BiographyMatthew McClimon was born in rural Northern California in 1979. The son of music
teachers, his training began at the at the age of six with piano,
switching to trumpet at the age of 12, and finally percussion
at 17. His early musical experiences were primarily centered
around
concert band performance at the public schools and through various
regional and statewide youth musical organizations, but also included
exposure to improvisation, orchestral music, and chamber music.
In 1997, he began attending nearby Humboldt State University to study percussion performance techniques with Eugene Novotney. While at HSU, Matthew participated in the Humboldt Symphony, symphonic band, percussion ensemble, jazz bands, and steel drum ensemble. Of particular importance was his study of twentieth century experimental literature having the opportunity to play in solo and ensemble performances of works by Elliot Carter, Edgard Varese, John Cage, Lou Harrison, Carlos Chavez, and others.
Matthew also began playing professionally during this time, recording with Ed Macan's Hermetic Science on drum set, and Shao Way Wu's Mr. Lunch. He also performed vibraphone frequently with many other groups at local venues.
In 2001, Matthew moved to New Orleans to concentrate on vibraphone. He lived in the city for a year playing weekly gigs with Martin Urbach at Cafe Brasil and the Evan Howard Group at the Funky Butt, then enrolled in the University of New Orleans program for jazz studies. At UNO, Matthew studied jazz harmony and improvisation with Ed Petersen, Michael Pellera, Doug Bickel, and Victor Atkins. It was here that he developed relationships with musicians that would lead to a very creative period.
In the summer of 2003, Red Shift was formed with Tom Sandahl (guitar), Matthew Golombisky (bass) and Quin Kirchner (drums). Other important collaborations with Golombisky and Kirchner soon followed. Robin Boudreaux (saxophones) was added to form QMRplus. Milton Villarubia III was added to form the double drumming quartet, Grilly Biggs, and the Golombisky-Kirchner-McClimon trio became integrated into Anthony Cuccia and Jimbo Walsh's The Other Planets. In other circles, Matthew was performing weekly at the Spotted Cat with the Mike Barille Quartet, and recording for Indie Rock band, Jai Alai. By the fall of 2005, Red Shift and the Other Planet released CDs of original music, QMRplus was coming off a successful string of gigs in Chicago, and Grilly Biggs was in the mixing stage for a CD release.
Matthew relocated to Southern Indiana following Hurricane Katrina. Since the storm, Matthew has traveled across the U.S. to reunite with the New Orleans based groups. Highlights include festival performances in New Orleans, Chicago, Portland, OR, Santa Fe, NM and tours with QMRplus, The Other Planets, Red Shift. More recently, Matthew has renewed his interest in Classical Percussion, joining the Commonwealth Brass Band in New Albany, IN, And is developing a solo vibraphone repertoire.
He currently resides in New Albany, IN with his wife, Samantha, and daughter, Aiko.
In 1997, he began attending nearby Humboldt State University to study percussion performance techniques with Eugene Novotney. While at HSU, Matthew participated in the Humboldt Symphony, symphonic band, percussion ensemble, jazz bands, and steel drum ensemble. Of particular importance was his study of twentieth century experimental literature having the opportunity to play in solo and ensemble performances of works by Elliot Carter, Edgard Varese, John Cage, Lou Harrison, Carlos Chavez, and others.
Matthew also began playing professionally during this time, recording with Ed Macan's Hermetic Science on drum set, and Shao Way Wu's Mr. Lunch. He also performed vibraphone frequently with many other groups at local venues.
In 2001, Matthew moved to New Orleans to concentrate on vibraphone. He lived in the city for a year playing weekly gigs with Martin Urbach at Cafe Brasil and the Evan Howard Group at the Funky Butt, then enrolled in the University of New Orleans program for jazz studies. At UNO, Matthew studied jazz harmony and improvisation with Ed Petersen, Michael Pellera, Doug Bickel, and Victor Atkins. It was here that he developed relationships with musicians that would lead to a very creative period.
In the summer of 2003, Red Shift was formed with Tom Sandahl (guitar), Matthew Golombisky (bass) and Quin Kirchner (drums). Other important collaborations with Golombisky and Kirchner soon followed. Robin Boudreaux (saxophones) was added to form QMRplus. Milton Villarubia III was added to form the double drumming quartet, Grilly Biggs, and the Golombisky-Kirchner-McClimon trio became integrated into Anthony Cuccia and Jimbo Walsh's The Other Planets. In other circles, Matthew was performing weekly at the Spotted Cat with the Mike Barille Quartet, and recording for Indie Rock band, Jai Alai. By the fall of 2005, Red Shift and the Other Planet released CDs of original music, QMRplus was coming off a successful string of gigs in Chicago, and Grilly Biggs was in the mixing stage for a CD release.
Matthew relocated to Southern Indiana following Hurricane Katrina. Since the storm, Matthew has traveled across the U.S. to reunite with the New Orleans based groups. Highlights include festival performances in New Orleans, Chicago, Portland, OR, Santa Fe, NM and tours with QMRplus, The Other Planets, Red Shift. More recently, Matthew has renewed his interest in Classical Percussion, joining the Commonwealth Brass Band in New Albany, IN, And is developing a solo vibraphone repertoire.
He currently resides in New Albany, IN with his wife, Samantha, and daughter, Aiko.