Dmitri Matheny Group
Ott & Hunter welcomes back one of the scene’s most tireless and soulful musicians: flugelhornist Dmitri Matheny, who returns with an all‑star ensemble featuring pianist Randy Halberstadt and bassist Phil Sparks for an evening of truly memorable music. Matheny’s program weaves together lush silver‑screen themes and beloved selections from the Great American Songbook, and this year the group has been thrilling audiences with inventive, high‑energy takes on American classics—from the lyrical warmth of Louis Armstrong to the swinging exuberance of Louis Prima and Louis Jordan.
Acclaimed for his warm tone, soaring lyricism and masterful technique, American flugelhornist Dmitri Mathey has been lauded as “one of the most emotionally expressive improvisers of his generation” (International Review of Music). An honors graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Dmitri Matheny vaulted onto the jazz scene in the 1990s as the protégé of jazz legend Art Farmer. Since then he has garnered critical acclaim and a loyal international following, touring extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, traveling to 19 countries. With over 100 recordings to his credit, Dmitri Matheny has released 12 albums as a leader. His 2022 release "Cascadia", is a reflection of the natural beauty of the Northwest- "an all-star jazz band featuring some of the most accomplished musicians in the western United States” (All About Jazz). The San Francisco Chronicle calls Matheny “one of the jazz world’s most talented horn players.”
https://dmitrimatheny.com
Randy Halberstadt has been a major figure on the Pacific Northwest jazz scene for many years. A multi-dimensional pianist, he is equally at home playing be-bop, Latin, down-home blues, mainstream, free and eclectic jazz. He has performed with Herb Ellis, Terry Gibbs, Buddy de Franco, Matt Wilson, Pete Christlieb, Bobby Shew, Joe LaBarbera, and many others. In 1990, Randy performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival with drummer Mel Brown. Randy has performed with the Seattle Symphony and is the pianist for the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. In 2015 Randy was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame.
https://randyhalberstadt.com/biography/
Phil Sparks is among the leading bassists in Seattle, having performed with nearly every top jazz group in the city. He records extensively with many of the Northwest's top names, and received a special mention as a star of the Seattle scene in the Feb. 94 issue of Down Beat. Phil has been a member of groups led by Julian Priester, Ernestine Anderson, Wayne Horowitz, Floyd Standifer, Hadley Caliman, E.W. Wainwright, Jay Clayton, Jim Knapp, and Ricky Kelly. He has accompanied the following artists during Northwest engagements: Gene Harris, Roland Hanna, James Moody, Bobby Shew, Mose Allison, Art Lande, Joe Henderson, Javon Jackson, Teddy Edwards, and the Seattle Symphony. Sparks has recorded with Jerry Granelli, Barry Wedgle, Rich Halley, Francis Vanek, Jay Clayton/Jim Knapp, Juhan Lee, Randy Halberstadt, Rick Mandyck, Jay Thomas, Woody Woodhouse, Clarence Acox, Floyd Standifer, Milo Petersen, Hans Fahling, Steve Griggs, Matt Jorgenson, The Plymouth Trio, Mark Lanegan, Akbar De Preist, and Peter Ross.
https://originarts.com/artists/artist.php?Artist_ID=48
