A NOTE FROM MATT
Hey all, and welcome to my website. Thanks to everyone for all the support over the years. Here's the latest...
I am thrilled to be focusing on my new and very personal project for 2021 and beyond. FROM SAMOA TO SINATRA honors the music of both Mr. Frank SInatra and my mother Mavis Rivers, whom Sinatra signed to his Reprise Records label in 1961. The answer to the question I am getting a lot…YES that IS me on SirusXM’s Siriusly Sinatra Channel. Happy to say that two tracks (plus a bonus Christmas track) have been completed as a preview to the full Summer 2021 release of the entire project. These three preview tracks can be heard NOW on SiriusXM’s Siriusly Sinatra Channel. Thanks to today’s technology I get to duet with Mom’s voice from 1961(!) on a couple of these tracks!
In March a recording session with a full string section took place at historic Capricorn Studios in Macon, and the Big Band portion of the recording has also been completed. The final mix and mastering of the recording is taking place as we speak. Hoping to fully release FROM SAMOA TO SINATRA within the next couple of months.
More to come on this very soon, but if you have SiriusXM available, check out what's been completed so far!
Also a full and complete version of this show is already available to book NOW for Symphonic Pops Orchestra, as well as for Theaters and Performing Arts Centers, either with a compact "socially distant" big band, or with just a quartet. As the world plans for a future post pandemic entertainment landscape it is my hope to be out and back to performing and conducting live as soon as possible!
In other news.... as we appear to be receiving mostly positive news about nearing the end of this crazy pandemic Macon Pops is proud to say we will be starting our NINTH season in August of this year. Stay tuned for details on our awesome new season.
In the meantime stay safe and healthy everybody, and I look forward to seeing all of you in-person very soon!
Matt Catingub
Spring/Summer 2021
Schedule
Schedule will be updated soon.!
Matt Catingub
Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the Macon Pops in Macon, GA
Artistic Director and Conductor of the Glendale Pops in Glendale, CA (Retired)
Artistic Director and Conductor of the Hawaii Pops in Honolulu, HI (Retired)
Past Principal Pops Conductor of the Honolulu Symphony, the Hawaii Symphony, the New Mexico Symphony, and the New Hampshire Music Festival.
Award winning jazz saxophonist/pianist/vocalist, and world renowned orchestra Pops conductor, Matt Catingub wears many hats. The son of legendary jazz vocalist and “Polynesia’s First Lady of Song” Mavis Rivers, Matt, a proud pacific islander, was bestowed the Samoan Chief’s title of La`auli by King Malietoa Tanumafili II. At age 17 he performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, then toured Japan playing with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Thad Jones, and Ruth Brown. From there Catingub played lead Alto Sax in the big bands of Louie Bellson and Toshiko Akiyoshi. At age 21 he formed the Matt Catingub Big Band, with his mom as vocalist, and recorded several critically acclaimed albums with his mom. A few years later Matt made his solo singing debut at the Frank Sinatra Celebration at Carnegie Hall and then signed with Concord records recording a number of CD’s with his own band, and notably with the legendary Rosemary Clooney. Matt wrote and performed the music for the George Clooney film, “Goodnight and Good Luck,” appearing onscreen, as well as creating all the music on the Grammy winning soundtrack.
As a Pops conductor Matt has conducted for some of the most important Symphony Orchestras in the country, including Nashville, Atlanta, Houston, St. Louis, Buffalo, Hartford, Omaha, Cincinnati, as well as the Florida Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, and at orchestras throughout Canada, Korea, and Japan. Matt has conducted for artists as diverse as Diana Krall, Yes, Al Jarreau, Gladys Knight, Kenny Rogers, Take Six, Elvis Costello, Glen Campbell, and numerous others. Significantly Matt has arranged the music in the orchestra libraries for a variety of artists such as Kenny Loggins, James Ingram, Boz Scaggs, the Righteous Brothers, Rosemary Clooney, Vertical Horizon, Natalie Cole, Toni Tennille, Michael McDonald, Dave Koz, Toto, Pat Benatar, and many many others.
Today Matt is at the forefront of a new and innovative movement to reinvent orchestra Pops into a more fun and accessible format, encouraging dancing and loose fun, within a more informal and contemporary setting.
Matt Catingub plays Yamaha Saxophones
Pops Shows
FEATURED SHOW
Matt Catingub’s
FROM SAMOA TO SINATRA
Music and Stories from when Frank Sinatra signed Mavis Rivers to Reprise Records
As heard on SiriusXM's Siriusly Sinatra Channel
in 1960 Matt’s mother Mavis Rivers was lured from Capitol Records by Frank Sinatra to sign with his just created Reprise Records. Mavis became the first female artist on Reprise, and was among the initial recordings released by the label that included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and of course Frank himself. This show is a unique adventure chronicled by her son Matt through music, songs, and stories that describe how a little girl from Apia, Samoa ended up recording and performing with the entertainment royalty of the time, with The Rat Pack, and alongside some of the greatest Jazz and popular musicians and orchestrators of the day. A completely original tribute to the music of Frank Sinatra and to the Great American Songbook, within a wholly original "family" angle, including Hi-Tech audio "duets" and surprises. And most notably most of these arrangements & songs by Matt are in heavy national airplay rotation on SiriusXM's Siriusly Sinatra station!
POPS SHOWS
(partial list, full list of shows upon request)
FŪŚON - JAZZ THAT ROCKS
An irresistible blend of the "Hippest Hits" of the past 50 years. The biggest Jazz Influenced popular music from Blood Sweat & Tears, Steely Dan, Chicago, Tower Of Power, Al Jarreau, George Benson, and more.
FŪŚON - LATIN POP REVOLUTION
A Journey through the world of popular latin music and it’s roots. Audience is encouraged to participate in multiple ways, a fun evening of familiar songs, and modernized melodies.
MARDI GRAS JAZZ
Mardi Gras means masks, madness and most of all, Music. A lively, fun-filled musical evening centered around the distinct songs and styles that make New Orleans the city of jazz.
BRASSFIRE w/Jens Lindemann
Matt teams up with former Canadian Brass member, and order of Canada recipient, virtuoso trumpet artist Jens Lindemann in an evening of popular and contemporary music, mixing genres and styles to thrill both musicians and audiences alike! Including music from Jens’ new Big Band recording, which was produced and arranged by Matt.
CLASSICALLY JAZZED
The Greatest Classical Melodies Of All-Time reimagined, and all newly arranged for the contemporary Pops Orchestra by Matt Catingub. Program also includes Matt’s original work: Three Shades Of Blue, Concerto For Violin Jazz Trio And Orchestra, recently premiered by Maestro Thom Wilkins and the Omaha Symphony.
GERSHWIN ROOTS - A SYMPHONIC REMIX
Matt’s acclaimed Concord Records CD GERSHWIN 100 forms the basis for this show that celebrates some of the greatest music by America’s greatest composer, fully reimagined and all newly arranged for the contemporary Pops Orchestra by Matt Catingub.
JAZZ ROOTS - A SYMPHONIC REMIX
Reimagined arrangements of some of the greatest early jazz compositions and songs of the early 20th century, all newly arranged for the contemporary Pops Orchestra by Matt Catingub
ROCK AND ROLL ROOTS
Combining some of the greatest musical influences and songs from the early days of Rock & Roll along with unique adaptations of familiar melodies and riffs into one exciting concert the will have them dancing in the aisles!
THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK - CLASSICS & CROONERS
The songs that started it all by some of the greatest composers of all time, including The Gershwins, and Irving Berlin, and made famous by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and so many more. All designed to beautifully showcase the orchestra.
All programs are fully licensed and royalty free and feature Matt’s brilliant drummer Steve Moretti, and one of Matt’s amazing guest vocalists (show dependent)
Gallery
Celebrates my mother Mavis Rivers