MATT BAKER

Australian / New York Jazz Pianist and Composer Matt Baker has travelled far with his career, performing at festivals, clubs and concert halls over Australia, Europe, USA and the Pacific. He is now proud to call New York City his home... Already he has played engagements at noted Jazz venues such as Smalls Jazz Club and the Zinc Bar, and has played gigs with some of New Yorks top musicians including Drummer Gregory Hutchinson, and Trumpet legend Roy Hargrove, in an impromtu duo set at Smalls Jazz Club. Matt’s first album project in New York as a ‘producer’ will be released shortly, and features Aaron Goldberg, Rueben Rogers, Ambrose Akinmusire, Mike Moreno and Gregory Hutchinson. Matt Baker gained fifth place in the world in the 2003 Montreux International Solo Jazz Piano competition, as well as semi-finalist in 2004 and 2005. The Montreux Jazz Festival also engaged The Matt Baker Trio as their exclusive in-house band 2 years straight, where they performed 17 nights in the Montreux Festival Jazz Club, accompanying and supporting many of the festivals headlining artists. A serious student of Jazz, he's spent some considerable time with piano legend Oscar Peterson, as well as studied with Benny Green, James Williams, Mulgrew Miller, Taylor Eigsti, Aaron Goldberg, Eric Reed, Jacky Terrasson, Stephen Scott, Laurence Hobgood, Ralph Sutton, and Ella Fitzgerald's life-long accompanist Paul Smith. In Montreux 2004, Matt spent some one-on-one time with Jazz legend Herbie Hancock and Cuban pianist Michel Camilo, studying their music, concepts and approaches to modern jazz. He has performed for Quincy Jones, and has played support act for Jazz legends Tony Bennett and Al Jarreau. Matt has three releases as a leader, the latest a 2006 effort entitled "From An Afternoon With The Mountains". On the album, the group explores an original sound with Cuban, Brazilian, Classical and Jazz influences, utilizing a chamber ensemble of strings, woodwinds and percussion. His fourth album as a leader is soon to be recorded in New York City. Jazz Musician