Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Stubbs.
Matt, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Started playing Clarinet in 5th grade, worked very hard at it with the goal of becoming the best in the world. It’s an unconventional jazz instrument but I thought if I was talented enough, my peers could see beyond the instrument to work with me. It turns out the instrument is quite a hurdle for other musicians, at least in the Los Angeles Scene. New York and Boston were much kinder towards it.
I received my undergraduate degree from Berklee in Performance as well as Jazz Composition and went on to get a Masters in Contemporary Performance from the Berklee Global Jazz Institute under the artistic direction of Danilo Pérez. Deciding on one master was not nearly enough; I went for another one with the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz- without a doubt the most prestigious institution for jazz study in the world.
Now, I am focusing on bandleading, releasing an album, and teaching the young musicians of LAUSD through the Hancock Institute Jazz in the Classroom program.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been smoother for me than most. I was fortunate to avoid student loan debt due to a half scholarship with help from my parents for my undergrad and attending two tuition-free master’s programs. My wife has a promising career in STEM, so I have not had to be the breadwinner in my household, and my reputation for unprecedented proficiency on an obscure instrument nearly guarantees that my community will not forget about me if I go off the grid for a couple months.
Things could be a lot worse. I have somehow found myself living a comfortable life as a jazz musician in my late 20s- something that is only reserved for breakout successes (which I do not consider myself yet.)
The obstacles I face are entirely of my own making. I chose clarinet, knowing that opportunities would not simply be handed to me, that I’d have to create them for myself.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My improvisational approach is designed specifically to capture the attention of any audience. I have boiled melodic storytelling down to the lowest common denominators of shape and rhythm.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Playing video games with friends, nothing noteworthy
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stubbsjazz/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@stubbsjazz
Image Credits
Craig Allyn
