2007 also saw Matt place 3rd in the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society 21st Annual Blues Challenge. He was 2nd soloist, and the first all-acoustic act.He has recently teamed up with Jon Swift on upright bass and vocals. Jon is an experienced acoustic musician with a long-time background in American roots music, including bluegrass, blues, and folk music.Jon was a founding member of the popular Connecticut-based acoustic bluegrass band Traver Hollow, and played with that group for 13 years. His steady upright bass work, as well as his lead and harmony vocals and his ability to communicate with listeners, have been enjoyed by the many audiences who listened to Traver Hollow’s live performances in Europe and Canada, as well as much of the U.S. Jon also played electric bass and sang with the Connecticut-based roots country band Lost Highway. In addition to his bass work, his guitar and vocals are currently heard with the acoustic duo Deep Ellum. He lives in Durham, Connecticut.For much of the 1990s, Matt was a member of Amy Gallatin and Stillwaters. That stint was highlighted by two tours of Europe and participation in the European World of Bluegrass festival.He left that band and focused on accordion for a couple of years, and actually played little dobro. However, the instrument called to him again, and he returned to it with an even great passion and zeal.Largely due to a desire to play whenever he wanted, he began to develop his solo playing skills. During his years with the accordion, Matt often played in the street. Now, he is using the dobro and lap-style guitar. He performs in the New York City subway through the Music Under New York program. He also plays regularly at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Conn., and Midstate Medical Center in Meriden, Conn.While keeping up a busy solo career (and a day job), he also is a member of Charter Oak Bluegrass, a bluegrass band; The Bristol Boys, playing traditional country music; and Horizon Blue, contemporary folk Myspace Layouts - Myspace Editor
