Matt Catingub

Born March 25, 1961 to parents of Polynesian island decent Matt likes to refer to himself as a “Pacific Island Mutt”.  As the youngest son of the late great jazz vocalist Mavis Rivers he 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.  Always closely related with Hawaii and the South Pacific, her influence on Matt, culturally and musically, will always be strong.

It was evident at an early age that music was to be Matt’s life. At age seven he began sitting at the piano teaching himself songs.  This was the start of Matt’s largely self-taught education in music.  Matt listened to all music, from Bach to the Beatles, and today continues to embrace all music.  This open minded approach has made him one of the most versatile musicians today.

Through his school years Matt played a variety of instruments, from piano to drums to clarinet, but at age 16 he began emphasizing the Alto Sax as his main instrument.  (Only because his high school band director needed one in the band!)  Just one year later Matt was playing his alto at the Monterey Jazz Festival, and then was asked to travel to Japan along with Dizzy Gillespie, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Sonny Stitt, Ruth Brown, and Kenny Burrel.

In 1979 Matt was asked to join the Louie Bellson Big Band and at 17 Matt was 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 (Concord Jazz) starting Matt’s continuing reputation as an innovative big band arranger/composer, and alto sax soloist.  This was Matt’s first recording, and at 18 had already established himself as a premiere Jazz musician.  A couple of years later Matt joined the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band as lead alto saxophonist.

After all of this big band experience Matt felt it was time to front his own band.  After securing the services of his famous “Mommy” as vocalist, the Matt Catingub Big Band was formed.  In 1983, at 21 years young, Matt recorded My Mommy And Me (SeaBreeze Jazz).  This record was heralded as one of the best big band records in years!  This started a wave of popularity for Matt and his “use to be semi-retired” mommy, culminating with a Royal Variety Performance for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip in Mavis’ home country of New Zealand.  While in New Zealand Matt and Mavis also did two television specials together.

Matt was soon asked to lead the jazz ensembles program at the Grove School of Music in Los Angeles.  At the same time Matt also became the director of the New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra; holding this post from 1985-90.  Education becoming a bigger part of his life, Matt became a clinician for Yamaha for whom he still regularly does concerts and clinics.

Riding on the success of his first album, Matt then recorded and released Hi-Tech Big Band (SeaBreeze Jazz).  On this recording Matt recreated a big band using the latest technology (at least for 1984!) and himself playing every instrument!  To this day it is recognized as a technological achievement in this field of recorded music.  Other recordings followed including the swinging’ I’m Gettin’ Cement All Over Ewe (SeaBreeze Jazz) featuring Matt, mom (in her final recorded performances), and the band at their tongue-in-cheek best!

In addition to all of his solo success Matt then added musical director to his musical palette.  In 1990 singer Jack Jones (Wives and Lovers, The Love Boat) asked Matt to become his permanent conductor.  Ironically, at about the same time, singer Toni Tennille (The Captain & Tennille, Love Will Keep Us Together) had also asked the same of Matt.  Matt accepted BOTH positions and managed to juggle between working for both singers, while continuing his own career.  Matt has produced and co-produced several recordings including Toni Tennille’s Never Let Me Go and Things Are Swingin’ CD’s, and Captain And Tenille, Twenty Years Of Romance.

Gershwin 100 was Matt’s debut for Concord Jazz in 1998.  This CD features Matt singing, playing sax, piano, and doing all of the arrangements along with his big band and guest artists Rosemary Clooney, Michael Feinsteing, John Pizzarelli, and Louie Bellson, and is in celebration of George Gerswhin’s 100th birthday.  In July of 1995 Matt made his solo singing debut at the Frank Sinatra Celebration at New York City’s legendary Carnegie Hall and this CD was as a result of his performance there.

Matt began his full time duties as conductor for the Honolulu Symphony Pops in 1998.  Matt conducts, performs and does 90% of the arrangements and orchestrations played by the orchestra.  Unique to the Honolulu Pops is Matt’s ability to completely arrange and orchestrate all of the music for artists that don’t have an existing orchestra “book”.  This allows him to bring in world class artists, singers and musicians to take advantage of this one-of-a-kind situation.  Matt and the orchestra performed at the extravagant premiere of Disney’s blockbuster movie Pearl Harbor. The event was held aboard the world’s largest floating vessel: the U.S.S. JOHN STENNIS aircraft carrier.  Joining the orchestra to perform on stage were Faith Hill and Lee Greenwood.  This worldwide event marked yet another step in the evolution for Matt and the Honolulu Symphony Pops.

In 1999 Matt introduced his exciting new band Big Kahuna And The Copa Cat Pack fronting the 12 piece band singing and playing combining elements of Big Band and Hawaiian “Hapa-Haole” music into a truly unique package.  Hawaiian Swing was the band’s first Concord Jazz CD and their second CD, Shake Those Hula Hips, took the band to its next level by continuing its take on “Hawaiian Swing”.  Sentimental Journey, a third CD with the Rosemary Clooney, was released in 2001 and received a Grammy nomination in 2002.

In 2005 Matt appeared in, and scored the soundtrack to, the Oscar-nominated George Clooney films GOODNIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.  The film was released in early October and features Matt’s arrangements and saxes, as well as on-screen appearances.  The CD of the movie’s soundtrack won a Grammy in 2005!

Now the formation of the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii incorporating Hawaii’s best musicians with contemporary music’s biggest names through recordings, and through the annual Hawaii Romance Festival, has brought on yet another dimension to Matt’s career.  Return to Romance the CD was released in October of 2006 and the follow-up CD Back To Romance follows in 2007.