The Matt Flinner Trio “Deeply Rooted New Acoustic Music”

In 2006, three musical pals decided to get together to play a few gigs; since then, the Matt Flinner Trio has been exploring new pathways and setting new standards for the bluegrass trio sound all around the U.S. and Europe.

Mandolinist Matt Flinner, guitarist Ross Martin and bassist Eric Thorin cover a wide variety of musical styles—all with the common ground of American roots music. Bluegrass, jazz and old-time music are all present here in their ways, along with a dose of classical chamber music composition and arrangement, as the members all draw from their wide array of musical loves, experiences and influences. These influences boil down into the trio’s own organic sound of New Acoustic music, or Modern String Band music, or Chamber Grass (music is getting harder and harder to label these days, isn’t it?). Whatever label you put on it, it is guaranteed to be fresh and original, and definitely something you’ve never quite heard before.

The trio began doing “Music du Jour” tours in 2006, in which each member of the group writes a new composition the day of the show, and all three new pieces are performed on that evening’s concert. After several of these tours the trio recorded its first CD, “Music du Jour,” on Compass Records in 2009. They have now performed over 150 “du Jour” shows around the U.S., and continue to explore new frontiers and new sounds in acoustic string band music. Their third CD, “Traveling Roots,” was released on Compass Records on January 22, 2016. After the release, the trio continues their “Music du Jour” project, writing music the day of the show for special guests including Tony Trischka, Darol Anger, Sam Bush, Frank Vignola, Andy Hall and many others.

Matt Flinner

Grammy-nominated mandolinist Matt Flinner has made a career out of playing bluegrass and American roots music in new ways. Hailed by Downbeat Magazine as “one of the best mandolin players ever,” Flinner has established a reputation as one of the most respected composers and innovators in modern American acoustic music. His projects and collaborations range from bluegrass to jazz to classical to New Acoustic music, all with the common thread of American roots music with a creative edge.

Ross Martin

Guitarist Ross Martin has performed in concert halls, honky-tonks, theaters, rock clubs, living rooms, on festival stages, television programs and everywhere in between. He grew up in the suburbs of Dallas, TX, with brief stints in East Tennessee, attended the University of North Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies, then headed west. After ten years in the front range area of Colorado, he relocated to the east coast and has lived in Brooklyn, NY for the past ten years.

Martin’s musical path has covered as much territory as his physical one. Reflecting his love of diverse genres like jazz, bluegrass, country, folk, experimental, and classical music, Ross has always felt at home with fellow musicians who seek to reconcile, through their music, the incredible wealth of styles available to listeners in this global and digital age. He has toured and performed with a wide range of artists including Matt Flinner, Tony Furtado, Ron Miles, Mollie O’Brien, The Motet, Caroline Herring, Dwele, Sonya Kitchell, and many others. Ross’ solo album, “Volley”, features his original compositions and electric guitar playing, and he recently released a duo recording with acoustic guitarist Grant Gordy titled “Year of the Dog”. He performs frequently throughout the New York City area, and tours nationally and internationally with various projects.

Erick Thorin

Bassist Eric Thorin is a highly regarded musician/bassist living on the front range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. He can be found on stage in The Matt Flinner Trio with Ross Martin, Danny Barnes and various touring luminaries such as Darol Anger, Bonnie Paine, Tony Furtado and more. Eric remains active in the studio as producer and performer, has written hundreds of compositions as a member of The Matt Flinner Trio, orchestrated songs for Elephant Revival with the Colorado Symphony and Colorado Music Festival Orchestra and mixed, mastered and produced the debut recording release of Take Down the Door, Live in Lyons. Eric also serves as an adjunct faculty in the newly formed Folk and Bluegrass program at the University of Northern Colorado