Matt Jordan is on a mission. Following in the fingerprints of the New Orleans piano professors, he has been called upon to create a sound of his own. Based in Fairmont, West Virginia and traveling all over creation, he is doing what he does best: riding the blues train and driving his hot rod piano like he stole it.
220 shows and two years on the road with Reverend Horton Heat honed him as a performer and took him to Canada, Europe, and all 48 States. He toured internationally with Lee Rocker as his pianist, rhythm guitarist and backup singer. On his own, ‘Matt’s Blues’ is a blue-collar barrelhouse of contrasts: both manic and sorrowful, held together with comic old blues and vaudeville banter. Man and piano, he sings his own hard-living songs and interprets archaic tunes from the obscure past in some kind of love triangle between rockabilly, boogie-woogie, and New Orleans jazz.
A former military cadet and engineering student turned workin' man, Matt drew upon the inevitably colorful stories that accompany the truck driving trade to write, record and produce his first album, Two-Thirty Blues. While moonlighting as a piano mover, Matt refurbished and painted his 1964 red upright “Strawberry-Pie’Anna,” which travels with him everywhere he goes.
Matt's early musical memories were formed on long car rides, listening to golden oldies on the radio with his parents. His dad played guitar and loved The Beatles and his mom played violin and harmonized to old cowboy tunes. The flamboyance of James Booker and Billy Preston and the refined sensibility of Dr. John and Richard Tee stoked Matt’s college obsession for gospel and New Orleans jazz. Meeting many of his heroes further fueled his drive to become an accomplished pianist.
Self-taught at first, Matt developed his chops playing organ for the Dennis McClung Blues Band. The strong talent and work ethic of local blues musicians Soup Camel and Freddye Stover helped shape his musicianship. Matt has studied since 2015 under Tom Roberts, former musical director for the late Leon Redbone.
Matt has recorded with Reverend Horton Heat, Stray Cat Lee Rocker, Los Kung Fu Monkeys, Lucky 757, Andrea & Mud, Soup Camel, Scuzz Twittly, The Brains, Pope Paul & The Illegals, Rev VJ Thesis, Ambur Rockell West, and The Jam Messengers.
Matt is endorsed by VIBE9 In-Ear Monitors.