Guitar Virtuoso Munisteri to Perform Sept. 7
"In Recital: Guitarist Matt Munisteri," presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton, is set for Friday, Sept. 7, at 7:30 p.m., at the Houlihan-McLean Center. The performance is free of charge and open to the public.On Friday, Sept. 7, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a recital by acclaimed jazz guitarist Matt Munisteri.
The recital will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the University’s Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton. Admission is free, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.
At 4:30 that afternoon, Munisteri will offer a guitar masterclass. The class is open to local amateur and professional guitar players, ages 16 and up, free of charge. Those interested in attending the masterclass should email music@scranton.edu for more information.
Performance Music Conductor and Director Cheryl Y. Boga first met Munisteri when he performed with Jon-Erik Kellso and the Earregulars at a previous Performance Music concert.
“Matt came here as a colleague of Kellso, and we really enjoyed hearing him and talking to him, so we decided to bring him back,” said Boga, noting Munisteri will be accompanied by a bassist at the recital. “His takes on standards are great, and he brings fresh ears to everything he does. He’s virtuosic.”
In addition to being an exceptional guitarist, Munisteri is a talented singer, songwriter, arranger and banjo player, as well as an in-demand session musician and sideman.
After ending his stint as the guitarist and principal songwriter for the Flying Neutrinos in the late 1990s, Munisteri self-released his 2003 debut album, “Love Story,” which made several “Best Of” lists, including placing second on Amazon’s Top Ten Jazz CDs of the year.
A gifted lyricist, Munisteri’s literate songs have drawn comparisons to the work of Randy Newman, Mose Allison and Bob Dorough. He has been profiled in Downbeat magazine and has been the subject of several NPR broadcasts. He also was the recipient of Acoustic Guitar magazine’s Editor’s Choice award.
As a sideman, Munisteri has performed with Mark O’Connor’s Hot Swing and Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra. He has served as the music director for singer Catherine Russell, and produced friend Julian Lage’s acclaimed solo guitar debut, “Worlds Fair.”
Munisteri also has collaborated with Holly Cole, Madeline Peyroux, Liz Wright, “Little” Jimmy Scott, Geoff Muldaur, Sasha Dobson and Kat Edmondson. Outside the jazz world, he performed on and contributed arrangements to Loudon Wainwright‘s 2010 Grammy-winning CD, “High Wide and Handsome – The Charlie Poole Project.”
All told, Munisteri is credited on more than 70 CDs, among them recent releases by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and guitarist Howard Alden. And, he has played in concert with Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Kenny Davern, Andy Stein, Matt Glaser, Tim Kliphuis, Aaron Weinstein, Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks, Frank Vignola, Evan Christopher, Duke Heitger, Bob Wilbur, Bucky Pizzarelli and Dick Hyman.
For further information on the recital, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more on Munisteri, visit mattmunisteri.com.
The recital will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the University’s Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton. Admission is free, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.
At 4:30 that afternoon, Munisteri will offer a guitar masterclass. The class is open to local amateur and professional guitar players, ages 16 and up, free of charge. Those interested in attending the masterclass should email music@scranton.edu for more information.
Performance Music Conductor and Director Cheryl Y. Boga first met Munisteri when he performed with Jon-Erik Kellso and the Earregulars at a previous Performance Music concert.
“Matt came here as a colleague of Kellso, and we really enjoyed hearing him and talking to him, so we decided to bring him back,” said Boga, noting Munisteri will be accompanied by a bassist at the recital. “His takes on standards are great, and he brings fresh ears to everything he does. He’s virtuosic.”
In addition to being an exceptional guitarist, Munisteri is a talented singer, songwriter, arranger and banjo player, as well as an in-demand session musician and sideman.
After ending his stint as the guitarist and principal songwriter for the Flying Neutrinos in the late 1990s, Munisteri self-released his 2003 debut album, “Love Story,” which made several “Best Of” lists, including placing second on Amazon’s Top Ten Jazz CDs of the year.
A gifted lyricist, Munisteri’s literate songs have drawn comparisons to the work of Randy Newman, Mose Allison and Bob Dorough. He has been profiled in Downbeat magazine and has been the subject of several NPR broadcasts. He also was the recipient of Acoustic Guitar magazine’s Editor’s Choice award.
As a sideman, Munisteri has performed with Mark O’Connor’s Hot Swing and Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra. He has served as the music director for singer Catherine Russell, and produced friend Julian Lage’s acclaimed solo guitar debut, “Worlds Fair.”
Munisteri also has collaborated with Holly Cole, Madeline Peyroux, Liz Wright, “Little” Jimmy Scott, Geoff Muldaur, Sasha Dobson and Kat Edmondson. Outside the jazz world, he performed on and contributed arrangements to Loudon Wainwright‘s 2010 Grammy-winning CD, “High Wide and Handsome – The Charlie Poole Project.”
All told, Munisteri is credited on more than 70 CDs, among them recent releases by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and guitarist Howard Alden. And, he has played in concert with Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Kenny Davern, Andy Stein, Matt Glaser, Tim Kliphuis, Aaron Weinstein, Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks, Frank Vignola, Evan Christopher, Duke Heitger, Bob Wilbur, Bucky Pizzarelli and Dick Hyman.
For further information on the recital, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more on Munisteri, visit mattmunisteri.com.
