By Peter Leggett, Walker West Music Academy Walker West Music Academy recently had the opportunity to host Matt Steckler and his group Dead Cat Bounce. Mr. Steckler is a saxophonist and composer who has been working professional as an improvisor for more than ten years.  As a side person, he has appeared with Anthony Braxton, Steve Lacy, Joe Lovano, Randy Brecker, Lee Konitz, Bob Moses, George Lewis, Roswell Rudd, Jon Hendricks and many more. Currently residing in New York, Steckler leads many groups and projects that include some of New York’s finest improvising musicians such as Lonnie Plaxico, Michael Cain, Curtis Fowlkes, Dan Weiss, Chris Lightcap and Gerald Cleaver.

Mr. Steckler and his group were on tour supporting their new record entitled Chance Episodes, out now on Cuneiform Records. They performed original compositions from the album as well as answering questions and discussing the group’s approach to improvising.  The group’s line up is particularly interesting in that in addition to a rhythm section of bass and drums, the other instrumentalists are four saxophonists.  Steckler attributes this approach to the idea that the four horns are thought of more as a choir and that the four part harmonies and interweaving of melodic lines in his compositions are similar to the way that a vocal choir composer would think about arranging.

Matt also sat down for an interview following the clinic and discussed his thoughts on working as an improvising musician.  Matt shared his own experience of coming to improvised music and suggested that many musicians of his generation similarly came jazz not through the traditional means of mentoring but through hearing famous jazz albums. This he believes has significantly shaped young musicians and in some cases has removed the opportunity for development through mentoring which is fundamental to the tradition.  With this in mind, Matt suggested students look both their peers to develop groups to grow together with as well as looking to established musicians to develop a mentoring relationship with. This he believes is an excellent way to develop and grow as a young improvisor today.

More information about Matt Steckler and Dead Cat Bounce can be found on his website at www.mattsteckler.com