Guitarist Matt Richards may not fulfill the critics' expectation of fitting easily into a single musical category. His solo acoustic performances shuffle jazz, world and classical influences into a uniquely singular performance. His electric jazz group creates energized, interactive jazz that most definitely resonates with its foundation in jazz tradition. His composing, arranging and musical production work allow Matt the freedom to explore a wealth of ideas and influences beyond the guitar. It may seem that Matt's elusive musical profile has distanced him from any sort of celebrity status -- in fact, he has earned an international following through performances, recordings and social media and gained the unsolicited recognition of a number of acclaimed musical artists such as Larry Coryell, Eric Johnson and Pierre Bensusan.