Matthew Justin Garrison (born June 2, 1970) is an American jazz bassist. Since 2011, he has run ShapeShifter Lab in Brooklyn, New York, with Fortuna Sung. Described by the New York Times as "an electric bass virtuoso", he has toured with Herbie Hancock. His 2000 debut album, Matthew Garrison, was described by Bass Player magazine as having "raised the bar" for electric bass players. In 2010, Garrison toured with R&B singer Whitney Houston during her Nothing but Love World Tour.

Early life and pre-solo career

The son of Jimmy Garrison (bassist with: Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane) and modern dancer Roberta Escamilla Garrison, Matthew spent much of his childhood in Rome, Italy. In 1988, he returned to the U.S. to live with his godfather, Jack DeJohnette, with whom he recorded. In 1989, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston on a scholarship and began to play professionally. In 1994, he moved to New York City where he regularly performed and recorded with Gary Burton, Rashied Ali, Ravi Coltrane, Gil Evans Orchestra, Steve Coleman, Vernon Reid, Chaka Khan, Joni Mitchell, Joe Zawinul, The Saturday Night Live Band, John McLaughlin, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Pino Daniele and Wayne Krantz.

Discography

As leader or co-leader

As sideman