MATT BLOSTEIN has been performing music since the age of four. He joined his father’s wedding band at the ripe age of eight, playing keyboards and working several gigs a week through elementary school. The saxophone became his focus when he began lessons in 3rd grade, and jazz gigs around Pittsburgh continued to nurture his creative pursuits as well as his studies with local mentors Terry Steele and Eric Kloss. In 1998 Matt moved to New York to attend the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Mark Turner, Bob Mintzer, Dick Oatts and Dave Liebman. In 2002 he performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland as a competitor in the White Foundation Saxophone Competition. While there he was introduced to Lee Konitz, with whom he later studied. In 2003, Matt formed the group, Blostein–Sperrazza Quartet, along with drummer Vinnie Sperrazza, shortly after their meeting at the Banff Jazz Workshop. The group has performed all over the east coast and in NYC. They released a self-titled CD in 2004, and are currently working on material to record for a new release. You can read more about the group on the “Band” page. Recently, in 2004 Matt toured with the Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Noveau and in 2005 he toured and recorded with the Tim Collins Group featuring Ingrid Jensen. Matt has performed at the Ravinia Festival, Aspen Snowmass Jazz Festival, Kennedy Center, Thailand Cultural Center, Cape Cod Jazz Festival, Utica Jazz Festival, Clarion Jazz Festival, and NY jazz clubs such as the 55 Bar, Cornelia Street Café, Smoke, Marie’s and Smith’s. Artists and groups Matt has collaborated with include: Tim Collins, Kim Thompson, Firmature, Roger Humphries, Dwayne Dolphin, Sean Jones, Jacob Sacks, Aaron Parks, Ingrid Jensen, Orquesta Tropical, James Johnson III, The Manhattan School of Music Saxophone Quartet, Dave Budway, Dennis Irwin, Tony Moreno, Maynard Ferguson, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Dells, Connie Francis, The Cal James Orchestra, Hank Lane Music, and Carnival and Celebrity Cruise Lines.