Matt
Fronke Matt Fronke’s trumpet playing, writing and singing reflect his diverse musical tastes and experiences. He’s had extensive training in classical and commercial music, with significant professional experience as a section lead and solo trumpeter and vocalist. That experience includes funk, pop, jazz, New Orleans-style, swing, fusion, salsa, reggae, rock and symphonic groups, and has enabled Matt to become a proficient, well-rounded musician and writer. A native of Long Beach, CA, Matt graduated Wilson High School. While in school, he spent time in youth honors groups like the American Youth Symphonic Band, Southeast Youth Symphony, All-Southern Orchestra, Arrowbear Music Camp, and All-District Jazz Band. He was also the principal trumpet of the Long Beach All-District Junior and Senior High School Orchestras for six consecutive years. Matt attended CSU Long Beach, where he was section leader and soloist in the Wind Symphony, Brass Ensemble, and Jazz Ensemble #1. He had a wealth of private teachers throughout his schooling, including Charlie Shoemake (a top jazz artist and improv teacher), Boyd Hood (Los Angeles Philharmonic), Anthony Plog (classical trumpet recording virtuoso), Jeffrey Reynolds (L. A. Philharmonic), and Bobby Shew (jazz recording artist). After several years in college, Matt left to record and tour with MCA recording artists The Untouchables, and began to work on a steady basis. This work included tours with Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Tom Jones, and Boz Scaggs. Much of this work opened doors for TV and movie work. A sampling of these movies includes Mars Attacks!, What’s Love Got to Do With It?, The Rocketeer, In the Line of Fire, Salsa, and Mobsters. His television experience includes work on Seinfeld, Seinfeld On Broadway, Profiler, The Nanny, The Late Show With David Letterman, solo trumpet work for Harpo productions, TBS Network’s Live at the House of Blues, The Rippingtons-Live In LA, various projects with Dick Clark Productions, and many commercial jingles. Matt has had a large volume of CD recording and writing/arranging experience. Since recording three Untouchables albums, he’s played on such CDs as The Rippingtons - Live in LA, A Jerry Hey session for Chantz, Common Sense - Psychedelic Surf Groove, Jeff Kashiwa - Remember Catalina, The Don Miller Orchestra - This Swingin’ Life, Christian rock CDs for Chrystal Lewis and Ken Tamplin, Mark Portman - Driving Beverly Hills, and several recordings with The Bayou Brass Band. In addition, Matt has enjoyed playing live shows, nightclubs, and freelancing in general with artists such as The Temptations, The Four Tops, John Tesh, The O’Jays, Mel Torme, Eddie Money, Dana Carvey, Diahann Carol, Bob Newhart, The Dells, Suzanne Somers, and Lou Rawls. In
recent years, Matt has spent much of his time as a bandleader/frontman/vocalist/arranger
for his Martini Lounge Quintet, the Eddie Reed Swing Orchestra, and Disneyland’s
Tower of Terror Bellhops Quartet. |