Matt Ulery is a household name in Chicago jazz. With over 25 years of playing, 15 albums, 9 ensembles, and recognition from sites such as Vanity Fair and NPR, Ulery is an incredible bassist. While his playing is an important part of his identity as a musician, his compositions have developed the sound that the jazz scene now knows.
This inspiration came from an early age, when Ulery joined his middle school’s band, playing the tuba. Like my focus book, his creativity seemed to stem from an early source around middle school, and the character he has now was formed by that environment. Ulery grew up listening to rock and ska, which inspired the mixture of classical wind ensemble and rock music he now plays and writes.
Composing for multiple Grammy Award-winning ensembles, Ulery’s music is known for its unconventional patterns and complex structures, often using classical instruments like violin and clarinets. Ulery prioritizes working with the ensemble in composing pieces, saying “For most of my smaller groups, once I ask the right players, I tend to write specifically for these folks based on what I know/think they can do.” By understanding the musicians he works with, and knowing what ensembles he can write for, Ulery can let his creativity flourish.
Ulery's album, By A Little Light, is a phenomenal example of his classical writing style and instrumentation. Give it a listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq6J5x1oGlc.
As he says, “Calling upon the right people for the aesthetic goes a long way to encourage new possibilities of development and longevity for any project. Discovering strengths and weaknesses in yourself in others through trial and error makes and keeps it all interesting.” By surrounding yourself with those who inspire you and who are within your realm of interest, you can grow creatively. Ulery sees the creative process as a process of patience, acceptance, and transition. Creativity to him is a place of growth and change, where you are constantly testing yourself.
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I always have loved listening to Matt Ulery play because of how experimental and interesting his compositions are! I had no idea that he started playing on the tuba instead of bass, and I also did not know that he has such a diverse musical background. It is so impressive that he has the ability to write compositions based on the skills of an individual musician. I think that is what elevates his compositions because he is creating a unique sound for a specific group of people. I like how he says that creativity requires acceptance and patience because I totally agree that if you can't find acceptance throughout the creativity process you will never be open to failure and therefore growth!
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