Matt Darriau

Matt Darriau (b. Colorado Springs, Colorado, February 21, 1960 -- ) – Versatile woodwind specialist (saxophone, clarinet and a variety of ethnic instruments) and composer. Matt Darriau grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where he was strongly influenced by IU’s jazz program. After studying music at the New England Conservatory of Music, Darriau performed with various progressive groups in Boston, including Orange Then Blue, Misérables Brass Band, and Smash the Windows. In 1990, he moved to New York, where he has utilized his expertise in jazz as well as Celtic, Balkan, and Klezmer traditions. Since the mid 1990s, he has led his own group called Paradox Trio, which is actually a hard-driving quartet that combines jazz and Balkan elements and even ventures into klezmer, Gypsy and Middle Eastern musics. He is also a founding member of Ballin’ the Jack (est. late 1990s), an eight-piece jazz group that specializes in modern interpretations of early swing era repertoire. Furthermore, he plays saxophone, clarinet and kaval (Balkan flute) with the Klezmatics, a popular neo-klezmer band that won a Grammy in 2007 for "Best World Music Album." Darriau was associated with the Klezmatics not long after the group started in 1986, but did not become a member until 1995. Since his arrival, the band has put out nine albums on various labels including Flying Fish and Rounder. He also plays with the Roberto Rodriguez Septet, Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All-Stars, and the Recycled Waltz Orchestra. In addition to performing, he contributes his own compositions to his various ensembles and has received commissions from the N.E.A. and Chamber Music America (2005 and 2007).