I've been spending a lot of time working on a batch of original compositions as well as original arrangements of some of my favorite tunes in the world of music.  Below are excerpts from a few rehearsals that I've managed to get together, just recorded roughly on a Tascam DR-05.  These are largely the first time any of the players have seen these tunes, so there's still plenty of stuff to work out, and arrangements that need to be tweaked, but I am pretty happy with how they've turned out so far.    Enjoy. 

Boomp Boom

Just a simple uptempo arrangement of one of my all time favorite standards.  

If I Were A Bell (by Frank Loesser)

Had one only could be described as some sort of writer's block a few years back.  This is the first tune that I was able to write.  I basically just sat at the piano and forced myself to write something.  This is what came out.  Arrangement still needs a tweak here and there, but I like the energy .

Attack The Block

This is an older original of mine that has existed with a couple of different arrangements and harmonic structures.  It also had a different title at one point to and was briefly performed by the New York modern fusion group Evil Giraffes on Mars.  I've decided to go back and make it considerably simpler and have also updated a few harmonies.  The final arrangement still needs some work. 

Sunday Hamlet Drive

Jane Says (by Jane's Addiction)

One of a batch of original tunes that I've completed within the last year or so. 

1 Prob

This is an arrangement and slight reharmonization of one of my favorite Joni Mitchell tunes.

Both Sides Now (by Joni Mitchell)

Bee's Keys

Like A Lamenting Song

Matt La Von has worked as a professional musician, performing and teaching, in New York City for more than 10 years. As a performer, his main area of expertise is as a jazz saxophonist, although he has also been prolific as a sideman in bands and on recordings that cover a wide range of genres which include Rock, R&B, Funk, Fusion, and Hip-Hop. As a teacher, he specializes in private instruction for beginner to advanced saxophone and clarinet as well as beginner to advanced jazz improvisation.

Currently, Matt has released his newest album, entitled “Found.” After years of appearing on records as a sideman and collaborator, this album marks the recording debut of Matt La Von as a bandleader and features all original compositions written during, and in the immediate years following, a difficult period in his life. “Found” is meant as an expression of thanks to friends, colleagues, family, and the world for allowing him to be here among all you fine people.

You can see and hear Matt La Von every Sunday from 7-10pm at Bā’sik, a great neighborhood bar in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where he has hosted the weekly jazz jam session for the better part of the last 7 years. You might see him there on other nights too—because, let’s be honest, he has quite a weakness for the drink. But on Sundays, you’ll find him there playing a saxophone, or two.