Blues and Bourbon Wednesdays: Chicago Harp Star, Matt Skoller with Steve Freund Trio

Matthew Skoller has been blowing his Harmonica on the Chicago Blues scene since the mid 1980’s. Skoller made Chicago his home in 1987. Since then he has established himself as one of the top harp players and bandleaders on the Chicago set. He has recorded five of his own critically acclaimed CDs, produced two award winning CDs for Lurrie Bell, co-produced a Grammy nominated album (Chicago Blues: A Living History) served as the program director for The Logan Center Bluesfest in 2018-2021. Served three terms on the Board of Governors of the Chicago chapter of The Recording Academy, played on 4 Grammy nominated CDs (2010-2018), had two of his original songs nominated for Blues Song of The Year (2012 and 2016).

In 2013 Skoller was inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame. Skoller has been hired to do recording sessions for Alligator Records, Delmark Records, Blind Pig Records, Earwig Records, Polygram, and many others over his 40-year career all while keeping up a busy gig schedule both locally and internationally.

It is these live performances that have kept Skoller working in the Blues business for his entire adult life. A consummate storyteller, his soulful vocals and muscular harp work are the foundation his insightful, poetic and critically acclaimed lyrics rest upon. Uniquely, Skoller brings a singer-songwriter sensibility to a lifetime of deep Chicago Blues experience.

He is joining a fellow Delmark Records artist, and one of the great torchbearers of traditional Chicago Blues, guitarist/singer/songwriter Steve Freund and his powerful rhythm section, Tyler Eng on drums and Michael Phillips on bass.