Music drifted through the Quad on Tuesday as Matt Blaize plucked his banjo in front of Middleton Library. The 23-year-old music performance senior began playing his first instrument, the flute, at 7 years old. But at age 10, he quit playing because his classmates teased him. “You have to understand, it was elementary school, and I was a boy playing the flute. So that’s when I switched to electric bass,” he said. Since then, Blaize, who performs in the Quad about twice a week, has learned to play 15 instruments including the mandolin, harmonica, guitar, cello, accordion, piano and double bass. He also started playing the flute again three years ago. “It was always easy for me,” he said. “I never really had to practice. Everything about music came natural with me. It was always fun.” Blaize said his favorite music genres are classical and jazz. He said he likes the “spontaneous creativity” of jazz. “It requires your mind to go a million miles per hour, so you make it up as you go along,” he said. Blaize said he was nervous the first time he performed in front of an audience. He was 15 years old when he performed with the Louisiana All-State Jazz Band. “I was very nervous, but I made it through,” he said. “I got to work under great composers like Shelley Berg.” Blaize is an accomplished musician who has been touring the world since he was 15. He has performed in the United Kingdom, France and Germany. Last year, Blaize competed against 400 musicians and placed as a finalist at the International Society of Bassists competition in Kalamazoo, Mich., at Western Michigan University. He said he was excited to meet double bassist Francois Rabbath and jazz bassist Rufus Reid, who was a judge at the competition. Blaize said he plans to compete again in 2007. In addition to playing music, Blaize enjoys archery, fishing, astronomy and painting with oils. He even has several patents pending, including one for an improved tuning device for double basses. “I know [the patent] will be approved, but it takes a while,” he said. Blaize plans to release his first CD in May next year. The self-titled CD will feature eight tracks of Blaize on electric bass. His CD was recorded under his own record label, BlaizeArts. He plans to tour Japan for the CD’s release. “Tokyo never shuts down,” he said. “It’s open 24 hours, and I’m really excited to be going. They’re really big jazz fans over there.” Matthew Herron, English and German senior, said he noticed Blaize playing the banjo in the Quad on Tuesday. “My impression is that he’s a very talented individual,” he said. Herron said he also plays several instruments including guitar, harmonica, drums, bass and piano. He made plans to play music with Blaize. “I thought it would take a long time to meet someone who plays all these instruments,” Herron said. Herron said he likes being able to hear music while he sits in the Quad. “I think it’s great that he plays music out here,” he said. “I wish people would do it more often.” Blaize plays free concerts for the elderly at the Ollie Steele Burden Manor on Essen Lane. His next performance will be on Oct. 20. He will also perform at Dragonfly’s Bar and Grill on Dec. 7.
—–Contact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]
Student practices banjo music in Quad
October 10, 2006