The Matt Lemmler Jazz Combo performed at Jonquil City
Sessions last night. Attendees were
treated to classic New Orleans jazz including original music written by Matt.
The band also incorporated jazz interpretations of classic modern songs into
the play list. Everyone enjoyed an
evening of superb entertainment.
About Matt Lemmler
Recently elected Governor for the GRAMMY
Recording Academy, Matt Lemmler is considered to be one of the most
original musicians to recently emerge from the birthplace of jazz. Influenced
by the music he heard growing up in New Orleans, Matt Lemmler is a noted and
accomplished jazz pianist, vocalist, producer, arranger and educator. He is
among an elite group of musicians recognized and officially designated as a
“Steinway Artist”.
Videos:
He grew up playing music and studied arranging with Grammy award-winning
arranger Tony Klatka and jazz piano with Ellis Marsalis, patriarch of the
Marsalis family. These early and influential mentors inspired him to pursue and
dedicate his life’s work as a professional jazz musician.
During college, he was the house pianist for a jam session at New Orleans’ premier jazz club, Snug Harbor and played with many local greats. After completing his Bachelor’s degree at Loyola University in 1990, Lemmler moved to New York City where he received his Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance & Composition from The Manhattan School of Music. While living in NYC, he studied with jazz pianists Kenny Werner and Harold Danko, composed and arranged many original works, some of which he performed in Europe and debuted at Carnegie Hall, and arranged and performed with many of the jazz greats until eventually relocating back to his hometown of New Orleans in 1994.
During college, he was the house pianist for a jam session at New Orleans’ premier jazz club, Snug Harbor and played with many local greats. After completing his Bachelor’s degree at Loyola University in 1990, Lemmler moved to New York City where he received his Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance & Composition from The Manhattan School of Music. While living in NYC, he studied with jazz pianists Kenny Werner and Harold Danko, composed and arranged many original works, some of which he performed in Europe and debuted at Carnegie Hall, and arranged and performed with many of the jazz greats until eventually relocating back to his hometown of New Orleans in 1994.
Shortly after returning home, he was hired as
pianist for Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musical The Phantom of the Opera, touring the
U.S. for 4 years before returning home to work with New Orleans jazz legend,
Pete Fountain. In 2000, Lemmler set out to pursue his own projects and recordings,
the first, Portraits of Wonder, a tribute to the genius of Stevie Wonder, earned
a truckload of kudos for this innovative CD, which recast gems from the Stevie
Wonder songbook into elegant modern jazz showcases.
In 2004, Lemmler was commissioned to arrange and
conduct for French pop star, Dany Brillant. Brillant’s fascination with New
Orleans inspired him to record A La Nouvelle Orleans in the Big Easy using
members of Harry Connick, Jr.’s big band. A La Nouvelle Orleans went Platinum
Gold in Europe.
While teaching jazz piano and arranging at both
Loyola University and the University of New Orleans, Lemmler was recommended by
Ellis Marsalis to replace him, upon his retirement, as full-time Assistant
Professor of Jazz Piano at the University of New Orleans. In August 2005, after
accepting the tenure track position at UNO, fate stepped in and Hurricane
Katrina changed his life forever. He evacuated to Houston, Texas where he was working
within two weeks as pianist for Tommy’s Seafood Steakhouse.
After the huge success of Lemmler and Brillant’s
first collaboration, Matt was hired once again by Brillant to serve as his
musical director for his next CD, Histoire d'Un Amour. On this project, Lemmler
arranged & conducted for a 16 piece big band and 30 piece orchestra
featuring 60’s/70’s pop cover tunes. Because New Orleans was still reeling from
the devastation of Katrina, Lemmler hoped recording there would bring new life
and hope to his hometown.
In January 2006, Matt was hired as musical
director for Tommy’s Seafood Steakhouse, where he elevated the restaurant and
jazz club into one of Houston’s leading venues for live jazz. Top notch players
from New Orleans, New York and Houston performed nightly.
In the spring of 2006 Matt recorded his next CD, a compilation of classic New Orleans standards. The Music of New Orleans is a soulful and heart-rending tribute to his beloved city and to all the New Orleans musicians, past and present, which influenced him and his music.
In the spring of 2006 Matt recorded his next CD, a compilation of classic New Orleans standards. The Music of New Orleans is a soulful and heart-rending tribute to his beloved city and to all the New Orleans musicians, past and present, which influenced him and his music.
After leaving his position at Tommy’s, Lemmler
accepted the prestigious position as musical director of Trinity Church/Houston
for the Sunday Jazz Mass services. He was honored to hold a creative/spiritual
position that allowed him to arrange and compose hymns/spirituals for each
Sunday’s services. He also helped produce the 9th Annual Trinity Jazz Festival and
composed the concluding Sunday Jazz Mass “Tribute to the Music of New Orleans”
which featured New Orleans musicians Jason Marsalis, Roland Guerin, Herlin
Riley, Kim Prevost as well as Houston’s best jazz musicians.
After five years in exile in Houston, Matt’s spiritual awakening and musical path led him back home to New Orleans. Shortly after returning home in 2010, Lemmler’s piano and arranging skills were featured on New Orleans Jazz trumpeter and vocalist Kermit Ruffins’ (from HBO series Treme) last two CD’s, Have a Crazy Cool Christmas and Happy Talk. That same year, Lemmler established his production company SMartist Productions LLC and immediately started producing promising artists and new projects with his New Orleans Jazz Revival Band.
This ensemble performs arrangements from Portraits of Wonder, Music of New Orleans and music from the soon to be released CD UBUNTU, which features musicians Brian Blade, Bill Summers, Jason Marsalis, Sean Jones, John Ellis, Kim Prevost, Evan Christopher, Mark Mullins, Shane Theriot and others. This new path of Spiritual inspiration continues to enlighten Lemmler about the healing power of music, and continues to motivate him to perform New Orleans Jazz for people around the world.
After five years in exile in Houston, Matt’s spiritual awakening and musical path led him back home to New Orleans. Shortly after returning home in 2010, Lemmler’s piano and arranging skills were featured on New Orleans Jazz trumpeter and vocalist Kermit Ruffins’ (from HBO series Treme) last two CD’s, Have a Crazy Cool Christmas and Happy Talk. That same year, Lemmler established his production company SMartist Productions LLC and immediately started producing promising artists and new projects with his New Orleans Jazz Revival Band.
This ensemble performs arrangements from Portraits of Wonder, Music of New Orleans and music from the soon to be released CD UBUNTU, which features musicians Brian Blade, Bill Summers, Jason Marsalis, Sean Jones, John Ellis, Kim Prevost, Evan Christopher, Mark Mullins, Shane Theriot and others. This new path of Spiritual inspiration continues to enlighten Lemmler about the healing power of music, and continues to motivate him to perform New Orleans Jazz for people around the world.
In 2011, Lemmler was elected to the GRAMMY Recording Academy Governor
position, Memphis Chapter Board and also appeared in an episode of HBO’s TREME
performing an original composition.
For this jazz concert Matt will be accompanied by a select ensemble of
his New Orleans musical collaborators.
