Matthew Skoller

Matthew Skoller is one of Chicago’s most respected harp blowers and blues bandleaders. For the past 32 years he has played all of Chicago’s heavi-est showcase venues and toured much of the world with his super tight ensembles. Deeply rooted in the tradition of the Chicago blues elders with whom he worked and studied, Skoller has developed a unique style that conjures the past while being firmly planted in the present.

In the past 7 years he has performed on 4 Grammy nominated CDs and 2 of his original compositions have been nominated for song of the year by the Blues Music Awards. Including the title cut of his 2016 release Blues Immigrant which has beenhailed by critics as one of the best Blues releases of that year. He has produced 2 of Lurrie Bell’s most critically acclaimed CDs and coproduced Chicago Blues A Living History: The (R)evolution Continues as well as 5 of his own albums.

But it is his live performances that has 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 award winning lyrics rest upon. Uniquely, Skoller brings a singer-songwriter sensibility to a lifetime of deep Chicago Blues experience.

Since moving to Chicago in 1987 Matthew has worked with and/or recorded with: Jimmy Rogers, Koko Taylor, Big Daddy Kinsey and the Kinsey Report, John Primer, Lurrie Bell, J.W. Williams and the Chitown Hustlers, Willie Kent, Lovie Lee Watson, Big Time Sarah, Deitra Farr, Gloria Hardiman, Michael Coleman among many others.

A charismatic and fiery performer, the flame from the torch that was passed to him by the Blues elders he jammed with over the years (including Sunnyland Slim, Buddy Guy, Pinetop Perkins, Dave and Louis Myers, James Cotton, Carey Bell, Junior Wells, Billy Branch among many others) burns brighter than ever.