Jeff Mattson
Encyclopedia
Jeff Mattsonborn July 3, 1958 is an American
musician. A founding member of the jam band, the Zen Tricksters
, Jeff is the guitarist in the Donna Jean Godchaux Band with Jeff Mattson, which features the Grateful Dead
’s Donna Jean Godchaux. Jeff, a veteran of 30 years on the road, is a guitar player whose playing ranges from rock & roll to blues, bluegrass, country, jazz, and folk, with a healthy dose of psychedelia. Jeff is also a strong original songwriter and his work is prominently featured on five albums, including several pieces co-written with band mate Donna Jean. He is a co-writer of “Leave Me Out of This,” a track on Phil Lesh and Friends
Sony CD, "There and Back Again." He is known for delivering heart-wrenching vocals as well as his ever-present desire to explore new musical terrain with his fellow musicians. In addition to touring with the Donna Jean Godchaux Band
, Jeff is currently playing lead guitar with Dark Star Orchestra
. Jeff was asked to audition for Phil Lesh & Friends in the fall of 1999 and in October 1999, Jeff and then Zen Trickster keyboard player, Rob Barraco
, played three shows with Phil Lesh and Friends
at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco. 1999. In addition to touring with the Donna Jean Godchaux Band
, Mattson, has been announced as the new lead guitarist for Dark Star Orchestra
for the foreseeable future. As of June 21, 2010, Mattson was named the permanent lead guitarist for Dark Star Orchestra
.
with Donna Jean and the Tricksters
song Leave Me Out of This, co-written with Rob Barraco
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician. A founding member of the jam band, the Zen Tricksters
Zen Tricksters
The Zen Tricksters are an American Grateful Dead cover band.For almost thirty years, the Zen Tricksters have been playing Grateful Dead covers and jam band music, as well as derivative original songs.. The band started out as the Volunteers, playing small venues around New York's Long Island...
, Jeff is the guitarist in the Donna Jean Godchaux Band with Jeff Mattson, which features the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
’s Donna Jean Godchaux. Jeff, a veteran of 30 years on the road, is a guitar player whose playing ranges from rock & roll to blues, bluegrass, country, jazz, and folk, with a healthy dose of psychedelia. Jeff is also a strong original songwriter and his work is prominently featured on five albums, including several pieces co-written with band mate Donna Jean. He is a co-writer of “Leave Me Out of This,” a track on Phil Lesh and Friends
Phil Lesh and Friends
Phil Lesh and Friends is an American rock band formed and led by Phil Lesh, former bassist of the Grateful Dead.Phil & Friends is not a traditional group in that several different lineups of musicians have played under the name, including groups featuring members of Phish, Little Feat, and the Zen...
Sony CD, "There and Back Again." He is known for delivering heart-wrenching vocals as well as his ever-present desire to explore new musical terrain with his fellow musicians. In addition to touring with the Donna Jean Godchaux Band
Donna Jean Godchaux Band
The Donna Jean Godchaux Band is an American rock music group. Originally named Kettle Joe's Psychedelic Swamp Revue, and later Donna Jean and the Tricksters, the band was originally formed in 2007 and made up of Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay and members of the Zen Tricksters...
, Jeff is currently playing lead guitar with Dark Star Orchestra
Dark Star Orchestra
-References:* at the Internet Archive* - John Kadlecik's official website & personal pages**-External links:* , official website of Dark Star Orchestra* , official website of Dino English...
. Jeff was asked to audition for Phil Lesh & Friends in the fall of 1999 and in October 1999, Jeff and then Zen Trickster keyboard player, Rob Barraco
Rob Barraco
Rob Barraco is a keyboardist who has played with Phil Lesh and Friends, The Dead, Dark Star Orchestra, Chris Robinson & New Earth Mud, the Zen Tricksters, Red Flannel Hash, and The Dragonflys. He was the permanent keyboardist for Phil Lesh and Friends from 2000 to 2003 and has been in the band's...
, played three shows with Phil Lesh and Friends
Phil Lesh and Friends
Phil Lesh and Friends is an American rock band formed and led by Phil Lesh, former bassist of the Grateful Dead.Phil & Friends is not a traditional group in that several different lineups of musicians have played under the name, including groups featuring members of Phish, Little Feat, and the Zen...
at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco. 1999. In addition to touring with the Donna Jean Godchaux Band
Donna Jean Godchaux Band
The Donna Jean Godchaux Band is an American rock music group. Originally named Kettle Joe's Psychedelic Swamp Revue, and later Donna Jean and the Tricksters, the band was originally formed in 2007 and made up of Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay and members of the Zen Tricksters...
, Mattson, has been announced as the new lead guitarist for Dark Star Orchestra
Dark Star Orchestra
-References:* at the Internet Archive* - John Kadlecik's official website & personal pages**-External links:* , official website of Dark Star Orchestra* , official website of Dino English...
for the foreseeable future. As of June 21, 2010, Mattson was named the permanent lead guitarist for Dark Star Orchestra
Dark Star Orchestra
-References:* at the Internet Archive* - John Kadlecik's official website & personal pages**-External links:* , official website of Dark Star Orchestra* , official website of Dino English...
.
Discography
with the Zen TrickstersZen Tricksters
The Zen Tricksters are an American Grateful Dead cover band.For almost thirty years, the Zen Tricksters have been playing Grateful Dead covers and jam band music, as well as derivative original songs.. The band started out as the Volunteers, playing small venues around New York's Long Island...
- 1996 The Holy Fool
- 1998 A Love Surreal
- 2003 Shaking Off the Weirdness
- 2006 For Rex: The Black Tie Dye Ball - The Zen Tricksters w/ Donna GodchauxDonna GodchauxDonna Jean Godchaux-MacKay is an American singer best known for having been a member of the Grateful Dead rock group.-Biography:...
, Mickey HartMickey HartMickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
, Tom ConstantenTom ConstantenTom Constanten is an American keyboardist, best known for playing with the Grateful Dead from 1968 to 1970.-Biography:...
, David NelsonDavid Nelson (musician)David Nelson is an American guitarist and musician.Although he started his musical career playing folk and bluegrass music Nelson is probably best known as one of the original members of psychedelic country rock band the New Riders of the Purple Sage...
, Michael FalzaranoMichael FalzaranoMichael Falzarano is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He has been working as a professional musician since the 1970s, most notably in Hot Tuna, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, and the Memphis Pilgrims, a Memphis-style rock and roll/blues band that he founded in 1986.Having signed...
, Rob BarracoRob BarracoRob Barraco is a keyboardist who has played with Phil Lesh and Friends, The Dead, Dark Star Orchestra, Chris Robinson & New Earth Mud, the Zen Tricksters, Red Flannel Hash, and The Dragonflys. He was the permanent keyboardist for Phil Lesh and Friends from 2000 to 2003 and has been in the band's...
2006
with Donna Jean and the Tricksters
- 2008 Donna Jean and the TrickstersDonna Jean and the Tricksters (album)Donna Jean and the Tricksters is the debut album by an American rock music group that has been known by three different names. Originally, their name was Donna Jean and the Tricksters, but was changed and has been billed as the Donna Jean Godchaux Band with Jeff Mattson, and Donna Jean Godchaux Band...
song Leave Me Out of This, co-written with Rob Barraco
- 2002 Phil Lesh and FriendsPhil Lesh and FriendsPhil Lesh and Friends is an American rock band formed and led by Phil Lesh, former bassist of the Grateful Dead.Phil & Friends is not a traditional group in that several different lineups of musicians have played under the name, including groups featuring members of Phish, Little Feat, and the Zen...
"There and Back Again"