|
Born in Chicago, IL, Matthew Kaminski has been playing the Hammond Organ since he was 5 years old. Studying under Chicago jazz pianist Gordon James in his teens, Matthew was accepted into the University of Arizona’s jazz studies department as a jazz pianist. There, he studied jazz with Dr. Jeffrey Haskell and Mike Eckroth, and played in the jazz ensemble and combos as well as studying classical piano with Dr. Suzanne Knosp. Matthew also got an opportunity to attend a master classes by Wynton Marsalis and Kitty Margolis as well as perform with vibraphonists/marimba musicians Dave Samuels and Dave Friedman.
Transferring to Georgia State University in 1998, Matthew studied jazz and classical piano with Dr. Geoffrey Haydon and was the principle pianist in the Georgia State Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combos, and also performed with the Jazz Choir and Wind Ensemble. There, he had the pleasure of attending master classes by Lynne Arialle, Phil Markowitz, Greg Abate, and performed with Conrad Herwig and Scott Wendholt. In May of 2000, Matthew graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Music degree with an emphasis on Jazz Studies and was the recipient of the 'Friends of Rick Bell' Jazz Scholarship. In January of 2008, Matthew returned to G.S.U. to pursue a Master of Music degree, studying jazz piano with Kevin Bales. That April, the Georgia State Jazz Ensemble with Matthew on the piano, performed with jazz legend Jimmy Heath.
Matthew has performed in various places including: Chicago(Il), Tucson(Az), Savannah(Ga), Birmingham(Al), Atlanta, San Francisco (CA),Auburn(Al), Louisville(Ky), Athens(Ga), Mobile(Al), and New Orleans (La) (on a southeast tour with national touring guitarist, Skip Heller) in such places as The Atlanta Jazz Festival in Piedmont Park, The Dogwood Festival in Peidmont Park, Turner Field(Home of the Atlanta Braves), The Five Spot, The Blue Room, Tasty World, Rathbun's Restaurant, Sabroso, The 40 Watt Club, The Earl, The Eyedrum, Smith's Olde Bar, The Velvet Elvis, The Dark Horse Tavern, The Hard Rock Cafe, The Rialto, Pacific and Vine, The Blue Olive Lounge, Mojo(San Francisco), D.B.A.'s(New Orleans) and many other establishments.
Matthew has a passion for jazz organ playing and has studied with Hammond B3 masters Ike Stubblefield in 2003 and Tony Monaco in 2006, as well a sharing the stage with Pat Bianchi, Linda Dachtyl, Will Blades, and Todd Hildreth. Organized Time with Matthew on the Hammond Organ, Micah Cadwell on guitar, and Steve McCraw/Michael Dana on drums is an outlet for Matthew to perform, write songs, and be a creative force on the Hammond B3 organ. Furthermore, Matthew has been a full time piano teacher since 2001 and currently teaches at The Peggy Still School of Music in Roswell, GA, and has taught at the college level for Georgia Tech. in Atlanta, GA. Matthew continues to perform on 3 instruments: the Hammond Organ, piano, and accordion as well as studying 'jazz vocals' with Peggy Still.
|
|
