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Welcome to the Winelight Homepage

This page contains information about Northeast Ohio's Premier Jazz Combo Winelight and its unique instrumentation, songlist, as well as audio clips.

Extremely versatile Northern Ohio-based Winelight is comprised of the area's finest musicians including Matt Traum on the amazing EVI (Electronic Valve Instrument) wind controller, Ken Srail on keyboard / bass, and Jeff Kennat on drums.

Winelight is extremely versatile. An impressive array of music is performed- from classic jazz standards to contemporary smooth jazz and pop favorites. Winelight plays a variety of music including the classic jazz standards as well as newer smooth jazz and pop favorites performed in a contemporary jazzy style. The repertoire includes songs by the Beatles, Billy Joel, Elton John, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Spyro Gyra, and others performed in their own unique style.

Winelight can be found performing in clubs, corporate functions, private parties, and various social functions both locally and nationally. Winelight consists of Matt Traum on his custom-modified EVI wind controller (Electronic Valve Instrument) and EWI4000s, Ken Srail on keyboards/bass, and drummer Jeff Kennat. Unlike other groups who use the same instrumentation for the entire performance, Winelight is able to instantly adapt its instrumentation to complement any piece of music. This tonal variety offers a much more enjoyable and interesting experience for the listener. Winelight is tasteful and sophisticated, yet always soulful and exciting. Savor the sound of Winelight!

Brecker Head "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, EWI virtuoso, sax legend, composer, 11 time Grammy Award winner

To inquire about booking Winelight, please contact:

Matt Traum
440-740-1288
matt@patchmanmusic.com

Upcoming Winelight Public Appearances

Tuesday February 12th, 5 to 7pm: Winelight will be performing at the Red Cross Blood Drive at Landerhaven Party Center. The performance is from 5 to 7pm (time may change). This is an interesting event all for a great cause. Everyone (with blood) is invited. The only requirement is that you donate blood! That's right, you lay there on a couch at the posh Landerhaven Party Center and give your blood and enjoy the smooth sounds of Winelight! In exchange for your blood, everyone gets free live entertainment and FREE FOOD! ...And the food is excellent. Executive Caterers at Landerhaven are known for their top-quality cuisine. So come out and say "Hi!" and enjoy some great FREE food and entertainment. See you there!

Appointments are preferred (and we recommend this), but walk-in donors are also welcomed. Call (800) GIVE-LIFE.

Landerhaven Party Center
6111 Landerhaven Dr.
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124

Winelight
Click image for high res (276k) version suitable for print

Winelight Ritz

About The EVI & MDT

The EVI (Electronic Valve Instrument) and MDT (Morrison Digital Trumpet) can be thought of as an "electronic trumpet". They are played somewhat like a trumpet but the sound you hear can be anything- a trumpet, a sax, a trombone, a guitar, a string orchestra, or even a barking dog! The immense sonic potential of these instruments is unlimited.

The EVI is the invention of pioneering instrument designer Nyle Steiner. The MDT is the brainchild of Australian inventor Steve Marshall. The EVI has been used extensively in studios and movie/TV soundtracks including 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 may have not SEEN it before, you have certainly heard it numerous times.

Q. If it's like a trumpet, why do I hear a saxophone?

A. The EVI and MDT don't make any sound themselves. Instead they control the sounds stored in synthesizers. These sounds, specially created by Matt, 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 for the EVI and MDT are so advanced that they actually respond to his playing nuances such as how hard he is blowing and tonguing, vibrato, pitch bends, etc. The resulting sounds are brighter or darker, louder or softer, just like an acoustic instrument. Matt developed these highly advanced sounds and they are used by the world's top wind controller players. Click images below for more info on these amazing instruments...

MIDI EVI MDT

EWI4000s

To learn more about Matt's Wind Controller Gig Rig, click here

Winelight Video Clips

Above is a video clip of a live performance by Winelight on Fox 8 TV. In this clip Matt is playing the Steiner / Crumar EVI

Click here to watch more video of Winelight on YouTube

Winelight Audio Clips

Here are some mp3 audio recordings of Winelight. The group's performance was recorded LIVE in the studio. Winelight features Matt Traum on EVI Electronic Valve Instrument, Ken Srail on keyboards / key bass, and Jeff Kennat on drums.

Winelight "Live at Landerhaven" Feb 11, 2014 (full 86 minute live recording!)...

 

The Winelight Demo (12 minutes)...

Winelight Demo (12megs)

Full Songs...

MorningDance(5.7megs)

Winelight(7.5megs)

EleanorRigby(5.2megs)

WatermelonMan(9.1megs)

Tangerine(8.2megs)

Short Solo Clips...

MeditationSolo.mp3 (1.7megs)

BridgeOverSaxSolo.mp3 (780k)

BridgeOverCrumarSolo.mp3 (1.4megs)

GirlFromIpanemaSolo.mp3 (880k)

SassySambaSolo.mp3 (1.3megs)

StillCrazySolo.mp3 (820k)

YourSongSolo.mp3 (952k)

SunnySideSolo.mp3 (1meg)

SaraSmileSolo.mp3 (2megs)

NorwegianWoodSolo.mp3 (700k)

PegSolo.mp3 (1meg)

ThisMasqueradeSolo.mp3 (2.1megs)

OnAClearDaySolo.mp3 (950k)

IfIOnlyHadABrainSolo.mp3 (1.1megs)

DontKnowWhySolo.mp3 (525k)

DesafinadoSolo.mp3 (2.2megs)

OverTheRainbowSolo.mp3 (525k)

The Winelight Songlist

Agua de Beber
All Of Me
All The Things You Are
Always
Another Sad Love Song
Another Star
Arthur's Theme
As Time Goes By
Baby, Come To Me
Blackbird
Bluesette
Body And Soul
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Bye Bye Blackbird
Cast Your Fate In The Wind
Catching The Sun
Confirmation
Desafinado
Dindi
Donna Lee
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Don't Know Why
Dream A Little Dream Of Me
Eleanor Rigby
Feel Like Makin' Love
Feels So Good
Fire And Rain
Fly Me To The Moon
Fragile
From A Distance
Georgia
Girl From Ipanema
Girl Talk
Going Home
Here Comes The Sun
Here, There, & Everywhere
How Deep Is Your Love
How Insensitive
How Sweet It Is
I Can't Make You Love Me
If I Only Had A Brain
I Left My Heart In San Francisco
I'll See You In My Dreams
In A Sentimental Mood
In The Merry Old Land Of Oz
Isn't She Lovely
It Had To Be You
It's Only A Paper Moon
It's Too Late
I've Got You Under My Skin
I Wish
Just Once
Just The Two Of Us
Just The Way You Are
Killer Joe
Killing Me Softly
Lady In My Life
Lady In Red
Lady Madonna
La Fiesta
Let's Fall In Love Like A Lover Little Sunflower Long And Winding Road L-O-V-E Love Will Conquer All Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds Lullaby Of Birdland Mack The Knife Meditation Mercy, Mercy, Mercy Michelle Midnight At The Oasis Mister Magic Moondance Moonglow Mornin'
Morning Dance
Music To Watch Girls By
My Cherie Amour
My Favorite Things
My Funny Valentine
My Girl
Norwegian Wood
On A Clear Day
On Broadway
One Hundred Ways
On The Sunny Side Of The Street
Our Love Is Here To Stay
Overjoyed
Over The Rainbow
OZ Suite
Peg
Prelude in E Minor (Chopin)
Pick Up The Pieces
Rise
Route 66
Sara Smile
Sassy Samba
Satin Doll
Shaker Song
She's Always A Woman
She's Gone
She's Got A Way
She's Leaving Home
Silhouette
Smile
Smooth Operator
So Far Away
Something
Songbird
Spain
Spooky
Stardust
Stella By Starlight
Still Crazy After All These Years
Still The One
Strawberry Fields Forever
Sugar
Summer Samba
Summertime
Sweet Love
Take Five
Take The "A" Train
Taking A Chance On Love
Tangerine
Tears In Heaven
Tenderly
That's The Way Of The World
This Can't Be Love
This Masquerade
Till There Was You
Tristeza
Turn Your Love Around
Unforgettable
Watch What Happens
Watermelon Man
Wave
Way You Look Tonight
We're In This Love Together
What's Going On
What's Love Got To Do With It 
When I'm 64
Where Is The Love
Whiter Shade of Pale
Winelight
With A Little Help From My Friends
Yardbird Suite
You Belong To Me
Your Song
You've Got A Friend

+ many others!

This list is subject to change without notice

Winelight Comments

Michael Brecker Patchman Music"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

Nyle Steiner Patchman Music"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

"I received your CD today. Sounds awesome." - Steve Marshall, Inventor of the MDT Morrison Digital Trumpet, Australia

Mike Metheny Patchman Music"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 & EVI recording artist, instructor, author

Mark Hatch Patchman Music"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

Judd Miller Patchman Music"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

Steve Anderson Patchman Music"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, President IWSA International Wind Synthesis Association

"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

"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 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

"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

"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

 Matt Traum
Matt Traum - MIDI EVI

Ken Srail
Ken Srail - Keyboards / Bass

Jeff Kennat
Jeff Kennat - Drums

Matt Traum Bio

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 specializes in wind controllers. His sounds can be heard throughout the world with the world's top wind controller stars and keyboardists. Matt's clients include Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Tom Scott, Bob Mintzer (Yellowjackets), Paul "Wix" Wickens (Paul McCartney's Keyboardist and Music Director), Jeff Kashiwa (The Rippingtons), Nyle Steiner, Mike Phillips (Stevie Wonder), Jon Anderson (YES), Ricky Martin, Kirk Whalum, Courtney Pine, Everette Harp, Bobby Read (Bruce Hornsby), 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), Joe Gulizia (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), Tom Alvarado (Wayne Brady), 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/synth programmer on Andrew Batchelor's "Moments Edge" 1989 release on Tangent Records. The CD received excellent reviews by Billboard, CD Review, JazzTimes, etc., as well as extensive radio airplay.

Matt's sound designs were featured on a 2004 Grammy nominated release for Best Salsa/Merengue Album entitled "Auténtico" by Gilberto Santa Rosa. They were also featured on Ed Calle's 2005 Latin Grammy Award nominated "Ed Calle Plays Santana" CD. Ed Calle also uses Matt's sounds on tour with Arturo Sandoval.

In the summer of 2006 Matt was invited to perform at the Berklee College Of Music. He performed with the Berklee Jazz Faculty members and gave a clinic on the wind controller.

Matt was featured in an article about MIDI Controllers by Jim Aikin and in a recent German podcast about wind controllers.

Visit Matt's website for more info

MattTraumBerklee
This page was last updated
Wednesday, March 25, 2020