Matthew Brown is the Crescendo featured performer. His early interest in music was fueled by Earth, Wind & Fire and James Brown. What most fascinated him were the horn sections. He first learned about jazz from his father, a decade ago. Matthew was a senior at the Chicago High School for the Arts when he played in a concert with the man he described as “the one and only Bobby Watson.” Attending the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance enabled Matthew to study under Bobby’s tutelage. Matthew said he is having “an experience of a lifetime.” He is now a junior in the UMKC Jazz Studies program. 

Matthew is one of the many Conservatory students who, along with faculty members, will perform at Crescendo on November 2nd at the Kauffman Center of the Performing Arts. The event raises funds for scholarships, while showcasing some of the great talents whose skills are being honed on the UMKC campus. Suzanne Shank and Marty Smoler are the honorary chairmen for Crescendo, and the chairmen are Yvette and Joseph Miceli. In addition to a sublime concert, the event will feature cocktails and dinner, as well as dessert and dancing.   

Matthew has embraced Our Town, finding much to like in its past, present and future. “Kansas City, beyond its historical importance to jazz music, has shown [itself] to be a hub and a breeding ground for the stretching and experimenting with jazz music for its growth and development,” he said. “At the heart of jazz, as well as the entire sphere of music, is change, and artists in Kansas City are definitely pushing it in the right direction.”    

For some, the waning days of college are a time of uncertainty, but Matthew already has his next steps in mind. “After finishing my last year here at UMKC, I plan on returning home to Chicago, teaching private lessons and pursuing experience in other facets of music.” These include recording and engineering, in addition to production. As for composition, he wants to experiment with “different styles, genres and ensemble types.” Matthew said, “My goal is to begin to diversify my musical abilities beyond performance.”  

The UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance’s Crescendo
will be held on November 2nd at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Also featured in the September 29, 2018 issue of The Independent
Photo Credit: Brandon Parigo
By Heather N. Paxton