Meet Mat Gurman | Guitarist, Musical Director & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mat Gurman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mat, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk taking is essential. When the big opportunities arise, they often involve big risks and high stakes that can catapult your career if you are successful or set you back if you are not prepared for the challenge. When you are asked to play a difficult musical part on live TV, you can nail it and move up the food chain of A list players. If you are not prepared with the proper skills, you have no business taking that risk because many people are depending on you and the reputation of whoever got you the call is potentially in jeopardy if you let them down. You won’t get called back. Be honest with yourself when taking risks. If you’re ready, take it. If not, wait till you feel you are ready for your sake and everyone else involved. Ultimately, it’s the risks that will move you forward and prove what you can be depended on to do.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think as an artist, the most crucial voice you need to listen to is yours. We are influenced by everything around us and all the constantly changing information that can easily set us heading in a dozen directions at once. People will tell you that the way to be successful is to become things that may not be part of who you are. Music is a scared industry when it comes to financial support for anything new. What ever is trending is what record companies want. If you are too far from something they can already pigeon hole, you are not a safe bet. If you sound like something familiar and proven, they will put you in that mold to market you (and you may never get out). I actually had an exec from a major label tell me on the phone that “If you are not Bruce Springsteen you will be a failure”. I didn’t understand and asked him “you mean if I’m not as charismatic, if I don’t sound like him….what do you mean”? He said, “no, I mean if your not actually him”. He was telling me I had zero chance of being successful because I wasn’t someone else. That gives you an idea of the mindset of what is judging you. Individuality and honesty does not have a seat at their table. They want what’s already popular. So ask yourself, “what is success to me”? I did that and came to this conclusion. Success to me is making a living from being myself, not something someone else wants me to be. Many people don’t even realize that is an option in life. You have to be honest about your goals and what fulfills you. You also need to be honest about your motive in being a creative artist. For most successful artist, it is the road to being themselves, not a choice but a necessity. You can’t let others define what makes you happy, healthy and whole. As far as challenges and setbacks, the biggest obstacle I had and still have is myself. Coming from a traumatic childhood, I had plenty of confidence issues that effected the way I promoted myself. I did not do the normal things like jam sessions and sitting in. I just hoped that my commitment and honesty when I played would make me stand out. It worked but it took so much longer to get noticed. I don’t recommend this method to anyone who is able to be more social. I had a hell of a time doing that. The thing that I am proudest of, through all the ups and downs is, I am authentically me when I play or sing. My connection to my emotions are immediate and immersive. I am fortunate that my technical ability is adequate to play whatever I hear in my head in real time. That is what you strive for when you improvise. The connection between your ear and the instrument has to be immediate. I am at a place where that happens unconsciously when I play. That comes from being yourself, not what someone else wants you to be.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well now! A week? I don’t think we could pull it off. We would defiantly get down to LA Live, maybe catch a game if our timing is right. I would want them to see Angels Flight. I love it when it’s featured in an old B&W movie. We would go to the Pier in Santa Monica and I’d also tell them about P.O.P and show them where it used to be.  We would go to Hollywood and check out TCL Chinese Theatre and the Wax Museum. The Getty is on the list as is MOMA. Lunch at Geoffreys in Malibu has a very special place in my heart. I love going to China Town also, let’s do that. NoHo and West Hollywood to walk around. Also, a trip to Wackos in Hollywood and a drink next door at Tiki Ti Cocktail Lounge. (maybe one at the Tonga Hut too). Dinner at the Dresden Room and dig a little music. That’s good for the first day, right?

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Amiya Dasgupta was my Sitar teacher at Cal Arts. It was known to some students in the World Music department that he had played tabla on the Beatles song “Within Without You”. We would sometimes jam in his small classroom after a lesson with me on guitar and Amiya on Sitar. He loved to play and learn from everyone he encountered and found all music fascinating. We would sometime go into town for lunch or take a ride up to Lake Hughes just to listen to the ducks on the water quacking like a giant orchestra. I recall on one occasion Amiya conducting them while waving his arms with a huge smile on his face. For my 30th birthday, my wife brought Amiya over as a surprise. She hid him in the bathroom stall shower until it was time to reveal him and yell “surprise”. Amiya was a giving and gentle soul. I think he impressed me most with his quiet humility and amazing open heart. It was a rare combination of human qualities that I deeply cherish. I hope some of that rubbed off on me and how I interact in the world. Amiya was a beloved student of Ravi Shankar but never spoke of it to me except on one occasion when he showed me his wrist watch, given to him as a going away gift from Ravi before coming to America to teach. I think that was his most prized possession. He was not a man to brag or try and impress you. Amiya was like music royalty but you would never know because he was so completely without pretense. Amiya passed away while performing in concert, peacefully and blissfully, he silently passed while playing. I would like to give a shout out to Amiya Dasgupta although he has passed on. He impacted me deeply. He was a dear man and mentor to many musicians of all disciplines and instruments. He taught love and used his music to do it. I can’t think of a better outreach. The person who first recognized me as a musician is Kirby Shaw, a luminary in the vocal jazz community. When I was 19 years old he recognized my abilities and allowed me to work with him in his big band which often invited some of the most celebrated jazz musicians and vocalists in the world to join us and mentor us. Kirby would often feature me in his improvisation demonstrations saying I was an example of something called “Big Ears” (which is a huge complement in the music world). He helped me gain faith and confidence in myself. He also let me know what I was weak at. Also, I’d have to give a shout out to Carlos Rios, guitarist with Lional Richie, Gino Vannelli, Stevie Nicks, Chick Correa and so many more amazing folks. Carlos helped me produce a song on my first CD which received international attention in the guitar community and a spotlight in Guitar Player Magazine. He taught me how to record with a computer always telling me “the computer is your friend” when I would be overwhelmed. It was a lifetime break just knowing Carlos. I was a fan of his since I first heard him on the “Brother to Brother” album by Gino Vannelli. He helped me with my playing and gave me breaks that I was too short sighted to appreciate at the time and damaged a friendship as a result.  We have not been in touch in many years but I am always thankful for how he helped me break into the business and his friendship.

Website: www.matgurman.com
Instagram: Instagram.com/matgurman
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Image Credits
David Lustig