Matt Jenson’s MIX UP MIX UP (reggae-jazz)

Pianist/keyboardist, singer, composer, arranger Matt Jenson lights up the connection between roots-reggae and soul-jazz with his Mix Up Mix Up band. The group presents original compositions and creative re-workings of pop, jazz and reggae anthems by Bob Marley, Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk, Marvin Gaye, George Gershwin, Chopin and more. For this show we are bringing special guest, steel pan extraordinaire and Cape Cod favorite, Michael Gabriel. The pure joy communicated between band members combined with their love of and deep experience with these styles results in a unique stylistic mash-up that immediately delights audiences of all ages. Imagine the creative interplay between musicians along with soul-jazz improvisation embedded in the intoxicating riddims of Jamaican reggae in an acoustic/electric jazz setting! It is sophisticated and soulful, with both instrumental and vocal repertoire, that gives nourishment to the mind, body and soul. Listen, dance to and feel the positive vibrations of Mix Up Mix Up!

Matt has a masters degree in jazz piano from the New England Conservatory of Music and is on the piano faculty at Berklee College of Music where he also teaches a popular class/ensemble focusing on the Music and Life of Bob Marley. He’s been to Jamaica many times and worked with many musicians there including some who were in Marley’s inner circle. Recently he helped to write, arrange, record and then tour the latest album by the internationally acclaimed reggae-jazz fusion band Groundation (the One Rock album, released May 2022).