.Matt Otto is currently the Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at Kansas University (KU) teaching Jazz Theory and Performance, Jazz Combo 1 and private lessons. Matt was also an Adjunct Professor at the Rutgers New Brunswick teaching online courses in jazz improvisation, theory and performance.
Matt Otto pursued his education in music performance and composition at Indiana University, Berklee School of Music, New School Jazz (BFA) and California Institute of the Arts (MFA) during which time he studied under Lee Konitz, George Garzone, Billy Pierce, Charlie Haden, Don Hawkins, Paul Carman and many others. Having lived in Japan for 6 years, New York City for 7 years and Los Angels for 6 years, he has performed with a variety of artists including Anthony Wilson, Larry Koonse, Rashid Bakr, Ben Monder, Willie Jones III, Alan Ferber, Mark Ferber, Albert “Tootie” Heath, Gregory Hutchinson, Jonathan Kreisberg, Joe La Barbera, Leroy Vinegar, Bob Bowman, Jimmy Smith (drums), Paul Jackson, Ari Honig, Ben Street, Mike Moreno, Sara Gazarek, Josh Nelson, Peter Schlamb, Danny Weiss, Roger Wilder, William Parker, Matt Wilson, Steve Cardenas, Bobby Watson, Bob Weir, Deborah Brown, Larry Goldings, Eric Harland, Sheryl Bailey, Darek Oles, Erik McPherson, John Stowell, Danny Embrey, Alan Pasqua, and many others.
While in Los Angeles, Matt co-founded of the Los Angeles Jazz Collective (lajazzcollective.org). The mission of the collective (LAJC) is to help create opportunities for creative jazz composers and performers to showcase original artistic work and to set up an ongoing Jazz outreach program for young jazz musicians in and around Los Angeles.
Matt currently performs his original compositions and jazz standards with his Kansas City based quartet as well as traveling several times per year to NYC and LA for performances and recordings.
Matt has recorded and performed with the Grammy nominated Anthony Wilson Nonet (The Power of Nine, Groove Note 1035, 2006), The Rashid Bakr Quintet, has performed in Los Angeles with the Grammy Nominated Alan Ferber Big Band as well as having recorded on over 50 CD’s as both a leader and a side man. See below for a discography of noteworthy recordings.
Contact: ottojazz@gmail.com
Discography:
CD Recordings of note:
Matt Otto, Umbra, (Origin Records 2023)
Joe-Less Shoe, Old Souls (Joe-Less Shoe Records 2023)
Matt Otto, Kansas City Trio, (JCR 2023)
Matt Otto, Notebook, (JCR 2023)
Stephen Martin, High Planes, (Origin, OA2 221997 2021) Featuring Bobby Watson and Matt Otto
Matt Otto, Alliance, (JCR 2020)
Brian Scarborough, Sunflower Song (2020 Outside In Music)
David J. Carpenter, Be As It May – Cry (BAR 2020)
Matt Otto, Andy Ehling Ring (JCR 2019)
Xose Miguelez, Ontology (Origin Records 2019)
Peter Schlamb, Electric Tinks (PS 2018)
Matt Otto, Iberica (Origin Records 2017) 4.5 stars All About Jazz.
Matt Otto, Andy Ehling Reunion (JCR 2017)
Matt Otto, Soliloquy (JCR 2016) 4 stars All About Jazz
Tim Fischer, Due Due South, (Tim Fischer 2014)
Joeless Shoe, Midsole (Kansas City – JCR 2014)
Brian Swartz, Gnu Sextet, Portraiture (Summit, 2014)
3-ish, Events (Jazz Collective Records 2014)
Justin Morell, Subjects and Complements (Sonic Frenzy Records 2013) – w Alan Ferber
Roger Wilder Quintet, Stretch (Artist Recording Collective 2013)
Nancy Sanchez, Ruby in LA (Big as Records 2013)
Matt Otto Sextet, Broken Waltz (Jazz Collective Records 2012) Four Stars in Downbeat Magazine. – w Sara Gazarek
Roberto Magris, Aliens In A Bebop Planet (J-Mood 2012)
Matt Otto, Leonard Thompson Duo, Anima (JCR Records 2011)
Joeless Shoe, Outsole (Jazz Collective Records 2010)
The Music of Tom Waits, Innocent When You Dream (Jazz Collective Records 2010) w Greg Leise
Matt Otto Sextet, La Commune (JCR Records 2010)
Ed Neumeister, ENJO, Live at the Jazz Bakery (Meistero Muisc 2009) w Peter Erskine
3-ish, Baobab (Jazz Collective Records 2009)
Josh Welchez Quintet, Lost and Found (Jazz Collective Records 2009) w Mark Ferber
Anthony Wilson, Nova (Goat Hill recordings, 2008) w Darek Oles
David Ashkenazy Quartet, Resonation (Los Angeles – Posi-Tone Records 2008)
Matt Otto, Andy Ehling Quintet “Returning” (Jazz Collective Records 2008)
Roger Cairns, Let’s (Roger Cairns, 2008)
Q Trio, Vol. 1 (JCR Records 2008) – w Qasim Nakvi
Los Angeles Jazz Collective Sampler Vol.1, (LAJC, 2008)
Brandon Bernstein, Solitude (Brandon Bernstein, 2008) – w Putter Smith and Tim Pleasant
Anthony Wilson Nonet, featuring: Diana Krall – The Power of Nine (Groove Note Records 2006) w Alan Ferber
Evan Stone, Sticks and Stones Vol.1 (Red Jazz 2006) – w Josh Nelson, Sara Gazarek
Roger Cairns, A Scot in LA (Roger Cairns, 2006)
Matt Otto Quartet – Red (Origin Records 2005) w Qasim Nakvi
Glen Makos, Now and Again (Stop Time Records, NYC, 2005)
Joeless Shoe, Joeless Shoe (Jazz Collective Records 2005)
CalArts Jazz 2005 16th Annual CD Track 8 (California Institute of the Arts 2005)
Erik Jekabson, Intersection (Fresh Sound Records, Spain, 2004) w Ben Monder and John Ellis
CalArts Jazz 2004 15th Annual CD Tracks 1, 4, 9, 10 (California Institute of the Arts 2004)
Rashid Bakr, Live at the Old Office (Knit Media, New York, 2002)
Push, Live at the Knitting Factory (Knit Media, New York, 2002)
Nick Demopoulos, Exegesis, The Order of Chaos (Demopoulos Music Records, NYC, 2002) w Mark Ferber
Rashid Bakr, Earth Native (Majic Records, NYC, 2001)
Peter Montgomery, The Road Back Home, Featuring Kenny Garret (PB Production, 1999)
Peter Montgomery, Evia, (PB Production, 1999)
Speak, Buddha (Big as Records 1997)
Matt Otto Quintet, 52 West 19th (Noir Records 1996) w Willie Jones III
Melodie Sexton, Melodie Sexton (Columbia Records, Tokyo Japan 1996)
Sharaku, Movie Sound Track (Avex Records, Tokyo Japan 1996)
Odo, Tokyo Calling – Haywire (Sony Music Compilation, Tokyo Japan 1996)
Odo, Universal Language (Matt Otto, 1995)
Dig, Impressions (Crown Records, Tokyo, Japan 1994)
Fahrenheit 451 Vol.1 Compilation, Cole Scotch (May 1992)
Dig, Dig (JMJ Records, 1991)
Fullerton Jazz Orchestra, Live in Montreux (Cal State Fullerton, 1989)
Matt Otto Quintet Matt Otto Debut (Matt Otto, 1989) w Darek Oles and Dave Scott
.
Larry Kopitnik interviews Matt Otto. Jam Magazine 2016. (Image links to interview)
Roger Atkinson interviews Matt Otto. Jam Magazine April 2012. (Image links to interview)
Joe Klopus interviews Matt Otto. Kansas City Star.
Matt,
Ran across your website and it looks great.
Started on lesson one, Spread triads.
Noticed that you memorize these.
How do I know how these are derived so
I can do the same.
Also, all these lessons are not much good
unless a player can integrate them into their
improvisational solos.
I don’t see any instructions on how to do
this for any of your lessons.
Do you have any instructions on how one
integrates your practice courses into ones
performances, solos?
Jerry
Jerry, there’s a PDF for each lesson, just click on the link. You can memorize the material using the PDF at first. To integrate the material into your solos simply use the material over similar chords found any any standard jazz composition i.e. ideas/phrases I’ve shared over a C Major 7 chord you can use over songs that include a C major 7 when that chord is being sounded. If you need further instruction I recommend taking private lessons with a teacher who can explain this in more detail.
Pingback:WOW! Improv jazz concert at Petro Hall Friday Live Jam