Author Archives Greg Matses

VTSU Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

Excited to be directing the Vermont State University Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble on Friday 12/8/23 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Vermont State University Johnson. Open to all. Info at www.vermontstate.edu .. this is a Creative Audience event for VTSU students. Here’s our set:

The Mist on the Mountain  (Traditional)
Cosmic Love  (Florence + the Machine)
Fame  (David Bowie, Carlos Alomar, John Lennon)
The Chain  (Fleetwood Mac)
Nights on Broadway  (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb)
Riots  (Stuck in the Sound)

with: Elliot Urbina (bass, drums), Wilbur Hayes (vocals, keyboards, percussion, bass), Taylor Michaud (vocals, flute, drums, keyboards), Arlie White (violin, vocals), Heike Chaney (vocals), James Kalbfleisch (vocals, drums, bass, percussion), Sparrow MacDonald (vocals, drums), Sergey Vakhrouchev (tenor sax) ..

VTSU Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble (Fall 2023)

** video kicks in at ~ 2 minutes ..

VTSU-J Ensembles program - Fall 2023 (cover)VTSU Johnson Ensembles program - Fall 2023 (back)

NVU-Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

Excited to be directing the Northern Vermont University – Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble on Friday 4/28/23 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Northern Vermont University – Johnson. Open to all. Info at www.northernvermont.edu .. this is a Creative Audience event for NVU students. And, we’re happy to be having B.O.K. featuring Brittney Malik and Kolin Shaw open the show~! Here’s our set:

Crazy  (Scary Pockets – Danger Mouse, Cee Lo Green)
In the Middle  (dodie)
Fever  (Elvis Presley – Peggy Lee, Eddie Coolie, John Davenport)
Locked Out of Heaven  (Bruno Mars)
Bang Bang  (Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj)

with: Amelia Burger (vocals, keyboards, percussion), Wilbur Hayes (vocals, keyboards, percussion), Taylor Michaud (vocals, flute, drums), Matthew Parker (vocals, keyboards), Korrina Cummings (flute), James Kalbfleisch (vocals, percussion), Sparrow MacDonald (vocals), Kolin Shaw (alto & tenor sax, vocals, guitar), Brittney Malik (trumpet, vocals, drums), Patricia Rivera (vocals, percussion) ..

live stream .. (B.O.K. @ 5:30; Funk Fusion @ 28:25)

NVU-J Ensembles program - Spring 2023 (cover)
NVU-Johnson Ensembles program - Spring 2023 (back)

Threatened by Machines..

Great fun guitar-ing with my old Spanking Machine bandmate Stu Nelson – for his new project, Threatened by Machines.. you can check the Seven Days review here..

NVU-Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

Excited to be directing the Northern Vermont University – Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble on Friday 12/9/22 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Northern Vermont University – Johnson. Open to all. Info at www.northernvermont.edu .. this is a Creative Audience event for NVU students. Here’s our set:

777  (Silk Sonic)
Rapture  (Blondie – Chris Stein & Debbie Harry)
Mango  (Kamauu)
Is This Love  (Bob Marley)
Sweet Dreams / Seven Nation Army mashup  (Pomplamoose – Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart, Jack White)

with: Zoe Avent (vocals), Wilbur Hayes (vocals), Spencer Perry (drums), Matthew Parker (vocals, keyboards), Sergey Vakhrouchev (tenor sax), Ethan Kile (guitar), Arlie White (violin, vocals), Katelyn Shaw (alto & tenor sax, vocals, guitar, melodica), Brittney Malik (trumpet, vocals, keyboards), Makayla Jones (alto & bari sax, vocals) ..

NVU-Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble - Fall 2022

live streamed (and a bit distorted)..

NVU-J Ensembles program - Fall 2022 (cover)

NVU-Johnson Ensembles program - Fall 2022 (back)

1970’s Rock & Roll Primer

Access CVU - Online

I’m excited to be teaching 1970’s Rock & Roll Primer as part of the Access Speaker Series at Access CVU on Tuesday 5/17/22. The course will be offered online (using Zoom) and runs from 6:00-8:00pm .. one night only. $20 per person and open to all. Info and registration at https://cvsdvt.ce.eleyo.com/ ..

A brief survey of the contributing styles that comprise the 1970’s rock sound. Progressive rock, funk, metal, singer-songwriter, reggae, punk, disco, and more will be examined using audiovisual and written resources. Class discussion will include the stylistic elements and socioeconomic conditions that influenced the evolution of rock music throughout the decade.

Northern Vermont University / Johnson State College: Guitar & Funk-Fusion Ensembles


NVU-Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

Looking forward to be directing the Northern Vermont University – Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble for the Jazz/Contemporary concert on Wednesday 5/4/22 at 7pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Northern Vermont University – Johnson .. Open to all..  info at www.northernvermont.edu .. this is a Creative Audience event for NVU students .. here’s our set:

Devil Was an Angel  (The Main Squeeze)
Higher Ground  (Stevie Wonder)
I’m a Good Woman  (Barbara Lynn Ozen)
Nine in the Afternoon  (Panic at the Disco)
Fly As Me  (Silk Sonic)

with: Makenzi Edwards (vocals, keyboards), Austin White (vocals, keyboards), Jay Stanton (drums), Matthew Parker (vocals), Taylor Michaud (flute, vocals), Timothy Pinckney (bass, cello, vocals), Addie White (violin), Katelyn Shaw (alto & tenor sax, vocals), Randall Ingalls (trumpet), Makayla Jones (alto & bari sax) ..

NVU-Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble - Spring 2022 NVU-Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble - Spring 2022

captured on film..!

NVU-J Ensembles program - Spring 2022 (cover) NVU-Johnson Ensembles program - Spring 2022 (back)

NVU-Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble

Johnson VT

We’re back! After a two-year Corona-break (the virus, not the beer), I’m excited to be directing the Northern Vermont University – Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble for the Jazz/Contemporary concert on Wednesday 12/8/21 at 8pm .. Dibden Center for the Arts, Northern Vermont University – Johnson .. Open to all..  info at www.northernvermont.edu .. this is a Creative Audience event for NVU students .. here’s our set:

I Don’t Wanna Go to Bed  (Simple Plan)
If I We’re You  (Nothing But Thieves)
River  (Bishop Briggs)
Electric Feel  (MGMT – Andrew VanWyngarden/Ben Goldwasser)
You Haven’t Done Nothin’  (Stevie Wonder)

with: Makenzi Edwards (vocals), Austin White (vocals, keyboards), Elijah Berry (drums, percussion), Garrett Stanley (vocals, drums, percussion), Taylor Michaud (flute), Timothy Pinckney (bass, vocals), Luke Melamede (tenor sax, keyboards), Katelyn Shaw (tenor sax, vocals, guitar), Makayla Jones (bari & alto sax) ..

NVU-Johnson Funk Fusion Ensemble - Fall 2021

and in color..

NVU-J Ensembles program - Fall 2021 (cover)
NVU-Johnson Ensembles program - Fall 2021 (back)

Moment’s Notice – Grove Guitar Final Showcase (6/10/88)

Grove School of Music, Studio City CA


from my Guitar Final Showcase at the Grove School of Music in Studio City, CA in June of 1988. I needed another tune, fast, to complete the set, and this happened! .. lots of grins upon finding the VHS tape~

Joey Medrano (bass) … Craig Aschoff (drums)
Kevin O’Connor (sax) … Greg Matses (guitar)

“Moment’s Notice” by Greg Matses

All-Star JAMboree II – Steep (3/13/14)

Dibden Center For the Arts, Johnson VT


from the second All-Star Jamboree at Dibden Center for the Arts, Johnson (VT) State College on 3/13/14 ~ a wicked Nor’easter, a shuttered campus, and stranded cars & gear couldn’t keep us down..!

Ray Paczkowski (keys) … Jon Fishman (drums)
Gabe Jarrett (drums) … Rob Morse (bass) … Greg Matses (guitar)

“Steep” by Greg Matses

NVU Funk Fusion Ensemble – the Corona Tapes (Vol III)

The NVU Funk Fusion Ensemble presents the Corona Tapes (Vol III) in what hopes to be a final musical response to the 2020-2021 global pandemic. Socially distant, remotely conceived..

directed by Greg Matses with:
Elijah Berry (drum programming)
Gabriella Colby-George (lead vocal on “Sour Candy”)
Makayla Jones (alto & baritone sax)
Rebecca Flieder (lead vocals on “Disappear”)
Nicholas Sharratt (electric guitar)
Greg Matses (bass, keyboards, electric guitar, production / mixing)

a Quarantine production ..
Northern Vermont University - Funk Fusion Ensemble (Spring 2021)

NVU Funk Fusion Ensemble – the Corona Tapes (Vol II)

The NVU Funk Fusion Ensemble presents the Corona Tapes (Vol II) – an ongoing musical response to the 2020 global pandemic. Socially distant, remotely conceived..

directed by Greg Matses with:
Jessica Beliveau (piano)
Elijah Berry (drum programming)
Rebecca Flieder (lead and backing vocals)
Nicholas Sharratt (electric guitar, lead guitar “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”)
Greg Matses (bass, electric guitar, lead guitar / synth / backing vocal on “Happy Man”, production / mixing)

a Quarantine production ..
Northern Vermont University - Funk Fusion Ensemble (Fall 2020)

NVU Funk Fusion Ensemble – the Corona Tapes

The NVU Funk Fusion Ensemble presents the Corona Tapes – a musical response to the 2020 global pandemic. Using only the devices at our immediate disposal, we crafted a socially distant recording meant to bring us together..

directed by Greg Matses with:
Harrison Abramsohn (alto sax)
Angelina Beckett (vocals, lead vocal on “Rehab”)
Elijah Berry (drum programming)
Amanda Rosalbo (vocals)
Rebecca Flieder (vocals, lead vocal on “I’m Not Your Regular Woman”)
Janea Hudson (keyboards, lead vocal on “I Got You / I Feel Good”)
Nicholas Sharratt (acoustic guitar)
Makayla Jones (baritone sax)
Gabriella Colby-George (lead vocal on “Crazy”)
Greg Matses (bass, electric guitar, keyboard on “I Got You / I Feel Good”, production / mixing)

a Quarantine production ..
Northern Vermont University - Funk Fusion Ensemble (Spring 2020)