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Matt Catingub

Pops Conductor

Multi-talented musician and conductor Matt Catingub wears many hats: saxophonist, woodwind artist, pianist, vocalist, performer, composer, and arranger. Born March 25, 1961 to parents of Polynesian island descent Matt likes to refer to himself as a "Pacific Island Mutt." As the youngest son of the late great jazz vocalist Mavis Rivers he was introduced to music through his mother's albums for Capitol Records and Frank Sinatra's Reprise label. Mavis, born in Samoa, and affectionately known as "Polynesia's First Lady of Song" performed regularly with her son at her side, until the day of her passing in 1992. Always closely connected with Hawaii and the South Pacific, her influence on Matt, culturally and musically, will always be strong.

It was evident at an early age that music was to be Matt's life. At age seven he began sitting at the piano teaching himself songs. Through his school years Matt played a variety of instruments, from piano to drums to clarinet, but at age 16 he began emphasizing the alto saxophone as his main instrument. Just one year later Matt was playing his alto at the Monterey Jazz Festival, and then was asked to travel to Japan along with Dizzy Gillespie, Thad Jones, Ruth Brown, and Kenny Burrel.

In 1979, Matt was asked to join the Louie Bellson Big Band. Just a few months into his stint with the Bellson band Matt's composition "Explosion!" was recorded on Louie's album Dynamite and kick-started Matt's enduring reputation as an innovative big band arranger/composer and alto sax soloist. After securing the services of his famous "Mommy" as vocalist, the Matt Catingub Big Band was formed and in 1983, Matt recorded My Mommy And Me.

Matt was soon asked to lead the jazz ensembles program at the Grove School of Music in Los Angeles. At the same time, Matt also became the director of the New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra, holding this post from 1985 to 1990. As education grew to be a bigger part of his life, Matt became a clinician for Yamaha for whom he still regularly holds concerts and clinics.

Matt then recorded Hi-Tech Big Band. Other recordings followed, including the swingin' I'm Getting' Cement All Over Ewe featuring Matt, mom (in her final recorded performances), and the band. And in 1990, Matt became the musical director for both singer Jack Jones (Wives and Lovers, The Love Boat) and singer Toni Tennille (of The Captain & Tennille).

Gershwin 100 was Matt's debut for Concord Jazz in 1998 and featured Matt along with his big band and guest artists Rosemary Clooney, Michael Feinstein, John Pizzarelli, and Louie Bellson. That same year, Matt began his full-time duties as conductor of the Honolulu Symphony Pops.

In 1999, Matt introduced his new band Big Kahuna and The Copa Cat Pack, which combines elements of Big Band and Hawaiian "Hapa-Haole" music. The band's CDs include Hawaiian Swing, Shake Those Hula Hips, and Sentimental Journey, which received a Grammy nomination.

Matt's music has been heard in the Oscar winning film A Beautiful Mind and he's currently writing and recording the music for George Clooney's new film Goodnight and Good Luck, to be released this fall. In November 2001, the late Rosemary Clooney performed the last concert of her incredible career with the Honolulu Symphony Pops. The concert was released in 2002 as a fitting tribute to Rose and also to mark the very first CD release by the Honolulu Symphony Pops. It too was nominated for a Grammy.

Now in his seventh year as Conductor of the Honolulu Symphony Pops, Catingub will lead the orchestra into one of the most exciting years yet. In the 2005-2006 season, the Honolulu Symphony Pops will welcome superstars such as Bill Medley, Elvis Costello, and local favorites The Brothers Cazimero and Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom.