Guitar with Matthew C.

I picked up the guitar (at my father's encouragement) back in 2003 and never quite turned back! Originally from Kansas City, MO, I first got regular exposure playing in my high school's jazz band and in various other jazz groups, and was lucky enough to study extensively with local guitarists Rod Fleeman and Danny Embrey. I still make occasional trips back to my hometown to perform and record, and played on a couple of records with the KC-based group The Matt Cook Collective in 2016 and 2017. My next stop was the University of Miami, where I attended the Frost School of Music from 2012-2016 and was fortunate enough to study with John Hart, Brian Russell, and Tim Jago I played with my first Grammy winner (multi-instrumentalist guru Charlie McCoy) and released an EP with Big City Folk Band in 2015. In between school semesters, I performed with country and jazz groups in Kansas City and gave lessons at KC Music, a local music store. In 2017, I relocated to Nashville, began touring with country artist Derryl Perry, and recorded and released my first solo album, Aces. In between tour dates, I've been enjoying the task of expanding both my teaching studio and my guitar resume in this growing city. I have also taken lessons from Gonzalo Bergara, Dan Wilson, Lorne Lofsky, Charlie Hunter, Jim Campilongo, Randy Vincent, Greg Koch, Guthrie Trapp, Brent Mason, and many more! Update: will be at the Smoky Mountain Opry in Pigeon Forge TN in 2018!