fiddle, trumpet, octave mandolin, guitar, vocals

New York born, Matt Mancuso is an extraordinary musician. His playing is spirited and exuberant, yet underpinned by deep technical mastery.

As a young child, Matt was introduced to Irish Music by his father Pete, a respected guitarist and record producer. Matt studied with the renowned musician and teacher Maureen Glynn and went on to compete in the prestigious All Ireland competitions. He placed second three years running. An extraordinary feat for an Italian - Irish American in what can be a very closed musical society. But there was no denying his talent or his fire.

As Matt grew his musical horizons broadened. He went on to add the love of Jazz to his firm grounding in traditional Irish music. He picked up the trumpet and immersed himself in the Jazz stylings of the greats - Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, and Clifford Brown, among others. It was not long before he brought the same mastery to the trumpet as he had to the fiddle. And he continues to add instruments to his list, most recently the octave mandolin and guitar.

Matt Mancuso is a musician of great musical scope. His Irish and jazz influences make him a unique player in the world music scene. It accounts for why he was the star fiddle player in Lord of the Dance - performing to sell out crowds throughout the world; a founding member of the rousing ensemble The Mickey Finns, and has taken star turns in tours with Irish super-group Grada. For the past year he has brought all of this energy and talent to the Cathie Ryan Band. And he is the funniest musician Cathie has ever worked with. His next career could well be as a stand-up comedian!

Photo by Mark Pippinger