In the pop/rock world, Matt's eclectic adventures include touring with the Dixie Chicks,
Sheryl Crow, and the Indigo Girls, as well as performing and/or recording
with Tom Waits, Sarah McLachlan, Natalie MacMaster, Tracy Chapman
and others.
During his many years in San Francisco, Matt collaborated with various musicians, including Ben Goldberg, Carla Kihlstedt, Scott Amendola Gino Robair, Myles Boisen, John Schott, and Pamela Z. He founded Oranj Symphonette, which recorded two CD's for Rykodisc and went on to play many of the major jazz festivals, from Monterey to Montreal. He worked for several years as composer and cellist/bassist with the San Francisco based Club Foot Orchestra, contributing to critically acclaimed scores for film and television. Alongside all his other musical endeavors, Matt continued to play classical cello and was a member of the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra from 1989-2003.
In September of 2005 The LAB Gallery in San Francisco premiered Wunderkabinet, an experimental multi-media opera co-composed by Matt and composer/performer Pamela Z, in collaboration with media artist Christina McPhee. The opera and was presented again at the CalArts Theatre in Los Angeles during October, 2006. Wunderkabinet received it's Canadian premiere in April of 2007 at the Open Ears Festival in Kitchener, Ontario.
Matt is on the jazz faculty of York University, Humber College, and the University of Toronto. He teaches jazz strings, jazz piano, improvisation, composition, and leads various ensembles. (And, yes, he is the tallest son of Dave.)Matt Brubeck is a composer/performer specializing in improvisation on the cello. Classically trained, with a Master's in cello performance from Yale, Matt is at ease in multiple genres and has taken his cello improvisation skills into diverse musical territories. He also plays piano and bass.
Presently residing near Toronto, Matt performs with a wide range of jazz and improvising artists. Current projects include Brubeck Braid, whose critcally acclaimed CD, Twotet/Deuxtet (2007) was nominated for a JUNO award and a National Jazz award. Matt also plays with Ugly Beauties (a trio with pianist Marilyn Lerner and drummer Nick Fraser), Tallboys (a trio with guitarist Kevin Breit and percussionist Jesse Stewart) and in a duo with saxophonist David Mott.
In 2008 Brubeck Braid toured China, Ontario, and Quebec, Ugly Beauties recorded their first CD for the Ambience Magnetique label, Matt presented a concert of his compositions at the Atlantic Jazz Festival, and Tallboys played the Guelph Jazz Festival. Matt recently collaborated on the Songs of Joy and Peace project with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. (See video here.) Matt has enjoyed performing with a wide range of other musicians including Cyro Baptista, Carlos del Junco, John Geggie, Pierre Tanguay, David Buchbinder, Harris Eisenstadt, Anne Bourne, Natalie MacMaster, and Kent Nagano to name a few.
"Matt Brubeck's facility with the
instrument, bowing or plucking, seems to allow him to play whatever
occurs to him."
Doug Ramsey, Rifftides