Matt Berkeley: News

In case you haven't noticed, there is now, in addition to the new S.F. Yoshi's, a plethora of new music clubs and restaurants in the Fillmore District. Supertaster is happy to announce a residency at 1300 Fillmore (http://1300fillmore.com) that will feature various Supertaster combinations every Sunday and Wednesday from
6:30-9:30pm. Come check it out!

Wisdom and the Wisdom Creations Band is hard at work preparing for the upcoming studio album:
"Full Spectrum"
For more information check the Wisdom myspace page:
http://myspace.com/wisdomcreationsband

If you haven't been yet, Soul Sundays at Farmer Brown is turning into quite the event. Hosted by Supertaster (http://myspace.com/supertastersf) and featuring a wide array of specal guests, Farmer Brown offers live music and an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet of delicious and locally grown Soul Food. Plus amazing mimosas and more to extend that weekend a little longer. Farmer Brown is located at Mason and Turk in San Francisco.
http://farmerbrownsf.com

Hi Friends...
If you haven't already checked it out, come visit Supertaster EVERY SUNDAY at Farmer Brown (Mason and Market, SF). Farmer Brown specializes in organic and local SOUL FOOD! Every Sunday, Supertaster will perform at this Gospel Brunch with guest singers and other special surprises. Grits, Fried Chicken, Pie, Mimosas and more!

Hi Friends...
Check out the music page to listen or download new live recordings from some of my bands... Supertaster, Wisdom, etc.
Sierra Nevada Festival with Wisdom was off the hook! First the rain, then the rainbow all while we performed on the main stage....pretty legendary, once-in-a-lifetime kinda stuff I must day. Ask anyone you know that was at the fest, they probably saw (or at least heard of) the double rainbow that occured!
Check back soon, upcoming calendar dates to be posted soon!

Hi Friends...

Please check the music page. We've just added a track from The Wisdom/Ozomatli show at the Fillmore in November. Enjoy!

In other exciting news, please mark your calendars for Joe Bagale's highly anticipated CD release show, featuring the Dirty Workshop with Matt Berkeley on keyboards...April 4th at the Great American Music Hall, San Francisco.

Wisdom and the Wisdom Creations Band will open several shows for reggae greats, Steel Pulse, on their upcoming West Coast run. We will open for Steel Pulse in Santa Cruz, Ventura, Anaheim and West Hollywood. We'll be doing our own shows in Escondido and San Francisco. If you missed us at Reggae Rising, Earthdance, Harmony Festival....now's your chance Cali peeps! Check it out.
http://wisdomcreations.com
http://myspace.com/wisdomcreationsband

Back from the East Coast tour....with Bob America, Lenka Dusilova and Peter Bagale. It was a pleasure to be part of a fabulous backing band with Grey McMurray (guitar), Mike Chiavaro (bass) and Joe Bagale (drums). Check out Bob America's debut album at http://bobamerica.tv

In other news: Joe Bagale at Cafe du Nord this month--Friday July 27th. Wisdom at the North Beach Jazz Fest--Saturday July 28th. Check the calendar page or http://wisdomcreations.com for upcoming Wisdom tour dates including Reggae Rising and Earthdance.

Thanks so much to Steel Pulse for having Wisdom open up the sold-out show at The Fillmore on Saturday! Wisdom was joined by the Wisdom Creations Band, DJ Cocheze and Seasunz...and we all had a blast. The San Francisco fans were showing much love, and they got the show that they deserved.

Steel Pulse is truly one of the greatest reggae bands on the planet....and the band members are beautiful human beings, too. Their on-stage activism includes fundraising to fight poverty in Africa and to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

In other news: Be sure to check out the Harmony Festival next weekend.
http://harmonyfestival.com
Wisdom will open for Common at the Sunday late night show. Also performing that weekend are: Brian Wilson, Erykah Badu and The Roots.

And to all my East Coast peeps: Check out the Bob America tour. I'd love to see you there. http://bobamerica.tv

Peace and Blessings.

Friends...please check out the "shows" page for Wisdom festival dates. Also...look out for more trio dates at Mecca featuring Rob Ewing, Joe Bagale and Matt Berkeley.

Bay Area people: Look out for my own group playing some of your favorite tunes, new and old, pop favs, all instrumental.

Otherwise check me out with Joe Bagale on January 31, or with Wisdom at the Bob Marley Day Festival on February 24, also featuring some of the world's top reggae acts.

The Fillmore was packed on Friday for Ozomatli and Wisdom. Wisdom, Seasunz and the Wisdom Creations Band were joined by Deejay Cocheze (KRS-One/Temple of Hip-Hop) and Mingo Lewis, Jr. (percussion) and greeted by a fired-up SF audience. Great crowd, and much thanks to Ozomatli for the invitation to join them that night.

Up and down California playing keys with Wisdom...
http://wisdomcreations.com
It's been a blast touring from San Diego to Redway along with Wisdom, at each stop opening up for Anthony B and his band. Much props to the hyped-up, packed houses in Santa Cruz and at the Mateel Community Center! Those folks show so much love for the hip-hop and reggae music. If you didn't catch us at Slim's, there's a Petaluma show Friday, then Sacramento on Saturday, then the tour heads to the Northwest, although without myself, Thomas McCree and Luis Garcia backing Wisdom and Seasunz. Stay posted for upcoming shows with Joe Bagale, Disappear Incompletely and Wisdom.

Peace...

Hello friends....back from a hiatus in Italy this summer...a trip filled with beauty and inspiration. This Fall look for shows with Rob Ewing's band: Disappear Completely, performing arrangements of popular Radiohead tunes, also look for shows with the Joe Bagale Band...and my own group, the Matt Berkeley Band will be kicking the old school funk and soul grooves.

Well...it's been a while, I've never been much of one for journal writing, perhaps that will change this year. For now, go ahead and enjoy some new music from the 'audio' page. It's some studio work with Ewing Berkeley & Bagale.

Made it back to the Bay: had my first experiences driving a 30+ foot RV. Some tight, windy roads...but thanks to the Most High we made it back in one piece.

Exciting shows on the horizon: Ewing, Berkeley and Bagale at the Shattuck Downlow, Friday 9/9 and the debut of the Joe Bagale band at Cafe du Nord, Thursday 9/15.

Wow...busy week with many transportation adventures....a break down, a last minute ride and a near breakdown...but all well worth it.
Reggae on the River was a blast...props to the One World Orchestra....and Ozomatli, O-Maya, Damien and Stephen Marley, Prezident Brown too! Some great music and wonderful artists hospitality. Reggae knows how to treat their musicians. I rate it the best festival hospitality I've been a recipient of. Thanks!

From Garberville to Piercy to Redway to Garberville to McKinleyville to Shasta to Ashland. Soon further North....Portland, Seattle and even some uncharted territory (uncharted for me!) across the Puget Sound.

See you soon!

Here we go....into the 21st century. I now have a website, so that those who care to can keep tabs on where I'll be playing music. From time to time, this website may even play host to my rants and raves.

Make sure to check the dates page...I'll be playing with Joe and Rob this weekend, then onto Reggae on the River and a northwest tour with Shimshai. See you soon!