Born in Colorado, studied music at the University of Northern Colorado w/ Gene Aitken and at Berklee College of Music w/ Joe Viola, Jimmy Mosher, Andy Mcghee, Gary Burton and others. Now a resident of northern Colorado, Matthew has been a recording studio artist and lead player in various groups through the years. Currently playing lead tenor in John Mills Jazz orchestra, Archie Funker, Kadubaseri, and Jas Motif.

Ryan’s career in music has spanned twenty years – between his beginnings studying music at the University of Arkansas with Professor James Greeson to becoming a Lecturer and Jazz Guitar Instructor at the University of Wyoming (which is his current teaching gig), his life in music has been expansive and well documented throughout his twenty year journey with several recordings both as a leader and a sideman. His latest album, “Big Slick” on the Colorado based Dazzle Recordings label was released in 2016 and continues to receive extensive radio play both nationally and overseas. The album is also available for purchase and streaming on all major music platforms. On top of teaching and recording Ryan performs regularly at his musical home, Jay’s Bistro in Fort Collins Colorado – becoming the musical director there was a dream job for Fourt and provides a platform for the guitarist to explore his music, primarily in the American jazz idiom on a weekly basis. He can be heard every Friday and Saturday night at Jay’s playing with some of the best musicians both locally and nationally providing enjoyment for the regulars who frequent the long-time jazz spot. Ryan currently lives in Greeley Colorado but often ventures back to his home state of Arkansas to enjoy time with family and maybe even play a gig or two while he’s home. 

Hear preview of the new album.

 

Kelsey found her love for music at an early age. Her grandmother was a music teacher, and she played violin, trombone, piano, and sang throughout her childhood. After earning two degrees in music, Kelsey serves as the Associate Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Colorado, and performs professionally in many different bands including Black Water, Diamond Empire, Smiley & I, and Quemando. She is thrilled to be part of the new mobile music scene in Fort Collins on the RickShawLive!

 Matt Smiley is a bassist, composer, and educator from Staunton, Virginia, now residing in northern Colorado.

In his work as a performer and a composer, Smiley focuses on developing systems and modes of playing at the nexus of composition and improvisation that reference elements of established American vernacular and experimental music traditions, while simultaneously and idiosyncratically deviating from them. His multifaceted and studied approach to both the bass and composition enable an adroit facility in both idiomatic and non-idiomatic settings.

Since moving to Colorado, Smiley has worked with a number of diverse and prominent performers and composers including Alvin Lucier, Christian Wolff, Stephen Drury, Jean-Claude Risset, Terrell Stafford, and Greg Osby.

In addition to his rigorous performance schedule, he teaches at both Denver School of the Arts Jazz Camp and The Gift of Jazz, a non-profit focusing on enriching the community through the creation, promotion, and preservation of the art of jazz in the Rocky Mountain Region.

 

Amanda Riggers (b. 1987, Nezperce, ID) is a pianist and teacher who maintains an active collaborative career, in addition to a full private piano studio at the Parlando School for the Arts in Boulder, CO. Riggers completed her Bachelor of Music in classical piano performance at the Lionel Hampton School of Music in Moscow ID, then earned her Master of Music degree in 2012, studying classical piano performance and pedagogy at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Her most recent engagements include performing chamber music on the Estes Park Winter Concert Series, and at the Vianden Festival in Luxembourg. Riggers also performs across the U.S. as a member of ZWEI, the piano/viola duo with Brightin Schlumpf. In addition to chamber music collaboration, Riggers is the pianist at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, plays keyboard and sings in local funk and pop collectives, and regularly sings and plays jazz piano at Ace Gillet’s in Fort Collins.