Matt Brown - Biographical Information
Matt Brown is a talented performer of American roots music. He is an entertaining singer and multi-instrumentalist. He has established himself as a highly respected fiddler, both authentic and innovative. He has studied with some of the best fiddlers in the genre, including Brad Leftwich, Rafe Stefanini, Bruce Molsky, Dirk Powell, Bruce Greene, and Rickie Simpkins. As a banjo player, he cites the early influence of his father. More recently, he has also had the privilege of learning from Paul Brown (no relation). Along the way, he taught himself how to play guitar, and has become a soulful flat-picker in addition to being a solid rhythm player. Ginny Hawker, Tracy Schwarz, Charles Williams, and Dick Swain have all helped shape his relaxed, resonant singing style.
Matt performs as a soloist, in a duo with Paul Brown, as the Lone Prairie Band with Paul Brown and Beverly Smith, and with the percussive dance ensemble, Rhythm in Shoes. Matt Brown has appeared as a guest artist with Tim O'Brien, Uncle Earl, The Wilders, and Crooked Still. He has shared the stage with David Holt, Alice Gerrard, Carol Elizabeth Jones, Flynn Cohen, and Jim Miller, and has opened for April Verch and Old School Freight Train. He has performed at a variety of venues and festivals, including Club Passim, the Annenberg Center, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, The Wheatland Music Festival, The Appalachian String Band Music Festival ("Clifftop"), The New England Folk Festival, and on Jay Ungar & Molly Mason's radio program, Dancing on the Air.
Matt's debut album, "Lone Prairie", was recorded with Paul Brown on banjo and Beverly Smith playing guitar and singing. The material covers a wide emotional palette with tunes from the standard repertoire as well as obscure pieces learned from field recordings. Matt's fiddling behind the three songs that Beverly sings is indicative of a subtle touch and an appreciation for vocal expression. He is currently in the process of making a new album, due out in 2008, that will feature him playing fiddle, banjo, guitar, and singing.
Matt is also an active teacher, having been on staff at Ashokan, The Swannanoa Gathering, and The Blue Ridge Old-Time Music Week. He enjoys teaching private students, workshops wherever he goes, and week-long immersion camps. His instructional fiddle CD is, "Old-Time Fiddle Lesson, Vol. 1." The companion book to the CD will soon be published by 5-String Productions. He is an active studio musician and a partner in 5-String Productions, an independent label specializing in acoustic music.