This page contains information on EVI, MDT, and EWI4000s wind
controller player Matt Traum, his instruments and gig rigs, and
audio clips of his playing.
For booking arrangements or consulting projects, contact Matt at matt@patchmanmusic.com.
Click logo to visit Matt's MySpace site:
Who
Is Matt Traum?
As some of you may know, Matt is the owner and sound designer
at Patchman Music. He is also an avid brass-style wind controller
collector, player, and authority on wind controllers especially
the EVI and MDT brass-type wind controllers. Matt began playing
the trumpet in 1973 inspired by trumpet
legends Herb Alpert and Al Hirt. These days, the acoustic trumpet
is mostly in the closet and he now dedicates his time to playing electronic versions of the trumpet.
"Matt takes no prisoners on the EVI.
He is comfortable in many settings using the AKAI EVI and the
Steinerphone. His sounds and playing using the TURBO VL70-m are
simply spectacular!" Michael
Brecker, world renown saxophonist and EWI virtuoso
What's
an EVI and MDT?
The
EVI, or Electronic Valve Instrument, is the invention of the
great innovative electronic musical instrument designer and pioneer Nyle
Steiner. The EVI can be thought of as an "electronic
trumpet" though the sound you hear can be anything- a trumpet,
a sax, a guitar, a string orchestra, or even a barking dog! The
immense sonic potential of this instrument is literally unlimited.
Click the icon below for complete details on the amazing MIDI
EVI.
Matt plays and helped design the MDT (Morrison Digital Trumpet)
invented by Australian inventor / trumpeter / keyboardist Steve
Marshall. Click the icon below for complete details on the
MDT.
Matt has worked with Akai corporation in developing all of their recent ground breaking
new electronic wind controllers (EWIs), Roland corporation in the development of their Aerophone line of wind controllers, the French company Aodyo in the development of their Sylphyo wind controller, and others. Matt has been on the design team as a consultant in the development of the Akai EWI SOLO, EWI5000, EWI4000s, and EWI USB, the Roland AE-30, AE-20, AE-10, AE-10G, AE-05, and AE-01 wind controllers, the Nyle Steiner MIDI EVI, Morrison Digital Instruments MDT, the Aodyo Sylphyo wind controller, the Berglund NuEVI and NuRAD, the JamBoxx, Robkoo R1, and other commercial and non-commercial products. In addition to
helping in the development of these instruments, Matt adapted Nyle
Steiner's EVI fingering system for many of them and consulted with
these companies on how this was to be applied to those instruments while keeping true to Nyle Steiner's brilliant pioneering vision. The
resulting "EVI
Fingering Mode" for the Akai EWI SOLO, EWI5000, EWI4000s, EWI USB, Roland AE-30, AE-20, AE-10/AE-10G, AE-05, and AE-01, Berglund NuRAD, Robkoo R1, and Sylphyo wind
controllers allows brass and EVI players to play these woodwind
style instruments. So for the first time in history the same
physical instrument can be played by both brass and woodwind players.
Click the icon below for complete details on the Roland Aerophones...
Click the icon below for complete details on the Akai EWI SOLO, EWI5000, EWI4000s,
and EWI USB...
Matt is currently working on some very exciting new developments in the expressive electronic musical instrument field and he continues to be available for consulting work in this area.
To learn more about Matt's Wind Controller Gig Rig,
click
here.
Matt started playing trumpet in
1973 and the EVI in 1989. He also plays bass guitar, guitar,
keyboards, trombone, and sings.
Matt established Patchman Music,
a world renowned sound design company that also specializes in
supporting wind controllers. His clients comprise the very best
in the music business.
His sound design work at Patchman Music
can be heard throughout the world on TV, radio, on stage, and
in studio recordings with the world's top wind controller stars
and keyboardists including
Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Bob Mintzer (Yellowjackets), Tom Scott, Jeff Kashiwa (Rippingtons), Bobby Read (Bruce Hornsby), Everette Harp, Mike Phillips (Stevie Wonder), Nyle Steiner, Ricky Martin, Kirk Whalum, Courtney Pine, Fred Jackson (American Idol Band), Dave Mathews
Band, Dino Soldo (Lionel Richie, Beyonce, Elton John, LeAnn Rimes,
Tower of Power, Ray Charles), Edwin McCain, Freddie Ravel (Earth,
Wind, & Fire), Andy Hamilton (George Michael, Duran Duran,
Paul McCartney, Dexy's Midnight Runners), Michal Urbaniak (Miles
Davis), Michael Bolton, Oscar Peterson, Norbert Stachel (Tower
of Power), Jon Anderson (Yes), Manheim Steamroller, Jaared (Peter
White), Ed Calle (Arturo Sandoval), Tim Cappello (Ringo Starr),
Dianna Ross, Scott Kinsey, The Tonight Show Band, Korn, Lenny
Price (Earl Klugh), Ron Blake (The Saturday Night Live Band,
Christian McBride, Joey DeFrancisco), Simply Red, Hammer, Jeffrey
Osborne, Mark Douthit, Rob Mounsey (Grammy nominated producer,
arranger, synthesist for Michael Franks, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton,
Donald Fagen), Luis Miguel, Brian Simpson, Frankie Vallie, Randy
Crawford, Daryl Dragon (Captain & Tennille), Marshall Allen
(Sun Ra Arkestra), Richie Havens, James Brandon (Mickey Gilley),
Dan Preston (Luis Miguel), Paul Taylor, Jimmy Haag (Frank Sinatra,
Buddy Rich, Wayne Newton), Ringling
Brothers, The Berklee College of Music, The Eastman School of
Music, Stephane Chausse (Michel Legrand), Gil Melle, and
numerous other top professionals worldwide!
Matt can be heard on more than 11 albums and has performed
with Doc Severinson, Gerald Wilson, Lou Marini Jr. (Blues Brothers
sax player), The Les Elgart and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, Ron
McCroby, The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, The Hank Geer Trio, The
Mark Gridley Trio, The Hank Marr Combo, The Exotic Birds, The
Ohio State Jazz Ensemble, Joey Tomsick Orchestra, and members
of the Cleveland Orchestra.
He has produced music for various musical artists and has
also composed commercial music for clients such as Duro, Glidden,
B.F. Goodrich, American Greetings, First Seneca Bank, Ameritrust,
Ohio Bell, WUAB, Koenigs Sporting Goods, and The Cleveland Cavaliers.
He holds a Bachelors Degree in Jazz and Commercial Music Composition
from Ohio State University. He has taught music technology at
Cuyahoga Community College (TRI-C) in Cleveland.
Matt was associate producer and sound designer and synth programmer
on Andrew Batchelor's "Moments Edge" 1989 release on
Tangent Records.
The CD received excellent reviews by Billboard, CD Review, JazzTimes,
etc., and extensive radio airplay.
Matt has dedicated many years to exploring and improving every
aspect of wind synthesis and also educating others about wind
controllers and helping them get set up with proper systems.
Over the years he has helped develop and improve various wind
controllers (including the Akai EWI4000s, EWI5000, EWI USB, and the MDT),
professional quality wind controller sounds, wind controller
"gig rig" systems, and wind controller performance
techniques and mechanisms. For those interested in putting together
a wind controller system, be sure to visit
Matt's Gig Rig page.
Matt currently divides his time between his family, Patchman
Music, and his Trio called Winelight where he plays
the EVI, MDT and several other custom brass-style wind controllers.
Matt
Traum Media
Matt
is the owner and chief sound designer at Patchman Music so obviously
these clips feature his Patchman Music sound creations. Here
are some mp3 audio tracks demonstrating Matt's work on the EVI.
Visit often, as more clips will be added from time to time.
Below are some solo cuts lifted from recent LIVE studio recording
of Matt's Trio. The Trio's performance was recorded live in the
studio direct to Digital Performer.
Most of the sounds you hear on the clips below are UNEDITED TURBO VL70-m patches with additional studio effects added such as EQ, compression,
and additional reverb. A few of the clips feature various analog
EVIs from Matt's collection such as his Crumar EVI and Steinerphone
EVI. The source of the sound is indicated in the descriptions
below.
Winelight - "If I Only Had a Brain" Live on Fox 8 In Cleveland
At left is a
video clip of a performance by Matt's group Winelight on Fox
8 TV in Cleveland.
In this clip Matt is playing his modified Steiner / Crumar EVI
Below
is an arrangement Matt Traum did in 2001 of the Christmas classic
"What Child Is This" for a CD project for Cleveland
singer David Lynch. Matt produced, arranged, recorded, mixed,
and performed all the remaining parts including (real) flugelhorn,
EVI wind controller backing horns, piano, bass, and drums. The
flugelhorn solo is an actual acoustic flugelhorn. All the other
wind instruments that you hear (Bari Sax, Harmon Mute Trumpet,
Trombone, etc...) are either a Yamaha VL1-m or Korg Triton with
his custom wind controller sounds being played with an EVI wind controller. The
bass is his own custom upright bass samples played via Sample
Cell II on the Mac.
Below is a very early
recording of Matt Traum on the EVI. In fact it may very well
be the first recording of Matt on the EVI. This recording from
November 7, 1989 was made approximately 5 weeks after the arrival
of Matt's first EVI! Matt is playing the Akai EVI1000 / EWV2000
triggering an Oberheim Matrix-1000 via MIDI with a custom wind
controller patch. This sound was later to be included in his
Patchman
Music Matrix-1000 Volume 1 soundbank. Though certainly not
the greatest EVI performance by any means, it is nonetheless
an interesting piece of history and it shows what a trumpet player
can do in only 5 weeks with a little practice on a brand new
instrument. Matt also composed the piece and played all the other
parts as well...
Below is a live performance clip
(recorded direct from the board at a gig) of Matt playing a solo
on the Roy Orbison's "Blue Bayou". The sound
is the Stevie! patch from the TURBO
VL chip...
Below is an original
song called "Be With Me" written and recorded
by Matt Traum in 2001. Matt played all the parts except for the
acoustic guitar. Note that all the horn parts are played by Matt
with a MIDI EVI wind controller. The sounds are from a Korg Triton
with his custom wind controller patches...
Below is an original
song called "Electric India" written and recorded
by Matt Traum in 1990. Matt composed, recorded, and performed
all parts. The haunting lead is played on the Akai EVI1000 wind
controller triggering a layer comprised of the Ensoniq ESQ-m
and Oberheim Matrix-1000 modules both loaded with his Patchman
Music wind controller soundbanks. Some overdubs were added several
years later with a Kurzweil K2500...
Below is an original
song called "Gray Sand" written and recorded
by Matt Traum in 1989. Matt composed, recorded, and performed
all the parts. The haunting lead sound was played via the Akai
EVI1000 wind controller triggering an Oberheim Matrix-1000 loaded
with his Patchman Music Matrix-1000 wind controller soundbank...
Hey,
you gotta start somewhere! Have a good laugh on this one! Here
is Matt's very first concert performance on cornet from fifth
grade recorded around 1973. This piece called "The Young
Genius" was recorded in the auditorium of Saint Clement's
Grade School in Lakewood Ohio. Playing this piece with Matt is
David Chambers also on the cornet. The pianist is unknown. The
first solo is Matt, the second solo is David. God Bless Sister
Monica Marie- Matt's first music teacher. She was a remarkable
musician and human being. Thanks to David Chambers for the photo.
"Matt takes no
prisoners on the EVI. He is comfortable in many settings using
the AKAI EVI and the Steinerphone. His sounds and playing using
the TURBO VL70-m are simply spectacular!"
"I
have listened to the first two of your CD's and was quite impressed.
I started listening to the first tune which was 'On A Clear Day'
and waited a while for the sax to finish playing so I could listen
to you play. It took a little while for me to realize that you
were the sax."- Nyle
Steiner, renown studio session musician and inventor of the
EVI
"Matt's programming of the new EWI4000s is right up there with his other programs for previous EWI's. The [EWI4000s] factory sounds are not very good. I use Patchman Music's sounds. They are far better than the factory sounds. Makes all the difference in the world. The patches are fat and expressive. I'm using several of them now. Matt Traum is the cat when it comes to EWIs and EVIs. He has a vast knowledge of the instruments, and most importantly, knows how to program patches that respond well and sound great. He's bailed me out more than once, and I've enjoyed using his sounds for a while now." -Bob Mintzer - World reknown recording artist,
sax and EWI virtuoso, arranger, with the Yellowjackets
"Hi
Matt, I listened to your album and like it. It's great to hear
someone who has such command with the EVI. The accompanying players
are very good also. And I like the sounds you've created. They
have a lot of expression and sound really good. Maybe someday
I'll order a VL70-m. Great playing." - Judd
Miller, renown EVI recording artist, top-call movie / session
musician
"I received your CD today. Sounds awesome." - Steve Marshall,
Inventor of the MDT Morrison Digital Trumpet, Australia
"Matt:
I just finished listening to the Winelight CD featuring you on
EVI... I'm now going directly to the practice room! Great job
Matt. Having been challenged since 1980 by the EVI, I know what
it takes to achieve the great technical command you have on the
instrument. Let's see... master EVI player, great programmer
and musician all rolled into one. Very impressive. The versatility
of the group with only 3 pieces is great to. Thanks for sharing
the CD with me. I really enjoyed hearing Winelight!" -
Mark
Hatch, EVI Pioneer
"Hi Matt -- Many thanks
for the CD! I'm enjoying it! As I listened to 'Winelight' featuring
you on the EVI, I was immediately taken with your complete technical
command of a tricky trumpet synth I've been trying to tame since
1983. Your range of expression and the total ease with which
you get around the instrument is something to behold. My compliments
to you, Ken and Jeff for a job well done! Thanks again, Matt.
You're a helluva EVI player!" -Mike
Metheny, Trumpet and EVI recording artist, instructor, author
"Thanks
Matt! I am up late tonight, excited to get the EWI. I have been
listening to you on your website and on YouTube... man you play
your @*&^ off, and your sounds are so damned great. It is
an honor to call you my friend. You have taken the technology
and the artistry to a new level... I mean that, too. Keep up
the brilliant work... We who started at 'Kittyhawk' with the
EWI are proud that you are now flying a 'Lear Jet'. Also, I am
going to have to get the Yamaha chip for the VL70-m! All Best."
- Doug
Norwine, Pioneering EWI player, studio sax and EWI wizard
(The "Real" Lisa Simpson Sax player), 12 Gold and Platinum
records
"I enjoyed you're
playing. Thanks for the CD, it's a pleasure to listen to you."
-Rolando Gingras,
EVI Player / recording artist- Santa Barbara, CA
"Hi Matt. I have wanted to let you know how excellent
your work is. Your jazz chops are just so cool. You really have
some taste and maturity in your playing and it's so cool. EVI
players are rare of course, but ones I enjoy listening to at
all are all the more rare... and you are in an even more exclusive
group... a wind syntheist that can seriously swing for real.
Such great stuff. I have listened to your music quite a bit.
There's so much good in there but my favorite is what you do
with the sawtooth simple analog wave on the Crumar. You totally
know when to use the true analog and your inflection is INCREDIBLE.
My wife and I listened to your CD in our car, cranked it up for
a nice drive. For the longest time I was like... I think... this
may be the VL.. but... And finally I knew but I must say... what
an amazing emulation and performance. You really have learned
how to program that VL and modulate it just right. Just excellent
stuff. One of these days I'm going to need to buy one of your
custom chips for my VL70-m. I needed to just let you know what
a great artist you are. Thanks so much! Take Care!" - Mark
Steiner, EVI player, nephew of EVI/EWI inventor Nyle Steiner
"After
the devastation of Hurricanes Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne I was
left without electricity, water, and very little phone service
for a couple of weeks. During the recovery period I received
a nice present from Matt Traum, a CD of his music playing the
EVI with a keyboard and drum player. Without electricity, I couldn't
listen to it, but appreciated the gesture. Well, our power has
been restored, so I put Matt's CD into the player, and I was
delighted. The music is great, and Matt's EVI playing is wonderful.
I've purchased CDs from major jazz artists that weren't this
good. This is definitely world class music, and the wind synth
playing is top notch." - Bob 'Notes' Norton, owner
of Norton Music, Fort
Pierce, FL
"Thank you for sending me a copy of your latest. It sounds
damn impressive" - Andrew Batchelor, recording artist
Tangent Records,
Columbus, OH
"We were listening to this and we're floored. We love
this little group. I think it's a wonderful group. I tell you,
that kid Traum really, really has a handle on that instrument.
Just really cool stuff." - Jerry Bruno, Jerry
Bruno Productions Talent Agency, Cleveland, OH
"Thank you very much for the Winelight CD. Your playing
is terrific. Nice work. Your treatment of the Beatles tunes are
superb. Overall, a great 'Smooth Jazz' sound that should be very
marketable. I thought you guys sounded very polished." -
Steve Anderson, EVI Virtuoso, The
EVI Zone
"I wouldn't drive across town to hear some of the better
acts that come to Kalamazoo, but I would drive to Ohio to hear
you. What a pleasant surprise to get your CD. You guys blow away
groups with many more pieces. It is impossible to pick any one
favorite. To me there isn't a single tune on the CD that isn't
hot. Your keyboard player is phenomenal, and the drummer kicks.
As a group you are one lean, hot and very tight musical machine.
I would love to come and hear you live." - Bob
Hunt, Endless Summer Band, Kalamazoo, MI
"I was so surprised and pleased to have your CD come
along. It is a wonderful piece of work. I complement you. You
three have a great ensemble sound. Your mastery of the instrument
as well as the Jazz style is evident. I will listen often and
enjoy what you have done. You are a model for me. Thanks for
the CD." - Steve Ehrhardt, Saint Louis, MO
The
MIDI EVI FAQ
Q.
What is that thing that guy is playing?
A. Matt is playing an EVI, or Electronic Valve Instrument.
It can be thought of as an "electronic trumpet". It
is played much like an acoustic trumpet yet it can sound like
anything. This rarely seen instrument was invented by Nyle Steiner
and has been around in various forms since the late 1960's. The
EVI, and its saxophone equivalent- the EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument)
has been used extensively in studios and movie/TV soundtracks.
Inventor Nyle Steiner has played the EVI in the soundtracks of
Apocalypse Now, The Color Purple, Dead Poets Society, Fatal Attraction,
Ghost, Officer And A Gentleman, Police Academy III, Star Trek
III, Knott's Landing, St. Elsewhere, Cagney and Lacy, Columbo,
Dallas, Fantasy Island, Matlock, Quincy, & many others. Though
you haven't SEEN it, you have heard it numerous times!
Q. If it's like a trumpet, why do I hear a saxophone?
A. The EVI doesn't make any sound itself, but rather it controls
sounds stored in synthesizers contained in the box in front of
Matt. These sounds, specially created by Matt, are stored as
computer programs in the synthesizers. They enable him to sound
like a sax, a trumpet, a complete big band, a harmonica, a guitar,
a synthesizer, a dog barking, or ANY sound!
Q. How can it sound so real?
A. The sounds Matt has created are so advanced that they actually
respond to his playing nuances, i.e., how hard he is blowing
and tonguing, vibrato, pitch bends, etc. The resulting sounds
are brighter or darker, louder or softer, just like a real acoustic
instrument. The particular sounds you hear from his VL70-m synthesizer
use the very latest physical modeling (PM) synthesis technology
developed at Stanford and further refined by Yamaha. These sounds
"sculpt" a model of a real instrument inside the synthesizer's
computer. This instrument model actually responds to Matt's input
the way the real physical instrument would. Matt developed these
highly advanced sounds on a special "TURBO VL" chip
which he sells commercially for the Yamaha VL70-m synthesizer.
Matt plans to release a CD featuring the EVI in the near future.
Links
Of Special Interest
Looking for the ultimate Wind Controller Rig?
Click
here to read all about Matt's past and present Gig Rigs.
Check these out to learn from a wind controller expert how you
can put together a great wind controller rig for yourself!!
Matt developed
and uses the PATCHMAN TURBO VL upgrade chip for the Yamaha
VL70-m. Many of the sounds you hear in the above audio clips
are from the TURBO VL chip. Click
here for details.