receive the world."

This is what I mean by No Fear, No Limits...you don't expect it... it is about being an artist and going for it...and he does it with confidence and grace.

Matt is fluent in so many musical styles. He has no problem being both an excellent band leader and a soloist prominently showcasing his innovative bass playing up close and in your face (but not like Jaco on the ego end, or Marcus Miller on the "not quite enough bass soloing" side... just the right amount). While I suspect that feeling of musical "Unity" is what it is all about for Matt Garrison the band leader (listen below), his modern electronic ventures into new and forbidden worlds of jazz is what it's really about for his artistic spirit ...and, damn, what a soulful, together, tight, unified sound he delivers... so happy and so badass five string strummin free!

MATT's BIO

Matthew Garrison was born June 2, 1970 in New York. Here he spent the first eight years of his life immersed in a community of musicians, dancers, visual artists and poets. After the death of his father Jimmy Garrison (John Coltrane's bassist), his family relocated to Rome, Italy where he began to study piano and bass guitar. In 1988 Matthew returned to the United States and lived with his godfather Jack Dejohnette for two years. Here he studied intensively with both Dejohnette and bassist Dave Holland. In 1989 Matthew received a full scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston. Here he began his professional career with the likes of Gary Burton, Bob Moses, Betty Carter, Mike Gibbs and Lyle Mays to mention a few. Matthew moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1994 and has performed and recorded with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul, Joni Mitchell, Steve Coleman, Pat Metheny, John Mclaughlin, The Gil Evans Orchestra, John Scofield, Chaka Khan and many others.

Visit Matt's site at www.garrisonjazz.com