Matt Catingub Multi‐talented musician Matt Catingub wears many hats: saxophonist, woodwind artist, conductor, pianist, vocalist, performer, composer, and arranger. Recently appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of the newly formed Glendale Pops Orchestra, Matt is also the Pops Conductor of the newly reformed Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Pops Conductor Of The New Hampshire Music Festival. Matt previously held positions as Pops Conductor of the Honolulu Symphony and Principal Pops Conductor of the New Mexico Symphony, where he consistently garnered praise for his innovative programming. Matt is generating excitement throughout the entertainment industry for his impressive catalog of unique abilities. The Glendale Pops Orchestra, whose first season began in 2011‐2012 is anticipating great things. Playing at the Alex Theater in Glendale, California Matt will be bringing an array of stars into the theater to launch this very exciting project in a very big way. Matt has arranged and conducted for a galaxy of performers, including Diana Krall, James Ingram, Kenny Loggins, Boz Scaggs, The Righteous Brothers, Rosemary Clooney, Toni Tennille, and Toto , just to name a few. Along with working with the Honolulu Symphony and the New Mexico Symphony, Matt has guest conducted for some of the most significant Symphony Orchestras in the county, including the Nashville Symphony, the Florida Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, the Cincinnati Pops, as well as symphonies in Columbus, Hartford, Omaha and throughout Canada, and Japan. Throughout the years, Matt has built a reputation as a well‐rounded musician. He wrote music for the George Clooney film, Good Night and Good Luck, which was released on the Concord Records label in September 2005. Not only did Matt make an on‐screen appearance as the leader of the band, he created all of the arrangements and played tenor sax on the CD. The Soundtrack for Good Night and Good Luck won a Grammy in 2006. That same year, Matt founded the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii, a 40‐piece ensemble entirely composed of local Hawaiian musicians. The Orchestra made its Hawaii debut at the inaugural Return to Romance Festival in March 2007, which brought together national entertainers like Natalie Cole, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, and more. The programs also showcased the incredible talents of Island musicians, singers, and performers from Hawaii. The tradition continued in 2008 with the Hawaii Romance Festival, featuring Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Aaron Neville, and other. Matt also enjoyed success as the leader of his own big band – Big Kahuna and the Copa Cat Pack, whose power packed sound incorporated Hawaiian flavor and some fantastic Catingub arrangements. Big Kahuna released 2 back‐to‐back albums on the Concord Jazz label that enjoyed critical success; Hawaiian Swing and Shake Those Hula Hips. In 2001 Jazz Review wrote . . . .”a delightful hoot, lots of fun, and contemporary big band/swing at its finest,” concluding that the Shake Those Hula Hips CD is a “must‐have for lovers of big band/swing music.” In July of 1995, Matt had made his solo singing debut at the Frank Sinatra Celebration at New York City's legendary Carnegie Hall and as a result of his performance there, the Concord Jazz CD Gershwin 100 was conceived. This 1998 CD features Catingub arrangements and Matt singing, playing piano and sax. This exciting CD brought him together with guest artists Rosemary Clooney, Michael Feinstein, John Pizzarelli, and Louie Bellson, in celebration of George Gershwin's 100th birthday. You can also add musical director to Matt musical palette. In 1990 singer Jack Jones asked Matt to become his conductor. Ironically, at about the same time, singer Toni Tennille had also asked the same of Matt. Matt accepted BOTH positions and managed to juggle between working for both singers, while continuing his own solo career. Matt produced and co‐produced several recordings for Toni Tennille including Never Let Me Go and Things Are Swingin' as well as The Captain and Tennille album Twenty Years Of Romance. Music in the Blood: Born to parents of Polynesian island descent, he is the son of the great jazz vocalist, Mavis Rivers. Matt was introduced to music through his mother's albums for Capitol Records and Frank Sinatra's Reprise label. Mavis, born in Samoa, and affectionately known as "Polynesia's First Lady of Song," performed regularly with her son at her side until the day of her passing in 1992. As a young man, Matt played a variety of instruments, from piano to drums to clarinet, but at the age of 16 his high school band director needed an alto sax in the group and this transition began a lifetime love affair. Just one year later Matt was playing his alto at the Monterey Jazz Festival. And from there was asked to tour Japan playing with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Sonny Stitt, Ruth Brown, and Kenny Burrel. Jazz was after all an integral part of his musical makeup. That same year, 1979, Matt joined the Louie Bellson Big Band. Matt was by far the youngest member of the band. Just a few months into his stint with the Bellson band, Matt’s composition Explosion! was recorded on Louie’s album Dynamite for Concord Jazz, thus launching Matt’s reputation as an innovative big band arranger/composer and alto sax soloist. Matt’s first recording had also cemented his reputation as a premiere jazz musician. A couple of years later Matt joined the Toshiko Akiyoshi / Lew Tabackin Big Band as lead alto saxophonist. With all the big band experience under his belt Matt felt it was time to front his own band, and the Matt Catingub Big Band was formed; with Matt’s jazz great “Mommy” as vocalist. Beginning in 1983 Matt recorded several critically acclaimed jazz albums for the SeaBreeze jazz label. My Mommy and Me was heralded as “one of the best big band records in years!” For High Tech Big Band Matt recreated big band sound using the latest in technology – and played every instrument himself. To this day this album is recognized as a technological achievement in the field of recorded music. I’m Getting’ Cement All Over Ewe featured Matt and his mom (in her final recorded performances) and the band at their tongue‐in‐cheek best. During these exciting times Matt was asked to lead the jazz ensembles program at the Grove School of Music in Los Angeles. He also accepted the position of director of the New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra, holding this post from 1985‐1990. Education becoming a big part of his musical repertoire, Matt became a clinician for Yamaha, for whom he still regularly performs in concert and conducts clinics. It’s hard to tell where the multi‐talents of Matt Catingub will take him next. But we look forward to hearing all about it, and eagerly anticipate the music that will accompany his next move. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.