Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Matt Taylor began guitar studies at the age of 14. He studied at Grant MacEwan University under the tutelage of Canadian guitar great Jim Head where he received his Diploma in Jazz Performance. He then studied with Canadian guitarist Pat Coleman in Nanaimo, BC at Vancouver Island University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree. While in Nanaimo Matt was able to study privately with Ian Mcdougall, Andrew Homzy, and John Capon and before departing the island Matt spent two months studying with Canadian great Phil Dwyer. As a member of the Edmonton based group The Armada with pianist James Clarke, Matt also performed with the Grant MacEwan Jazz Combo and held the coveted guitar chair of the Grant MacEwan Big Band, one of Western Canada’s top college big bands. He has had the opportunity to perform in some of Western Canada’s greatest concert halls including Edmonton’s Francis Winspear Centre, the Regina Conexus Center for the Arts, and Edmonton’s Shaw center where he provided entertainment for the Snow Flake Gala. Matt is the guitar instructor for Regina’s Prairie Land’s Jazz Camp. Matt has performed with John McCaslin, Gord Foote, John Capon, Hans Verhoven, Phil Hamlin, and Savic Panylyk. Aside from Jazz Matt is functional in a range of other styles and was the guitarist for Nanaimo based funk/pop groups Schizophonic and Knuff Funk. Matt is currently active on Regina’s music scene playing throughout the city, he is also currently attending the University of Regina for music education.