This video [below] was a senior music project of sorts that I did in 2014. I had written a composition for the Jazz Combo that I was excited about, and Matt encouraged us to perform it at one of the Jazz Ensemble shows on campus, and then again during several shows on our trip to Havana, where we got to collaborate with a local rhythm section on a special arrangement of the piece. Later that Spring, I told Matt I was thinking about making a live performance video of the piece, and he set straight to work, booking out Grant Recital Hall for a Saturday morning recording session. The morning of the recording, I think he must have shown up around 7 am to set up all his personal equipment and engineer the session (remember, it was a Saturday). We recorded and filmed all morning, wrapped around noon, and he stayed another hour or so to pack up. This wasn’t an official Brown Music Department project, it was just something that I told him I wanted to do; Matt stepped up without hesitation or question, and took it upon himself to help us put it all together. That kind of unfailingly selfless dedication has (I’m pretty sure) always been the norm for Matt, and it’s a testament to his work ethic, his love for the music, and his love for students. His encouragement of my work that whole year, in addition to his general passion and support for the Jazz Ensemble, meant a lot to me. It still does.

– Sumner Becker, class of 2014