Though a young (still a high school senior !) musician, Mattie DeDoes has an impressive set of achievements as he releases his first CD project.

Back in 2004, Mattie was named "Outstanding Musician" in the jazz division of the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, where he also had his first taste of a composition premiere when his piece "Bluesy Lake" was performed by the Gold Jazz Band.

It was around that time that he began his studies with acclaimed Ann Arbor sax instructor Jack Wagner, a relationship that continues.  Mattie also spent a few years under Jack's tutelage in the Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts jazz program, establishing himself further as a top-flight improvisor and all-around player.

Mattias DeDoes and ifunk perform at the
Ann Arbor Summer Festival, 2008

about Mattie DeDoes the student-athlete

(link to come)

Though he is first and foremost a jazz artist, Mattie has some impressive classical achievements as well.  He has performed Ravel's "Piece en Forme de Habanera" on numerous occasions, and in a special spring 2008 Ann Arbor concert "Mattie DeDoes Goes 'Around The Horn,' he presented Lawson Lunde's difficult "Sonata" for alto saxophone and piano.  This concert also featured DeDoes while presenting a number of fine young Ann Arbor-area musicians.

His performance history as a jazz soloist has been, though consisting of only a few short years, a noteworthy one.  Appearing regularly accompanied by his father, Steve DeDoes, Mattie has wowed crowds at area athletic contests with his version of "America The Beautiful," at major events  for Gabriel Richard High School, and at jazz venues throughout the Southeast Michigan area.

Mattie has performed as a soloist when sharing the stage with prominent artists, including Detroit jazz legends Matt Michaels and Barbara Ware, as a guest soloist with Marlena Reigh, and at the Firefly Club with harmonica master Peter "Madcat" Ruth.

Mattias DeDoes welcomes Congressman Mark Schauer to the stage at
his victory rally in Dexter, Fall 2008