Matt Richards
With his acoustic performances, Matt gathers musical styles and influences together to create his unique approach to solo guitar. He has been featured as a solo artist on a variety of televised programs, including Miles of Music and Puerto Rican Panorama. Matt performed on-screen in the independent film Smoke And Mirrors. He has been featured at the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Historic Lewiston Jazz Festival, the Frankford Arts Festival, the NAMM Winter and Summer Shows, the Montreal Guitar Show, One Month Festival of South Korea, Daniel Pearl Music Days and Welcome America celebrations. In 2015, Matt established the locally-based Solo Guitar On A Saturday Morning series.
Matt has also worked with a range of artists, including Phyllis Chapell, Mike Clark, Larry Coryell, Joey DeFrancesco, Kenwood Dennard, Jay Katz, Essra Mohawk, Herbie Nix, Elio Villafranca, Bobby Zankel and Bill Zola. He has played in support for Peppino D'Agostino, Richie Havens, Phil Keaggy, Dave Mason and Paco Pena.
A current faculty member at the Ambler Music Academy, Matt has served as Head of Faculty at the FrankfordStyle School for Creative Arts and Music Program Director for Zanaras Music Stores. In collaboration with Kenwood Dennard, he has conducted workshops at Berklee College. Matt's guitar-based workshops and masterclasses focus on playing techniques, arranging and performing.
'Balance', released in 2017, features Matt in an all-solo-guitar setting, performing his own compositions and the music of Luis Bonfa, Lennon and McCartney and John Coltrane.
For his upcoming release 'Power Trio Project' Matt returns to the electric guitar and is joined by bass guitarist Tony Donato and drummer Paul Albrecht.
Awards
Lafayette Hill Business Association Best of 2016 award Lafayette Hill Business Association Best of 2017 award
Gear
Hagstrom Swede (1975) Godin Glissentar (11-string fretless) LaPatrie Classical Cutaway Lowden mini-jumbo acoustic Hagstrom Viking (mid-1970s) John Pearse Strings Lab series amplifiers Various effects, pedals and accessories
Tags
January 28, 2010
Matt Richards' "Trio" Now Available on CD Baby
October 26, 2008
Matt Richards Trio Plays Jazz & Sketch Night in Woodbridge, NJ
December 11, 2005
Matt Richards at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, 12/18
April 24, 2001
Primary Instrument
Guitar
Location
Philadelphia
Willing to teach
Intermediate to advanced
Credentials/Background
As a result of the pandemic I am now teaching all students online. I regularly utilize Zoom, Skype and What's App for online lessons. For further details, including rates and scheduling, please contact me directly: [email protected]
Clinic/Workshop Information
Drawing upon over 38 years of playing music and 20 years of teaching guitar, Matt Richards conducts both workshops and masterclasses for groups and provides personal musical instruction for individuals at all levels of musical ability. In his workshops, Matt provides insight into the mechanics of playing the guitar and the factors utilized to create music