Matt Zarb: Press

Zarb takes stage as a ‘Master' in his own right

Singer and songwriter Matt Zarb doesn't consider himself a master guitarist.
"Tommy Emmanuel is a master. Chet Atkins was a master," he said. "God's gift to me is me music, but I never considered myself that."
But, if Eddie Mattingly, owner of Trinity Music Productions and sponsor of the Acoustic Guitar Masters Concert Series, says he's good enough to play with the world's greatest pickers, then that's good enough for him.
Saturday, a week after his return to Kentucky from touring in Australia, Zarb will take the stage at the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center as the first act in the concert series, now in its sixth year.
Days before the event, he was still a little stunned at the players joining him in series performances throughout the season. Among them are Emmanuel, Pat Kirtley, Stephen Bennett, Beppe Gambetta, Tony McManus and Michael Kelsey.
"They're the ones you read about in Guitar Player magazine," Zarb said. "It's the biggest honor I've had as a guitar player."
To that, Mattingly said, "We're honored to have Matt play with us."
Originally from Penrith, Australia, Zarb has lived in Kentucky for three years, creating music that is a blend of Australian bush music and bluegrass he calls Aussie bush-grass.
"He's got a lot of energy, a lot of excitement and great music," Mattingly said.
He also sings.
"I'm not that sort of bloke to play one instrumental after another," Zarb said. "But your level of guitar play has gotta be up there."
It's Zarb's love of music and his ability to combine guitar playing styles to get what Mattingly calls the "Zarbanizing" effect that makes him a unique but fitting addition to the collection of world-renowned guitar players he brings to Hardin County.
To find guitarists at that level, Mattingly said he attends two major music festivals, the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention in Nashville and the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kan., where thousands of guitar players flock each year.
"There are about 30 in the world that are this good," Mattingly said. "I've brought 19 here — the other 11 have called."
In its six years, the series has far exceeded Mattingly's expectations.
"It's got a life of its own, the word is getting out and it's getting back to me that somebody like James Taylor has heard of the series," Mattingly said.
It's a credit to Mattingly, Zarb said, that the series has garnered its reputation.
"He's a local guy who just believes in guitar players and wants to bring them to Kentucky," he said.
And, they come happily, Mattingly said. He's never had an invitation to play in the series turned down.
"When Tommy Emmanuel told me ‘yes,' no one else has told me ‘no.'"
Each Acoustic Guitar Master Concert Series show is the first Saturday of the month at the PAC, except in January. Tickets are $15 to all shows except Tommy Fest, a three-day event featuring Tommy Emmanuel. Tickets for Emmanuel's concerts are $20 with workshops costing $90.
Zarb's performance, featuring Pauly Zarb as special guest, will be 7:30 p.m. Saturday. For Tickets, call Trinity Music Production at (270) 325-3958.
Holly Tabor can be reached at 769-1200, Ext. 236, or by e-mail at htabor@thenewsenterprise.com.

Since Matt Zarb has moved to Kentucky, I have watched Matt's guitar playing skills advance rapidly as he absorbed the music he heard for the like of Pat Kirtley, Mason Williams, and Tommy Emmanuel. His new solo album "Hillbilly Bride" is a mixture of his Australian musical background and his new Kentucky roots. We call it "Aussie Bush Grass". I'm sure you will enjoy it very much.

This is from Geoff Morris from Australia who is one of the DJ’s on WWB on Fridays 5am – 8am EST, 8-11PM in Bendigo Australia. Geoff also does a broadcast radio show in Australia and is connected with the Bluegrass and Acoustic scene there somewhat.

I uploaded the Hillbilly Bride CD to the broadcast site for DJs and recommended it to Geoff, you can read his comments below and he is very interested in learning more about Matt. Hope this helps.

Marc Manning

From: Geoff Morris [mailto:geoff_hawkgrass@impulse.net.au]
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 9:29 PM
To: Marc Manning
Subject: Matt's album

Dear Marc,

Well, what a remarkable album your mate has knocked up here!

I loved it. My favourite track is, of course, "Rose Matilda" which I reckon I could play on the show no worries. It's got that floating, lilting Aussie-Celtic folky-bush ballad flavour to it; a lovely piece indeed.

"Southern Cross" is brilliant. Matt has a wonderful way with tight, powerful lyrics and how to phrase them rapidly and effectively into tight corners; he's a ripper!

What does he do in Kentucky apart from make superb original music?

the connection between Australia for the Aborigines and Kentucky for the Cherokee is very striking and powerful and fundamentally very accurate.

I loved his brilliantly racy "Hillbilly Bride", and in fact all around it is a highly original and beautifully executed album no doubt at all.

Does he ever actually play bluegrass? Clearly just one of his influences, of which there are many. How come he now lives in Kentucky? Was this a musical career choice or for some other collection of reasons?

Anyway, we're all very glad we've got him. Is this his first venture into recording? I'd be very surprised if it was.

When so many people, (those with commercial or marketing biases and interests, and just people who like to slot things neatly into immediately recognisable categories) how refreshing it is to find someone who just writes and sets about recording his own work in exactly the way he wants to, (that's right; just because he wants to!)

On the subject of that particular track, when I lived in Sydney I frequently used to take the Manly ferry trip across the harbour and back on a Sunday, just to blow cobwebs away, freshen up and get a wonderful dose of soft, cool ocean air, so I know what he means here.

Thanks again for the album; please convey to Matt my sincere congratulations on a terrific piece of work and tell him under no circumstances to lose that strong, fresh Aussie attitude.

Hear from you.

Geoff.

The Senate of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Senator Elizabeth Tori
Matt Zarb is recognized and honored upon releasing his solo album entitled "Hillbilly Bride," at the Plum Alley Theater in the Historic State Theater Complex in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. A native of Australia who relocated to the United States to pursue a career in the music industry, this esteemed honoree previously produced four CD's as a member of a band that has played as the opening act for such popular performers as Willie Nelson, Keith Urban, Little Feat and the Louisville Orchestra and which won the Folk Album of the Year Award for "Vincent Road," as part of the 2001 Australian Sunni Music Awards program. His first solo effort, "Hillbilly Bride" is a collection of Mr. Zarb's originalwork written in a style of folk music he calls "Aussie Bush Grass," a combination of Kentucky Bluegrass and Australian bush music, and features the touching tributes to his late grandmother and grandfather and his beloved wife and most ardent suppoter, Danielle. In as much Matt Zarb has garnered the admiration and respect of his peers, listeners and fellow members of the music industry by virtue of his immense talent, his unrelenting drive to succeed and his dedication to maintaining both his personal integrity and cultural heritage through his music, he is afforded sincere congratulations upon the fruition of his most recent efforts is extended best wishes for success and good fortune in all future endeavors and, on the motion of Senator Elizabeth Tori is hereby deemed by this honorable body most worthy of its recognition.

Matt Zarb
Hillbilly Bride
(Independant)
4/5

"We all want to know what's in front...we all want to fix what we broke...we all spend so much time thinking of these two, we forget what we're doing. Play the bar you're in..." Matt Zarb wrote this quote on his guitar to remind himself of the way he wished to live this life. In an industry where you rarely connect with the actual artist or get an insight into them as people, Zarb offers a refreshing change. The CD opens with an acapella track sung by Matt's 90-something year old croaky grandpa Pop O'keefe; a fitting beginning for an album of heartfelt anecdotes and insightful life stories. Combined with soft ballads, Matt Zarb has captured on this recording a contemporary, pub rock style incorporating Aussie roots music and Kentucky Bluegrass. Self-coined Aussie Bush Grass, it's a genre not often heard in these parts but one that should be given the time of day. Bring back open channels of communication, DIY and authenticity.