About Matt Kendrick



Composer/Double Bassist Matt Kendrick is a North Carolina native from Winston-Salem, N.C. where he grew up, graduated from High School and attended The North Carolina School of the Arts for three years. He then moved to New York City in 1977 and stayed for four years playing in a multitude of Avant-Garde situations. He considers his time there a great education. After New York it was on to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville for studies with Jazz educator, Jerry Coker and a stint in the Knoxville Symphony Bass section. Then it was back home to Winston-Salem where he has been since 1981. Matt has released five CDs, four on his own label Suitcase Music and one on Ichiban Records. On these recordings there are over forty compositions by Matt Kendrick. His CDs have have received air play as well as critical acclaim all over the United States, even appearing on national radio charts. He has also garnered many grants and fellowships. Matt won the North Carolina Jazz Composers Fellowship twice; 1988, 1994. He is the first person to win this large award ($5000 and $8000) two times. The Matt Kendrick Unit has played many festivals, museums, clubs and other functions all over the southeast. Matt Kendrick has appeared on Bass with: Marian McPartland, Gene Bertoncini, and JoAnne Brackeen who was a guest star with the Matt Kendrick Unit at the Carrboro ArtsCenter. The Unit also performed an exciting new work of Art/Jazz and Dance with the Wall Street DanceWorks in Asheville, NC at The Pack Place in spring 1994. Kendrick had a memorable performance with jazz greats Archie Shepp and Jaki Byard at SECCA in Winston-Salem, NC. Matt also scores music for films; his credits include "The Dark Power" (staring Lash LaRue) "The Darien Gap" (2nd place at the Sundance Festival) "Weather or Not" (5-minute film featuring Charles Neville). With performances at the American Contemporary Theater Festival , The Bele Chere Festival, At Secca with Amiri Baraka(aka Leroi Jones) and Craig Harris, and The Brevard Jazz Festival, Matt Kendrick continues a strong legacy of memorable concerts. Matt Kendrick is also an instructor at Wake Forest University in Applied Bass and Jazz Improvisation. He is happily married to his wife, Karen. They have four children: David, 20; Sarah, 16; Madeline, 11; and Liza, 6.





Education:


Three years of European Classical Bass study at the North Carolina School of The Arts.
Six months at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with Jazz educator Jerry Coker.
One year of Film Scoring studies with David McHugh at N.C. School of the Arts.
Over twenty years as a professional musician.



At A Glance:


Won the North Carolina Jazz Composers Fellowship twice; 1988, 1994.
Instructor at Wake Forest University in Jazz Improvisation and Bass since 1997
Instructor at The John Coltrane Jazz Camp in High Point N.C. since 2002
Music Director at Green Street Methodist Church (2001-03)
Music Director of “The Triad Jazz Jam” for 5 sold out years
Very experienced in musical theater (over 100 productions)
Composed music for theater and film.
Composer and arranger



Awards:


Arts in Education Grant: Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools 2000, 2002, 2007
Artists Project Grant: Winston-Salem Arts Council, North Carolina Arts Council
Art/Jazz at The Knoxville Museum of Art: NEA and Meet The Composer 1999
Jazz Composers Fellowship: North Carolina Arts Council 1994
North Carolina Touring Program: North Carolina Arts Council 1991-92
Emerging Artist Fellowship: Winston-Salem Arts Council 1990
Meet The Composer: Southern Arts Federation 1990
Jazz Composers Fellowship: North Carolina Arts Council 1988


Performances with:


Marian McPartland Trio
Clyde Edgerton
Archie Shepp
Jaki Byard
JoAnne Brackeen
Gene Bertoncini
Amiri Baracka
Craig Harris
Carl Fontana
Chris Murrell
Jon Metzger
Ken Rhodes
Knoxville Symphony
Greensboro Symphony
Winston-Salem Symphony
Western Piedmont Symphony


Clients:


RJR/Nabisco
Marriott Corporation
Winston-Salem Chamber Of Commerce
Hanes Brands
Belks
Mersman Waldron
RJR Tobacco Company
Wake Forest University Special Events
The Atlantic Coast Conference
PAVE Creative Group
Vulcan Materials
Sara Lee


Film Scores:


The Darien Gap-1995 (2nd place--Sundance Festival, 1996)
The Dark Power-1985 (stars Lash LaRue)
Weather or Not-1996 (5 minute short featuring Charles Neville)
Piedmont Craftsmen Guild TV Ad-1995 (award winning,all music commercial )


Compact Disc Production Credits:


"The Omen Seeker"/Alan Neese Quintet/1996 Suitcase Music
"First Trax" /Compilation/1st Night Piedmont 95
"ART/JAZZ" /Matt Kendrick Unit/1995 Suitcase Music
"Dance for the Moon" /Mark Freundt/1994 Mark Freundt
"Composite" /Matt Kendrick Unit 1994 Ichiban Records
"Other Aspects" Matt Kendrick w/Fred Hersch/1993 Suitcase Music
"Unity & Alienation"/Matt Kendrick Unit/1991 Suitcase Music
"Bass City"/Matt Kendrick Unit/1988 Suitcase Music