Matt Lavelle is a trumpet, flugelhorn, bass and alto clarinet player, and composer based in New York City. He began his music career with Hildred Humphries, a swing era veteran who played with Count Basie and Billie Holiday. He has played in ensembles led by Sabir Mateen since 2002. In 2005, Lavelle began study with Ornette Coleman. Lavelle was a member of the Bern Nix quartet from 2010-2017. Lavelle recorded with Giuseppi Logan in 2010. In 2011 Lavelle created the 12 Houses Orchestra. Lavelle records for Unseen Rain and has just released a record on the legendary ESP record label, a duo with Reggie Sylvester called Retrograde.

Lavelle has played and collaborated with Ornette Coleman, William Parker, Warren Smith, Henry Grimes, Eric Mingus, Sabir Mateen, Roy Campbell, Daniel Carter, Jemeel Moondoc, Mat Maneri, Ras Moshe, Hilliard Greene, Steve Swell, Matana Roberts, Bern Nix, Jack DeSalvo, Charles Downs, Tom Cabrera, Francois Grillot, Giuseppi Logan, William Hooker and many others.