When Matt Wilson, as a kid, saw Buddy Rich perform in the popular Lucy Show, he realised at once that he wanted to become a drummer. He immediately bought a pair of drumsticks and set out to explore the sound possibilities of all pots, pans an buckets in the kitchen. At school he could be found behind the drums of all groups, and local bands took advantage of his rhythmic prowess as well. Wilson studied at Wichita State University and subsequently moved to Boston where he played a lot of gigs. Eventually he couldn’t resist the lure of New York City. In the Big Apple he soon made a name for himself. Down Beat Magazine voted him ‘# 1 Rising Star Drummer 2003’, quite an honour indeed. Matt Wilson’s drumming has become much in demand. At the festival he can also be heard in Charlie Haden’s New Liberation Music Orchestra.
