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Matt Ulery Chicago, IL 60647
BIOGRAPHY
Chicago based bassist/composer and bandleader, Matt Ulery, has developed an instantly recognizable sound. Known for his sweeping lyricism, unconventional phrase structures, and expressionistic emotionalism, Ulery’s music is informed by the entire spectrum of jazz, classical, rock, pop, and folk– specifically American, South American, Balkan, and other European folk styles. He performs not only on upright and electric bass, but doubles on tuba.
Ulery is the leader of his own groups, Loom, By a Little Light, and a member, among others, of Eastern Blok, and the Grazyna Auguscik Group. Ulery has released 5 albums of all original music under his name including his most recent release of a double album on Dave Douglas’s Greenleaf Music record label in June 2012.
Ulery earned a Master in Music degree at Depaul University and Bachelors degree in music composition at The Chicago College of Performing at Roosevelt University and has played in bands with Kurt Rosenwinkel, Phil Markowitz, Jarek Bester, Fareed Haque, Howard Levy, Patricia Barber, Ron Perrillo, Goran Ivanovic, Jeff Parker, Zach Brock, and many others.
When not touring parts of the U.S. and Europe with his groups, Matt appears regularly in the Chicago area music venues and has played performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Chicago Orchestra Hall, Millennium Park Pritzker Pavillion, and countless other fine music listening rooms.
Awards Received:
New Music USA Composers Assistance Program – Recording Award 2011
Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) Grant 2010
Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) Grant 2009
Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) Grant 2008
ARTISTIC ACTIVITY
- Performing for 16 years with hundreds of groups
- Composition of over 200 pieces
- Steadily teaches music clinics and workshops around the country on jazz, bass, improvisation and folk music.
- Current bassist and musical director with Grazyna Auguscik
- Current bassist, composer and arranger in Eastern Blok, featuring Goran Ivanovic
- Current bassist and sole composer for Matt Ulery’s “Loom” and larger ensembles
- A first call free lance bassist in Chicago
- Performed and/or composed for over 100 albums
- Tours the U.S. and Europe over 100 dates per year (in addition to local performances)
- Has release 5 albums under his name
SHARING KNOWLEDGE
Teaches bass and jazz composition/arranging at Loyola University Chicago
Master Classes and clinics (bass, improvisation, compositions, Balkan folk music, music philosophy) given at:
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Cornell University
- Northern Illinois University
- North Eastern Illinois University
- DePaul University
- Elgin Community College
- Empire State College
- Grand Valley State University
- Ithaca College and High School
- Lewis University
- New Trier High School
- Princeton University
- Schaumburg High School
- SUNY-Fredonia
- The Francis Parker School
- University of Pittsburgh
ALBUMS RELEASED AS A LEADER
“Music Box Ballerina” – Matt Ulery’s “Loom” – Woolgathering Records 2008
“Themes and Scenes” – Matt Ulery (cinema and orchestra) – Woolgathering Records 2009
“The Queen” 10 inch vinyl single – Whistler Records 2010
“Flora.Fauna.Fervor.” – Matt Ulery’s “Loom” – 482 Music January 2011
“By a Little Light” (double CD) – Matt Ulery (14 piece chamber jazz ensemble) – Greenleaf Music 2012