All About Jazz Reviews “Forbidden Drive,” and PRISM Quartet With Joe Lovano At The Painted Bride

“For this reviewer, the highlight of the evening, however, was tenor saxophonist Matthew Levy‘s “Forbidden Drive.” Here was a composition perfectly suited and orchestrated for the PRISM group. Levy explained that the “Forbidden Drive” is a trail near Philadelphia’s Wissahickon Creek, in a secluded area of woods, where many locals relax on their days off. The […]

Joe Lovano and PRISM Quartet Premiere “Forbidden Drive” June 3 and 4 in Philly and NYC

A special invitation to all of my New York City and Philadelphia friends to attend the world premiere of my just-completed composition, “Forbidden Drive,” featuring the incomparable Joe Lovano as tenor soloist with the PRISM Quartet. The program also features the premiere of Joe’s epic new work, “Super Sonix.” Plus the premiere of “Refraction” by […]

Pew Fellows Friday: Q & A with Saxophonist and Composer Matthew Levy

Back in January, I did an interview with The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage after being honored with a 2016 Pew Fellowship in the Arts. We covered a lot of territory. Click here to read the original, and it’s posted below. —– Our “Fellows Friday” series focuses on the artistic lives of our Pew Fellows: their […]

COLOR THEORY Drops April 14th

I’m super excited to share the PRISM Quartet’s new Color Theory album with the world. It’s the culmination of more than 3 years of hard work, from project concept to fundraising, concert production, studio sessions and post-production. It began with the simple idea of commissioning three of my favorite composers (Steve Mackey, Ken Ueno, and […]

Paradigm Lost CD Release Concerts in NYC and Philly

The PRISM Quartet will be presenting a concert to celebrate the release of Paradigm Lost (XAS Records) on April 1st 7:30 PM at The National Opera Center in NYC, and April 2nd 3:00 PM at Settlement Music School (Queen St) in Philly. The program features music by Chen Yi, Lee Hyla, David Rakowski, Bernard Rands, Augusta Read […]

Orchestra Engagements

I’m enjoying playing with some wonderful orchestras this season. In November, the PRISM Quartet joined the Taurida Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mikhail Golikov, at the The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, where each quartet member played a solo concerto (mine was Villa Lobos’ Fantasia on tenor), followed by the entire group in William […]

Germantown Poetry Project with Network for New Music

I’m happy to join Network for New Music this season for the Germantown Poetry Project. Participate in FREE workshops at the Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library starting October 4th with poets Trapeta Mayson and Frank Sherlock to create text for new works by  composers Eric Moe and Jay Fluellen that will be performed by soprano Maren Montalbano […]

2016 Pew Fellowship

I’m deeply honored to be the recipient of a 2016 Pew Fellowship from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. This recognition for my work as a composer, performing artist, curator, and producer is especially meaningful, as The Pew Center has supported some of the PRISM Quartet’s most ambitious projects, including Heritage/Evolution, Color Theory, and Breath […]

June 4, 7, 11, 12 in NYC and PHL: World Premiere of COLOR THEORY with PRISM / Sō Percussion / Partch

This project has been nearly three years in the making.  Hope to see all of my NYC and Philly friends at the concerts! —Matt World Premiere COLOR THEORY: Saxophones & Percussion PRISM, SŌ PERCUSSION and PARTCH (East Coast Debut) Premiere new works written for them by STEVEN MACKEY, KEN UENO and STRATIS MINAKAKIS For centuries, visual artists have used color theory to […]

April 17 and 18 Concerts with NNM Celebrating Milton Babbitt

I look forward to joining the wonderful Network for New Music ensemble in two concerts titled “All the Things He Was: Celebration of the Life and Ideas of Milton Babbitt.” We’ll be performing Babbitt’s All Set, as well as Laura Karpman’s Now All Set. (Karpman was a student of Babbitt.) The full program: Milton BABBITT: Philomel Ah Young […]