Matt's Biography

Matt was born in Hopewell, Virginia April 27,1989 to Greg & Sunshine Garstka. Sunshine & Greg own Performance Music, Whip City Real Estate & Jester’s Coffeehouse in Downtown Westfield. Greg is a professional guitarist and has been playing for almost 30 years.

After taking two years of piano lessons from 5 to 7 years of age Matt insisted on trying the drums. The natural inclination that Matt displayed was impressive even to the most seasoned veteran musicians who heard him. At age eight matt began playing the drum set. Matt was playing auxiliary percussion (congas, djembe etc.) in his Dad’s reggae band at age 11. When Matt turned 12 he started playing drum set at reggae gigs. When Matt turned thirteen he was lucky enough to meet and play with the great Jo Sallins. Matt was also lucky enough to record in several professional studios with Jo Sallins and his father starting at the age of 13 and continues to. He appeared on Jo Sallins CD/DVD entitled “Mr. Cool” at the age of 14. He Released an EP with a local punk/hardcore band called Backstab in 2006. Matt also connected with bass player Doug Wimbish at the NAMM Show and has since performed with and received guidance from Doug. He met up with Desiree Basset (a young guitar player) and has gigged all over Massachusetts and Connecticut with her, as well as record with her. Matt was featured on Jo Sallins newest CD/DVD entitled “The Present”. On the CD Matt had an opportunity to play on a song with Billy Powell. He released his first album in January of 2007 entitled Heavy Volume. He continues to play with Jo at clubs throughout the Northeast. Most recently Matt has performed with Jo Sallins at The Burlington Jazz Festival, The Springfield Jazz Festival, Rock Against Racism Festival, The Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, MA, and Berklee College of Music. Matt had the chance to work with an artist relations development personnel located at Longview farms. Matt has performed with other musicians such as Rohn Lawrence, David Stolz, Tony Smith, Doug Johns, Derek Jordon, and Evan Marien. Matt is currently Attending Berklee College of Music on a scholarship. He most recently teamed up with Gokh Bi System. This group features 5 musicians from Senegal West Africa mixing African with hip-hop. His influences include Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta, Tony Royster Jr., Aaron Spears and Dave Weckl.

Bands

Gokh Bi System- Since their arrival in America, Gokh-Bi System has opened for and shared the stage with: Kanye West, Damian Marley, Tribe Called Quest, Angelique Kidjo, Femi Kuti, Culture, Toots and The Maytals, Michael Franti (Spearhead), Erykah Badu, and with Grammy Award winning artist, Patti LaBelle, who hosted a special tribute concert in honor of legendary singer and songwriter, John Whitehead at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, PA. Joining GBS at this momentous evening were Gerald LeVert, Jaguar Wright, Floetry, Angela Bofill, and many more friends of John Whitehead. They have completed 9 US tours through 27 states including performances at a number of major festivals including Bumbershoot (Seattle WA), National Geographic's All Roads Film Festival, The International Festival (Louisiana), The World Music Festival (Indiana and Chicago), Festival Nuits d'Afrique (Montreal & Quebec), Sunfest (London, Ontario), and the Celebrate Brooklyn African Festival (New York).

Two Man Trio-The Two Man Trio includes Jo Sallins who plays the Bass and Keyboards simultaneously and Matthew Garstka who completes the music with the necessary ingredients. They play songs such as Giant Steps, Confirmation, and Spain. They have played in festivals all over New England and they have plans to go to Japan.

Teachers;

Mike Mangini- He has toured with Steve Vai, Extreme, Dale Bozzio/Missing Persons, and Annihilator, to name a few. He has recorded with James LaBrie> Elements of Persuasion, Mullmuzzler 1, Mullmuzzler 2; Steve Vai> Fire garden, Merry Axemas, G3 Live, Ultra Zone, Live in an Ultra World, The 7th Song, Extreme> Waiting for the Punchline, Running Gag, Unconditionally; Nuno Bettencourt> Schizophonic; Gary Cherone> Perfect World; Tribe of Judah> Exit Elvis; Annihilator> Set the World on Fire, All for You, The One; Rush Tribute> Subdivisions; Mike Keneally> Sluggo; Sal DiFusco> Great Exploits, Nevertheless; Chris Emerson> Accidental Tourist; Tim Donahue> Madmen & Sinners. He is endorsed by Pearl Drums, REMO Drum Heads, Shure Microphones, Zildjian Cymbals, Zildjian Artist Series Signature Sticks and Vater Slicknuts.

Ralph Peterson- During his relatively brief period in the spotlight, Ralph Peterson has already distinguished himself not only as a superior drummer but as an important bandleader too. It was natural that Peterson would be a drummer since four of his uncles and a grandfather played drums. He started at age three and, after attending Rutgers and settling in New York, he became a constantly working drummer. In addition to sessions with OTB, David Murray, and the Terence Blanchard-Donald Harrison group, Ralph Peterson led several diverse and adventurous sessions for Blue Note and Evidence, all of which are recommended.

Kenwood Dennard-Alumnus, Berklee College of Music, Studies with Nadia Boulanger

Extensive performing experience with artists including George Clinton, Chick Corea, Gil Evans, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Whitney Houston, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Jaco Pastorius and others. He was a leader on CD Just Advance on Big World Records, featuring Marcus Miller and Hiram Bullock. His recordings include The Sweetest Days, Vanessa Williams; Live at Montreaux, Miles Davis and Quincy Jones; Nothing Like the Sun, Sting; and others.

Jackie Santos-National and international tours with John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, Tavares, Bob James, Tom Browne, and Chuck Berry

Studio musician on several albums, soundtracks, and jingles.

Bob Gullotti - B.A., Berklee College of Music. Performances with J.J. Johnson, Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano, Attila Zoller, Nelson Riddle Orchestra. Over 30 recordings to his credit. Masterclasses and workshops at Dartmouth College, Harvard University, New York University, Bogota University (Colombia), Ramon School of Jazz (Israel). Faculty: Berklee College of Music, University of New Hampshire, Brandeis University.

Jo Sallins - (National Performer, Teacher and Recording Artist)

Jon Adams - (Maxxtone, SMA , Orange Crush)

Rick Marshall - (Session Player Western Mass)

Jim Fogarty - (Wolfgang, Zing Recording)

Clark Seibold - (Jazz Freelancer)