Matuto....

MATUTO
This quarteto New York with famous musicians of jazz, combines elements of the music of American and Brazilian root, creating an interesting, original and full sound of energy.

CLAY ROSS was born in the small city of Anderson, in the American state of the Carolina of the South. After to conclude bacharelado in arts with concentration in musical composition, it if detached in the circuit of jazz of the Carolina of the South. In 2006 it was chosen to participate of the Program " Ambassadors of the Jazz" e made three turnês world-wide for the Department of the State of the United States. Currently liveing in New Iorque, Clay if presents in theater houses and festivals of music for the world measure as alone artist, with its proper band, and the band of Cyro Baptista, Beat the Donkey. www.clayross.com SHORT ROB brings passion, energy and musicalidade to acordeon, enobrecendo the innumerable rhythmic possibilities and seals of the instrument. The periodical The Los Angeles Teamses says that, " The original compositions of Short combine authentic traditional elements with pitadas convincing of jazz". It is a fan assíduo of American music swing north, bebop jazz piano, funk, rock and blues. It still mixes all these American influences with the equivalents of Brazilian national music: forró, chorinho, samba, maracatu, frevo and all the other musical styles that are part of the Brazilian tradition of acordeon. The result is an original, authentic work and stimulant for fans of all the types. Rob makes turnês and if it presents with the singer Lila Downs, winner of the Latin Grammy. It also participated of the COMPACT DISC most recent of the singer, Shake Away, that was indicated for the Grammy de Melhor Record of World Music.www.robcurto.com

RICHIE BARSHAY is one of the integrant ones of the Herbie Hancock Quartet since 2003 and already it established itself as an important musical influence of its generation. Indicated as one of " musicians to be of olho" for the JazzTimes magazine, it he keeps a full international agenda of commitments with consecrated artists, as Hancock, The Klezmatics, Kenny Werner and Chick Corea, among others. In September of 2004 it was one of the Envoy of American Music for the Department of the State of the United States, together with the band of latin Insight jazz. After five years in the musical circuit of Boston, Richie currently deferred payment in New Iorque. It initiated its career touching jazz and Afro-Latin music, but now he includes between its intersesses musical Indian rhythmic concepts and tabla, that in 2005 he inspired to the launching of its first record " Homework" e of its band The Richie Barshay Project.www.richiebarshay.com

EDWARD PEREZ is a highly active figure in the New York circuit of jazz, latin jazz and South American music. The low sound of its already was heard in the main mundias festivals in Victory (Spain 2006), Moers (Germany 2006), Valence (Spain 2006) and Rasp (Peru 2002, 2004 and 2005). It already divided palco with the stars of the jazz Mick Goodrick, George Garzone, Hector Martignon, Greg Hopkins, Lionel Loueke and Tony Lujan. In a typical night in New Iorque, it he can be found touching of everything since music afro-Peruvian until the modern jazz. It presents itself in the main nocturnal houses of the city, including Blue Note, Iridium, Gallery Jazz, Zinc Bar, Smalls, Fat Cat, Tonic, 55 Bar, and Nuyorican Poets Coffee. Edward leads a group of world-wide jazz/fusing, that was baptized with its proper name and also it is managing musical comedy of the band Alcatraz.www.edwardperez.com

Clay Ross....

Bio
Brooklyn based guitarist and composer Clay Ross is carving a unique niche for himself on the international music scene. His passion for music has taken him far from his South Carolina Roots and lead him to embrace influences from around the world. He has toured extensively as a U.S. Jazz Ambassador and as a member of Cyro Baptista’s world renowned percussion ensemble “Beat the Donkey.” With his new group, “Matuto,” Clay mixes the best of bluegrass and baiao for a sound like a carnival in the Appalachian mountains.

After studying classical composition at the College of Charleston, Clay became an integral part of the South Carolina jazz scene. Mixing elements of rock, blues, bluegrass, and funk, his original groups were highly praised in the local press and popular on the regional club circuit. With his bands “Otus,” “Gradual Lean,” and “Mickey Baker Project,” Clay developed his chops and shared the stage with national acts passing through.

After a brief move to Paris, and a few memorable performances in the Pigalle Squats, Clay moved to NYC in 2002. There, he honed his skills with the city’s most amazing young talents. He recorded and released the jazz quartet album “The Random Puller,” which featured nine original compositions. The album met with critical praise and won Ross invitations to perform internationally at clubs and concert halls in Rio De Janeiro, Istanbul, and Milan. It also helped him to secure regular performances at established NYC venues such as 55bar, Barbes, The Bar Next Door, and The Stone.

Shortly after arriving in NYC, Clay began exploring an increasing love for Brazilian Music. In 2004 he co-founded the “Agora Quartet,” a group that combines jazz and northeastern Brazilian rhythms. The group won the prestigious title of Latin Jazz Ambassadors through Lincoln Center and the U.S. State Department and embarked on a U.S. sponsored tour through Macedonia, Kosovo, Greece, and Turkey. Based on the success of these tours, Clay was invited to return, not once, but twice, and used these opportunities to embrace the rich musical influences of the Balkans.
In 2005, Clay was invited to become a full time member of Cyro Baptista’s “Beat the Donkey,” and received critical praise for performances at major concert halls and music festivals around the world.

In 2007, Clay joined “Nation Beat,” at the Porto Musical Festival During Carnival in Recife, Brazil. There, he participated in an unprecedented cultural exchange between Nation Beat and the traditional “maracatu” percussion group Estrella Brillante. Clay is a featured guest on Nation Beat’s ground-breaking new album “Legends of the Preacher” (modiba), and is now helping to define a sound that combines Northeastern Brazilian Rhythms and American Folk.

After traveling in Brazil, Clay returned with a pan-american perspective on his country roots. “Matuto” is Brazilian slang for Country Bumpkin. It’s also the name of Clay Ross’ new Album and Band. It’s where exotic Brazilian percussion instruments commingle with blues drenched vocals and country fiddle tunes. It’s a sound you may recognize, but like nothing you’ve ever heard before.

Clay Ross' Matuto EPK

Brazilian slang for "country bumpkin," Matuto plays original music inspired by Northeastern Brazilian Rhythms and American Folk. Over the past 3 years, Ross has submerged himself in Brazilian rhythms as a member of Cyro Baptista's world renowned percussion ensemble "Beat the Donkey." With Matuto, this South Carolina native mixes the best of Bluegrass and Baiao for a sound like a Carnival in the Appalachian Mountains.
With Clay Ross - Guitar and Vocals, Rob Hecht - Fiddle and Vocals, Edward Perez - Bass, Tim Keiper - Drums, and Itai Kriss - Flute.
The Album Features Special Guests: Cyro Baptista (Paul Simon, Sting), Richie Barshay (Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock), Ze Mauricio (YoYo Ma, Choro Ensemble), Rob Curto (Lila Downs, David Krakauer), and Scott Kettner (Nation Beat, Maracatu NY)