The New School

One Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra is not enough for Bobby Sanabria's energy. So he leads, as maestro and teacher, two of them: one at Manhattan School of Music and another at The New School, both in Manhattan.

In the day I film Kyla, I called Mr Sanabria to ask about a time for doing his interview. Instead scheduling it, he asked me to go to The New School to film the senior recital of a multi-talented student: Matt Berman.

I went there and recorded the recital with the assistance of the dear friend Fernando Nogueira (later in that day we went to the crazy Japanese place posted before).


Matt Berman, saxophone from Celina Lerner on Vimeo.

Here is Matt's bio from the New School Website:

Although Matt Berman is only twenty-one, the New York City-based alto saxophonist, composer, and singer already boasts a resume with which any jazz enthusiast couldn’t help but be impressed. Bobby Sanabria, Slide Hampton, Bobby Watson, Jimmy Heath, Adam Holzman, Bernard Purdie, and Gerald Clayton are among the major- league musicians Berman has studied and played with along the way. He is a product of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for Music & Performing Arts where he was accepted into The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz High School division; and now, a soon-to-be graduate of The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. Formed in 2010, Berman’s band Matt and The City Limits released a highly successful EP distributed through Island/Def Jam records; showcasing Berman’s writing, arranging, and overall musicianship as a saxophonist and singer. He has been the talk of many jazz authors, with featured articles in The Aquarian Magazine, In Tune Magazine (where Berman is paired with Bruno Mars and Peter Frampton), and Hellhound Music. Seven time Grammy nominated drummer Bobby Sanabria states, “The Legacy of the alto saxophone is well in hand with Matt Berman, who’s among a crop of young players keeping the tradition of Hodges, Bird and Cannonball alive while forging new ground in the 21st century.” In addition to music, Berman has proven himself a successful actor with roles on many television shows and films including HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and The CW’s The Carrie Diaries. Matt Berman is a “total package” performer who has just begun his already thriving career. This is just the first of much more music to come.