Matt
Murdick
 STLBlues:
Where were you born?
Matt:
Farmington
MO
STLBlues: How long have you lived in St.
Louis?
Matt:
Lived here
from 1989-1992, then from 1995 to present.
STLBlues: What's
your favorite musical instrument?
Matt:
Even though
my primary instrument though grade school, high school and college was
saxophone, I have always had an interest in piano and organ music. In
college I took extra lesson time on piano because I was having trouble
getting gigs on the horn, but all of the bands seemed to need keyboards,
so by the time I was out of college I was known more as a keyboard player
than saxophone, and now I enjoy keyboard instruments alot more than
playing horn.
STLBlues: What are some of your musical
influences?
Matt:
On keyboards
I have to point to some of the great jazz players,like Herbie Hancock,
Chick Corea, Count Basie, Bud Powell, Art Tatum, and then there's blues
players like Otis, Pinetop, Rollin' Pete, Ray Charles. Around St. Louis
there are still some great players that continue to influence my growth
in the blues. Johnnie Johnson, Silver Cloud, Bob Loehr, and of course
the late James Crutchfield and the 'king' Henry Townsend.
STLBlues: Who do you like to listen to
now?
Matt:
There's
one out of town band that I try to never miss, who perform at BB's Jazz
Blues and Soups, called the Gamble Brothers, out of Memphis TN. Otherwise
I find myself on a night off, going to see Benny Smith, or Arthur Williams.
I'll try to catch any show involving Brian Casserly when I can, and
also enjoy catching the Bottoms Up Blues Gang from time to time.
STLBlues: Where did you go to college?
Matt:
I went
to college at Webster University (St. Louis) where I received a bachelor's
degree in Jazz Studies.
STLBlues:
You performed a lot in college! Tell us more!!
Matt:
Like everyone
in college I was broke a lot so yes I performed quite a bit while
in school. One of the combo instructors at Webster University hooked
me up with Gordon Lawrence (Con Alma) for a Latin jazz gig, and another
instructor hooked me up with Lenny Klinger's Galaxy Band organization
which was more or less a wedding band playing Motown and other R&B.
STLBlues:
What were your childhood music influences?
Matt:
One of
the most influential piano players was actually Vince Guaraldi, from
the Charlie Brown cartoons. Not so much Linus and Lucy, the one that
everyone associates with the Peanuts gang, but more like his version
of 'O Christmas Tree' and the nice little number at the end of the
Thanksgiving special which I can't remember the name of at the moment.
I also really got a kick out of listening to Wagner, and Tchaikovsky,
I think because of how dramatic the music was.
STLBlues:
Anyone in your family play music?
Matt:
My father
played trumpet when he was young, and my mother piano, though neither
played professionally.
STLBlues:
Do you have any recordings?
Matt:
A few. I'm
on Kim Massie's A Diva Survival Guide, Rich McDonough's solo release,
and as a guest on Bottoms Up Blues Gang's South Broadway Blues. I also
recorded a CD for an independant label out of Indianapolis for a jazz
fusion group called The BeBops. That CD was entitled A Place Beyond.
STLBlues: What's your favorite music moment?
Matt:
That one
is tough. I think I can narrow it down to a few. One would be watching
Jim McClaren wow an audience at the Sternwheeler Festival in Ohio, while
we were performing with the Soulard Blues Band. Another would be the
first time that St. Louis Social Club performed together at the Top
Kat Lounge down in Isabella Mo. My most favorite moment experiencing
hearing another band would have to be Chick Corea at the Newport Jazz
Festival in 1988.
STLBlues: What goals do you have in your
musical future?
Matt:
I hope to
expand my own solo project (Matt's Barrelhouse Blues) in the near future,
including the release of a CD within the next year. Matt's Barrelhouse
Blues is my solo project, where I sing and play blues, boogie-woogie
and stride style tunes. For the most part it is a tribute to 'Rolling
Pete', Art Tatum, Fats Waller, and the like. I try to stay away from
Scott Joplin when possible but sometimes I through that in as well.
The act is mostly a 'happy hour' kind of act, to supplement my income
and give me an opportunity to play other gigs later in the evening.
STLBlues: What do you think of the state
of St. Louis Blues music?
Matt:
That's a
little hard to say. There's always room for improvement of course. I
certainly wish we could attract the 'industry' to more local artists.
We have some fabulous players and bands in this town and they deserve
to be recognized. On the other hand, I think the local scene has grown
tremendously in the last ten years, thanks to more prominent local clubs
supporting blues musicians and music. The Blues Society here in town
does it's part to help as well of course, with special events, the Mission
Fund, and the newsletter. And of course don't forget this wonderful
website. It's great to have an online source for what's going on around
town in the blues world.
For more info on Matt Murdick, check
out his website! |
