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Matt Lemmler

Biography

Matt Lemmler is a New Orleans–born pianist, vocalist, composer, arranger, educator, producer, and Steinway Artist regarded as one of the more original jazz voices to emerge from the city’s rich piano tradition.[1][2] Raised in the Lower 9th Ward just blocks from the home of rhythm-and-blues legend Fats Domino, he grew up in a deeply musical household where his father, Richard Lemmler Sr., a retired professional musician, and his brothers Richard Jr. and Michael (also a noted New Orleans pianist-bandleader), kept jazz and classical piano sounding through the house around the clock.[2] He went on to earn a Bachelor of Music degree from Loyola University New Orleans and a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music in New York, where his arrangements, compositions, and piano work were showcased in a debut performance at Carnegie Hall.[1][2]

After completing his studies, Lemmler spent four years touring internationally with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical "The Phantom of the Opera" before returning to New Orleans to refine his craft with leading local bandleaders such as Bob French and the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, Herb Tassin and the Blue Room Orchestra, and master clarinetist Pete Fountain.[1][2] In the 2000s he began recording under his own name, forming the New Orleans Jazz Revival Band and releasing albums including "Portraits of Wonder" (a New Orleans jazz tribute to Stevie Wonder), "The Music of New Orleans" (a tribute to his hometown), and "UBUNTU," a spiritually oriented collection of reimagined church hymns, American spirituals, and classic 1970s pop, as well as later projects like "Love," which pays homage to Billy Joel, the Lennon–McCartney songbook, and Lionel Richie.[1][2][3] His work, steeped in the legacy of New Orleans pianists from Jelly Roll Morton and Fats Domino to James Booker, Dr. John, Ellis Marsalis, and Harry Connick Jr., blends stride- and gospel-infused jazz piano with soul and pop sensibilities, often emphasizing healing, spirituality, and community—an outlook captured in his embrace of the concept of “Ubuntu,” the idea that the collective is stronger than the individual.[1][3]

Beyond performance and recording, Lemmler has built an extensive career in education and musical direction. He serves as a jazz piano professor in the Jazz Studies program at Loyola University New Orleans and musical director for the New Orleans Jazz Revival Band, and has been active in broader industry leadership, including service as a GRAMMY Governor for the Memphis regional chapter from 2011 to 2013.[1][6][7] His projects have taken him far beyond New Orleans, from solo concerts in Moscow for the city’s 866th birthday celebration to commissions such as "Southern Songs & Sonatas" for the Ogden Museum of Southern Art’s 10th anniversary, and into television work where he has acted in and composed music for HBO’s "Treme" and AMC’s "Preacher."[1][3][7] Through this combination of performance, teaching, and composition, Lemmler positions himself as a contemporary bearer of New Orleans’ piano lineage while extending it into fresh, genre-crossing territory aimed at both honoring tradition and offering what he describes as an inspirational experience for mind, body, and spirit.[1][2][3]

Fun Facts

  • Lemmler grew up in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward just a few blocks from Fats Domino’s home, immersing him early in the neighborhood that helped shape New Orleans rhythm-and-blues.[2]
  • While a graduate student at the Manhattan School of Music, he made his Carnegie Hall debut, premiering his own arrangements and compositions rather than appearing solely as a sideman.[2]
  • He spent four years touring internationally with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s "The Phantom of the Opera" before returning home to focus on jazz and New Orleans–based projects.[1][2][8]
  • Lemmler has appeared on television not only as a musician but also as an actor, composing and performing music for HBO’s "Treme" and AMC’s "Preacher."[1]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

  • Bob French - New Orleans drummer and bandleader with whom Lemmler "sharpened his skills" after returning from touring, working in the historic Original Tuxedo Jazz Band (Performances with Bob French and the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band) [Post–Phantom of the Opera tour, early 2000s (approximate, based on career chronology)]
  • Herb Tassin - New Orleans bandleader whose Blue Room Orchestra provided a professional setting for Lemmler to further develop his arranging and bandstand skills (Performances with Herb Tassin and the Blue Room Orchestra) [Post–graduate studies and Phantom tour (early 2000s, approximate)]
  • Pete Fountain - Master clarinetist and New Orleans icon under whose band Lemmler honed his traditional jazz vocabulary and ensemble playing (Performances with Pete Fountain’s band) [After returning to New Orleans from touring Phantom of the Opera (early 2000s, approximate)]
  • Fats Domino - Stylistic and cultural influence; Lemmler grew up just blocks from Domino’s home in the Lower 9th Ward and cites him as part of his New Orleans piano lineage (General influence on rhythmic feel and New Orleans R&B–inflected piano style) [Childhood onward[2][3]]
  • Jelly Roll Morton, James Booker, Dr. John, Ellis Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr. - Named lineage of great New Orleans pianists whose legacy Lemmler is described as continuing, indicating strong stylistic and historical influence (Influence on Lemmler’s stride, modern jazz, and song-based piano-vocal approach) [Career-long influences, especially in his New Orleans–centric projects[1][3]]
  • Billy Joel - Major songwriting and piano influence; his music is explicitly honored on Lemmler’s album "Love" and reflected in Lemmler’s vocal–piano style (Covers and arrangements of "And So It Goes", "She’s/He’s Got a Way", "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)" on the album "Love") [Highlighted on "Love" (2010s; exact release year not specified)[3]]
  • John Lennon / Paul McCartney - Songwriting influences whose material Lemmler reinterprets in a jazz context on "Love" (Arrangements of "In My Life" and other Lennon–McCartney songs on "Love") [Featured on "Love" (2010s; exact release year not specified)[3]]

Key Collaborators

  • Brian Blade - Renowned drummer featured on multiple Lemmler projects and core collaborator in the New Orleans Jazz Revival Band (Albums "Portraits of Wonder" and "UBUNTU" with the NOLAJazzRevival/New Orleans Jazz Revival Band) [From at least the early 2000s through the release of "UBUNTU"[1][2][3]]
  • John Ellis - Saxophonist who appears on Lemmler’s tribute recordings and New Orleans Jazz Revival Band projects ("Portraits of Wonder" and "UBUNTU") [Early 2000s onward[1][2]]
  • Leah Chase - Vocalist featured on Lemmler’s Stevie Wonder tribute album ("Portraits of Wonder") [Around the 2001 release of "Portraits of Wonder"[2]]
  • George French - New Orleans bassist and vocalist collaborating on Lemmler’s early recording projects ("Portraits of Wonder") [Circa 2001 and subsequent performances[2]]
  • Nicholas Payton - Trumpeter featured on "Portraits of Wonder", contributing to Lemmler’s national-profile debut as a bandleader ("Portraits of Wonder") [Circa 2001[2]]
  • Jason Marsalis - Drummer and member of the famed Marsalis family, appearing on Lemmler’s spiritually focused recordings ("UBUNTU") [Around the release of "UBUNTU" (2010s)[1]]
  • Bill Summers - Percussionist contributing to the rhythmic palette of Lemmler’s "UBUNTU" album ("UBUNTU") [2010s[1]]
  • Sean Jones - Trumpeter featured on "UBUNTU" as part of an expanded New Orleans Jazz Revival Band lineup ("UBUNTU") [2010s[1]]
  • Mark Mullins - Trombonist collaborating on Lemmler’s large-ensemble arrangements ("UBUNTU") [2010s[1]]
  • Evan Christopher - Clarinetist joining Lemmler on New Orleans–themed spiritual and popular repertoire ("UBUNTU") [2010s[1]]
  • Shane Theriot - Guitarist whose solos and grooves feature prominently on Lemmler’s album "Love" ("Love" (notably on "In My Life")) [2010s[3]]
  • Rex Gregory - Saxophonist featured on the "Southern Songs & Sonatas" bonus disc, adding energetic soprano saxophone lines to Lemmler’s compositions ("Southern Songs & Sonatas" (bonus disc to "Love")) [2010s[3]]
  • Michael Lemmler - Brother and fellow pianist/keyboardist who joins Matt on projects, adding synth and keyboard textures ("Southern Songs & Sonatas" track "Animal Funk Party") [2010s[2][3]]
  • The New Orleans Jazz Revival Band - Lemmler’s primary ensemble, for which he serves as pianist, vocalist, arranger, composer, and musical director, telling a multi-century story of New Orleans music ("Portraits of Wonder", "The Music of New Orleans", "UBUNTU" and live productions such as "The New Orleans Jazz Professors") [Founded in early 2000s and active since[1][2][4]]

Artists Influenced

  • Loyola University New Orleans jazz piano students (various) - As a jazz piano professor in Loyola’s College of Music and Media, Lemmler mentors emerging pianists and jazz musicians, passing on the New Orleans piano tradition and his arranging/ensemble concepts (Ongoing teaching, ensembles, and student performances within the Jazz Studies program) [Faculty tenure at Loyola University New Orleans (2010s–present)[1][6][7]]

Connection Network

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Discography

Albums

Title Release Date Type
Powerhouse 2025-05-01 Album
The Book of Psalms, Vol. One 2024-11-22 Album
New Orleans in Stride, Vol. 1 & 2 2019-04-26 Album
Love 2018-02-21 Album
Conversation 2017-06-01 Album
The Music Of New Orleans 2007-01-01 Album

Top Tracks

  1. It All Comes Down to Love (Love Time and Divination)
  2. I Thought About You (Love Time and Divination)
  3. I Want Jesus to Walk with Me (Live) (Love)
  4. Ham and Eggs (Ham and Eggs)
  5. As Time Goes By (Love Time and Divination)
  6. Blossom (Love Time and Divination)
  7. 3:27AM (Love Time and Divination)
  8. On the Turning Away (Love Time and Divination)
  9. Hola Brah (Love Time and Divination)
  10. Étreinte Bleu (Paris Blue Embrace) (Love Time and Divination)

Heard on WWOZ

Matt Lemmler has been played 4 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.

DateTimeTitleShowSpotify
Dec 15, 202500:30On the Turning Awayfrom Love + Time + DivinationThe Dean's Listw/ Dean Ellis
Dec 10, 202508:26Bye Bye Lovefrom LoveThe Morning Setw/ Breaux Bridges
Oct 27, 202501:57I Thought About Youfrom Love + Time + DivinationThe Dean's Listw/ Dean Ellis
Oct 27, 202501:17If It's Magicfrom Portraits of WonderThe Dean's Listw/ Dean Ellis