Matt Solomon

Bitter Jester Music Festival Judge

Matt Solomon is a vocalist, trombone player, drummer, and Music Production Engineer with over twenty years of experience. From house parties to the House of Blues, Matt has played in more than ten bands across several levels of professionalism and notoriety.

Matt graduated from Tulane University in 2018 with a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and French, as well as four years of marching band experience.

During his time with the Tulane Marching Band, he marched in nearly thirty football games and more than a dozen Mardi Gras parades (over 120 cumulative miles!) and had the opportunity to play with bands such as New Kids on the Block, Trombone Shorty, the Soul Rebels, and Rebirth Brass Band in iconic New Orleans venues such as the Howlin' Wolf, Jazzfest, and Mardi Gras World!

Matt also played in the Green Wave Brass Band, a prominent New Orleans-style bras ensemble for all four years he attended Tulane.

After moving back to Chicago, Matt has played trombone, vocals, and drums in several local bands based primarily in the Northwest side of Chicago, including several stints in the Bitter Jester-adjacent band, The Ska-Lers with BJMF Director of Education Michael Tseitlin and Music Director Kevin Ray; as well as a local band called The Limbos, with whom Matt has recorded two EPs before their disbandment during the COVID pandemic. He was then the vocalist and rotating drummer for an up-and-coming rock/funk fusion cover band titled Missy Vaughn-Dean and the Love Supremes.

“I absolutely LOVE judging and listening to this event. The quality of the musicians are top-notch. I am so thankful that I get to listen to a ton of great artists and offer my experience to help contestants be the best they can be!”

- Matt Solomon

When not playing in a band, you can find Matt on the lookout for the best karaoke bars in the country, somewhere on a lake with his wife and two dogs, Comiskey and Meadow, or perfecting the subtle art of how to pull off the ultimate stage-dive.