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Matthew Currier Langley

Saxophonist, Educator, Composer, aspiring Sushi Chef, inventor of the Zool!

About Me

Matt Langley had a great band director at Rundlett Junior High School in Concord, NH that opened the doors to the paradoxical joy of improvisation at an early age. Thus began a largely self-guided musical journey that has also included a brief period of lessons with saxophonist Stan Strickland, an Aebersold Jazz Camp encounter with “Blue Lou” Marini and David Baker and a visit to UNH's Summer Youth Music School. Since beginning his professional career directly out of high school, Matt's love of music has taken him from blues bars in Waterville, Maine to the famous Green Mill in Chicago, Illinois. From the Boston Globe Jazz Festival to Sunday Services at the Second Congregational Church in Kittery, Maine. Matt has recorded extensively with the Charlie Kolhlhase Quintet, with his own group, “Color” with pianist Pandelis Karayorgis' “System of 5”, with Pianist Ted Brancato whose CD ”The Next Step” features Matt extensively on Soprano and Tenor Saxophone. Ted and Matt toured the Pacific Northwest in the Fall of 2013 performing music from the CD in concert halls, colleges and night clubs with some of the finest jazz musicians from the Seattle area. Recent recordings include Mother Superior and the Sliding Royales (2015) self titled soul CD and, in August of 2016, Mike Effenberger’s “Weird Turn Pro” for fall 2016 release. Matt has collaborated with visual jazz artist Roger Goldenberg on the audio visual feast, in Ears 'n Eyes since 2011, producing multiple live shows often involving large ensembles and compositions created specifically for each event. Currently Matt performs with numerous groups in the New England area as well as teaching saxophone, improvisation and coaching ensembles at Concord NH Community Music School, the Portsmouth NH Music and Arts Center, the Shaker Road School in Concord, NH and at his home studio in Eliot, Maine. Matt has shared the stage or recording studio with Ron Carter, Richie Cole, Fred Hersch, John Tchicai, John Medeski, Billy Martin, Chris Wood, Dave Fuzinski, Matt Wilson, Charlie Kohlhase, Tiger Okoshi, Roswell Rudd, Gene MacDaniels and many others.

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because it offers freedom of expression while demanding the highest levels of communication, musicianship and spontaneity. It spans the musical spectrum from pure sound exploration to sophisticated harmonic invention and rhythmically it can be anywhere from free and sparse to totally dense and driving. What's not to like!?