Album Notes

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.

In 1998 Matthew founded GarrisonJazz Productions through which he currently Produces, Promotes and Markets his music. The latest project is a self titled solo debut CD "Matthew Garrison". All information concerning this and other releases/productions may be obtained through www.GarrisonJazz.com

Press Quotes:

Allaboutjazz says:

“…the baddest electric bassist on the planet…”

“spellbinding.. simultaneously are at the cutting edge and hitting extremely deeply on emotional level compositionally, while at the same time throwing down the gauntlet in terms of the pure technical level of virtuosity…”

“ The millennium year will be remembered as the year this solo release by
Matt Garrison took the evolution of music played on the bass one step
further.”

“Not just a ridiculously killer solo record by a bass player (yes, indeed
folks it is). It's an incredible jazz record.”

“At this juncture, we find Matt at the point where he has quietly,
logarithmically grown into… the most fluid, swinging and versatile player on the scene today.”

“…gorgeous, emotive ,deeply evocative music meant to touch the soul, that
also happens to lend itself beautifully to the sonic palette of the bass
guitar. … the moment when you actually hear the air move under his fingers, will infuse you with the curiosity to thoroughly examine every nook and cranny of this remarkable recording.”


Bill Milkowski says:

“..Garrison shows that he is among the most gifted
composer-bassists in the post-Jaco era. Whether he's dishing out
bottom-heavy grooves, interweaving intricate melodies with multiple
layers of fretted and fretless basses, soloing with uncanny fluidity, or
chording pianistically, the bassist delivers heroically on his ambitious
first outing.. a mega-manifesto on the art of modern
electric bass guitar playing by one of its most gifted practitioners.”


Globalbass.com says:

“Matt Garrison's recent solo CD has been compared to the solo efforts of
Stanley and Jaco in terms of raising the bar from where it had previously
been set.”

"One of those players who are shaping the future of the instrument, and
whose approach to the idea of playing bass is so refreshing that their
contributions are immediately evident."

“ Matthew brings a startlingly individual voice to the bass
guitar that includes undeniably remarkable musicianship, keen ear, and
incredible tone - the "Big 3" rules of music, if ever there were rules to
the game.”


Innerviews.com says:

“For jazz bassist and composer Matt Garrison, joy, communion and
communication are the prime motivators for creating music. That's why
he forsook the vacuous realm of the music business and delivered his
debut, self-titled solo CD directly to the people. Recorded, released and
marketed independently, the disc is a healthy example an inspired musician taking complete control of his career in the face of a conservative industry climate that emphasizes jazz's past instead of its future. After years spent as a sideman, Garrison is now focused on advancing his career as a solo artist. On purely musical terms, he's already succeeded.”

“His debut as a leader is a wide-reaching affair that seamlessly merges
jazz, funk, world musics, atmospherics, and drum and bass rhythms.
Compositionally, Garrison manages to be simultaneously avant and
accessible. It's a remarkable feat given the depth and breadth of material
presented.”

“…(Garrison's) supple, virtuoso basswork serves multiple roles from melody to rhythm to chordal textures.”


About.com says:

“…remarkable that it was all recorded at Garrison's home. Garrison has done such a great job of getting his head around home recording technology that doing it becomes a much smaller story than the music itself, which is smart, exciting, innovative, and exquisitely performed. There's no need to qualify it by saying "pretty good for a home studio job." If anything, Garrison's hands-on approach enhances the music.”

“Placing himself smack dab in the middle of the production process,
Garrison managed to put his own stamp on almost every aspect of this
project.”

“… (Garrison's solo record) belongs on the shelf alongside those of his
father, Jimmy Garrison, the legendary bassist with the John Coltrane band.
It's something to be proud of.”

“… he emulates a sitar with his bass at times, and really stretches the
boundaries of the instrument.”

“A very cool recording that'll have bass players gathering around in
admiration, but should hopefully reach a broader audience, since
Garrison has succeeded in communicating beautifully a musical message that is enjoyable for both jazz players and appreciators.”