Interview With Jazz Bassist Matt Smiley

In this episode of Backstage Jazz, musician Matt Smiley shares a few tracks with us from his upcoming double CD.   Matt Smiley is a bassist, composer, and educator who has performed in various musical settings over the last fifteen years. He has a bachelor’s degree in music industry with a jazz studies minor from James Madison University and a Master of Music in jazz studies from the University of Northern Colorado.    An avid and enthusiastic musician, Smiley has performed nationally and internationally at universities nationwide and the Montreux, North Sea, and Montreal Jazz Festivals.    Currently, Matt resides in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he plays jazz weekly with the Subterraneans at Ace Gillett’s. He has recently performed with legendary jazz musicians Terrell Stafford and Greg Osby and worked with composer Alvin Lucier. Matt has assisted Dr. Paul Elwood with the University of Northern Colorado’s Open Space Music Festival for the last five years and worked with festival artists Stephen Drury, Christian Wolff, and Jean-Claude Risset.    Matt released Quartet Art on the Dazzle label in 2011, featuring David Pope on saxophone. Peaceful Contact Proved Elusive, with guitarist Alex Nauman, followed in 2014 as a limited-edition vinyl. Matt is featured on several Dazzle releases by artists Josh Quinlan, Annie Booth, and Ryan Fourt.