Dan Matrazzo
Encyclopedia
Dr. Dan Matrazzo is a jazz, jam, and fusion American keyboardist and pianist. He is known as an early collaborator of the Aquarium Rescue Unit
, and co-founder of Col. Bruce Hampton
and the Fiji Mariners as well as the band Winter (with Jeff Sipe
and Steve Vai
at Berklee College of Music).
In addition to his partnership with Col. Bruce Hampton and Steve Vai, Dr. Dan was also a member of Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's blues band, and Joseph Patrick Moore
’s Drum and Bass Society.
His recordings with The Allman Brothers and Widespread Panic
are available via various sources on the internet, and the album "Timeless," which he recorded with Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Dr. Dan has also played shows and/or tours with James Cotton
and Taj Mahal
,and has appeared on stage with Russell Malone, Phish
, Blues Traveller, John Scofield
, Michael Brecker
, Les Claypool, Gov’t Mule, Ween
, Lowell Fulson, Leftover Salmon
, George Porter Jr., Stanton Moore, Blues Traveller, Morphine
and many others.
His professional journey began as a teenager playing sold-out arenas with Japanese sensation Char, and continued to the Berklee College of Music where he met Jeff Sipe
and Steve Vai
. From there he went on to form several bands with Col. Bruce Hampton
and toured the US and Europe with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and numerous other musical outfits, including several appearances at The North Sea Jazz Festival.
His 2000 solo release “Dan on the Moon,” produced by David Z (Prince’s “Parade:Music From Under the Cherry Moon”), was released by Terminus Records and featured Sam Sims (Mariah Carey, Cher) on bass, Lil’ John Roberts (Janet Jackson) on drums, and Warren Haynes
on guitar. “Dan on the Moon” was considered by many to be the defining album of a new genre which jam fans immediately dubbed “space funk,” though it explored many styles from fusion and funk to soul, blues, prog rock, and even classical piano.
From 2005 to 2011 Dr. Dan focused mainly on traditional jazz music, but then began touring with The Looters, who are also known for backing Blue Note Records' Kristina Train
, Rosa King
, and Saskia Laroo
.
Aquarium Rescue Unit
Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit is an experimental rock group originally founded by Col. Bruce Hampton. The band gained popularity in the Atlanta club scene in the early 1990s and went on to tour with the first H.O.R.D.E. Tour. During the initial years, the band was composed of...
, and co-founder of Col. Bruce Hampton
Bruce Hampton
Bruce Hampton is a surrealist American musician. In the late 1960s he was a founding member of Atlanta, Georgia's avant-garde Hampton Grease Band...
and the Fiji Mariners as well as the band Winter (with Jeff Sipe
Jeff Sipe
Jeff Sipe is an American drummer. He is a rock and jazz fusion drummer, however, he is proficient in many other styles which he has demonstrated in his decades of drumming. He is a founding member of Aquarium Rescue Unit along with Col. Bruce Hampton...
and Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
at Berklee College of Music).
In addition to his partnership with Col. Bruce Hampton and Steve Vai, Dr. Dan was also a member of Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's blues band, and Joseph Patrick Moore
Joseph Patrick Moore
Joseph Patrick Moore is an American virtuoso bassist from Knoxville, Tennessee.After studying music at The University of Tennessee in Knoxville and The University of Memphis, Moore moved to Atlanta, Georgia and was recruited by Col. Bruce Hampton for his project with Dr. Dan Matrazzo, Col...
’s Drum and Bass Society.
His recordings with The Allman Brothers and Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
are available via various sources on the internet, and the album "Timeless," which he recorded with Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Dr. Dan has also played shows and/or tours with James Cotton
James Cotton
James Cotton is an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, who has performed and recorded with many of the great blues artists of his time as well as with his own band.-Career:...
and Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a white Marble mausoleum located in Agra, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal...
,and has appeared on stage with Russell Malone, Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
, Blues Traveller, John Scofield
John Scofield
John Scofield , often referred to as "Sco," is an American jazz guitarist and composer, who has played and collaborated with Miles Davis, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Joey Defrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Pat Martino, Mavis Staples, Phil Lesh, Billy Cobham,...
, Michael Brecker
Michael Brecker
Michael Leonard Brecker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Acknowledged as "a quiet, gentle musician widely regarded as the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane," he has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer and was inducted into Down Beat Jazz...
, Les Claypool, Gov’t Mule, Ween
Ween
Ween is an American alternative rock group. They formed in 1984 in New Hope, Pennsylvania when central members Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo met in an eighth grade typing class. Ween has a large cult underground fanbase despite being generally unknown in American pop music...
, Lowell Fulson, Leftover Salmon
Leftover Salmon
Leftover Salmon is a jam band from Boulder, Colorado, formed in 1989. Their unique blend of bluegrass, rock, country, and Cajun/Zydeco, which the band calls "Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass", has found favor with the jam band scene...
, George Porter Jr., Stanton Moore, Blues Traveller, Morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
and many others.
His professional journey began as a teenager playing sold-out arenas with Japanese sensation Char, and continued to the Berklee College of Music where he met Jeff Sipe
Jeff Sipe
Jeff Sipe is an American drummer. He is a rock and jazz fusion drummer, however, he is proficient in many other styles which he has demonstrated in his decades of drumming. He is a founding member of Aquarium Rescue Unit along with Col. Bruce Hampton...
and Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
. From there he went on to form several bands with Col. Bruce Hampton
Bruce Hampton
Bruce Hampton is a surrealist American musician. In the late 1960s he was a founding member of Atlanta, Georgia's avant-garde Hampton Grease Band...
and toured the US and Europe with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and numerous other musical outfits, including several appearances at The North Sea Jazz Festival.
His 2000 solo release “Dan on the Moon,” produced by David Z (Prince’s “Parade:Music From Under the Cherry Moon”), was released by Terminus Records and featured Sam Sims (Mariah Carey, Cher) on bass, Lil’ John Roberts (Janet Jackson) on drums, and Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes is an American rock and blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. Haynes is best known for his work as long time guitarist with The Allman Brothers Band and as founding member of the jam band Gov't Mule. Early in his career he was a guitarist for David Allan Coe and The Dickey...
on guitar. “Dan on the Moon” was considered by many to be the defining album of a new genre which jam fans immediately dubbed “space funk,” though it explored many styles from fusion and funk to soul, blues, prog rock, and even classical piano.
From 2005 to 2011 Dr. Dan focused mainly on traditional jazz music, but then began touring with The Looters, who are also known for backing Blue Note Records' Kristina Train
Kristina Train
Kristina Train is an American pop/soul singer and songwriter.-Biography:Train was born in New York City, but was raised in Savannah, Georgia from the age of nine. Her mother, Kathy Beatty, is a schoolteacher in Savannah. Train is an only child...
, Rosa King
Rosa King
Rosa King was an American Jazz and blues saxophonist/singer who made her fame in Amsterdam and recorded many albums under a variety of labels.-Career:...
, and Saskia Laroo
Saskia Laroo
Saskia Laroo is a Dutch jazz musician who has been dubbed "Lady Miles Davis".Laroo was born in the Jordaan to Amsterdam as the eldest of four daughters. When she was six the family moved to Den Ilp. Laroo went in Zaandam to secondary school. For Den Ilp she played cornet in fanfare orchestra De...
.