MATT ULERY'S 'LOOM' - “MUSIC BOX BALLERINA - 2008 release

Matt Ulery's 'Loom' has been captivating audiences for over 3 years. The first cd release, Music Box Ballerina, has been a long time coming and highly anticipated. Loom, which consists of Thad Franklin on trumpet, Tim Haldeman on tenor saxophone, Jon Deitemyer on drums, Rob Clearfield on accordian and piano, Zach Brock on violin, and Matt Ulery on double bass and compositions, come together on Music Box Ballerina with eight original compositions of Ulery's which have been a part of the group's live repitoire for the last year. In addition, the mesmerizing, innovative, Polish jazz singer, Grazyna Auguscik, appears on one track of the album. Ulery has been performing with Auguscik for 3 years all over the U.S. and Europe as well as appearing on her two latest albums.

The music, while coming from the American and European jazz tradition, including highly syncopated rhythms, modern jazz harmony, and improvisation, is also influenced by folk music from the Americas and Eastern Europe as well as modern alternative and indie rock bands from all over the world. Ulery's music has also been described, at times, as cinematic and fanciful. ‘Loom’ is based out of Chicago, IL.

Matthew Scott Ulery is a Chicago-born bassist and composer performing since the age of 14 years. Since his first performance, Ulery has played many styles of music. These include the entire spectrum of jazz, classical, rock, pop, gospel, theatre, and folk-- specifically American, South American, Balkan, and other European folk styles. He has performed not only on upright and electric bass, but has doubled on tuba and keyboards.

Ulery earn his bachelors degree in music composition at The Chicago College of Performing at Roosevelt University and has performed with such artists as Tim Hagens, Fareed Haque, Maria Schneider, Howard Levy, Wynton Marsalis, Curtis Fuller, Carl Allen, Patricia Barber, Ron Perrillo, Jeff Parker, Rob Scheps, Zach Brock, and many others. When not touring parts of the U.S. and Europe with his groups, Matt appears regularly in the Chicago area music venues. Ulery is the leader of his own group, Loom, and a member, among others, of Eastern Blok, Grazyna Auguscik Group, and Zach Brock’s “Arrival/Departure,” and is currently working on his next recording project, “Themes and Scenes” for chamber orchestra.

 CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

“Points with conviction to a new generation of Chicago jazz innovators.

A polished and impressive debut.”

-Neil Tesser, Chicago Reader

"Ulery is one of jazz’s modern-day visionaries

-Beep Magazine

"...like a seedling unfurling from the soil. ...each player—and each style and tradition the band draws on—is like a thread in a sumptuous fabric"

-Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader

"It has the melancholy beauty of something ravishing but out-of-season. And it is quite moving.
This CD is an unexpected surprise and quite absorbing listening.
Ulery plays a distinctive bass and writes with originality. The ensem-
ble has a unique sound and covers plenty of ground. "

-Cadence Magazine

“True aficionados in love with the art of music creation and exploration search entire lifetimes for the joy of experiencing the ultimate in musicianship, inventiveness and a worldly sampling of personal expression deep from within: In other words -- the true essence of the musician's being transmitted through his music, whether written, sung or doled out from the heart on a single instrument or an auditorium-sized ensemble. You will find that sound, that perfectionism and the depth that brings true original music to life, on this CD. This in not just another recorded
effort in search of marketability. More pointedly, it is a study in the life, the breath and the wholeness of worldwide musical genius in unison. You've never experienced anything like it.”

-jazz critic, Matt P. Spinello