GROUNDATION ONE ROCK ALBUM: music videos and behind the Scenes videos
I'm so honored to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Harrison Stafford and all the musicians in Groundation to produce the May 2022 album ONE ROCK. My contribution included writing the string trio arrangements, writing a number of horn arrangements, playing just about all
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DO YOU LOVE REGGAE MUSIC?
ONLINE REGGAE GUITAR & KEYBOARD LESSONS
Register here for the “Northeast Routes” online reggae Jaminar, Feb 17, 2025, 5pm ET. It’s FREE!
For musicians of all skill levels, Art of Reggae offers top rankin’ and inspired lessons, courses, practice loops and curated playlists for guitarists and keyboardists that unlock the mysteries of this profound and transformational musical art form.
Presented by Matt Jenson, professor of piano, Berklee College of Music, keyboardist with Groundation (the One Rock album).
SEE OUR YOUTUBE PAGE FOR EXCERPTS OF LESSONS AND FREE DOWNLOADS!
LEARN ONLINE AT YOUR OWN PACE!
Stream our Courses & Lessons from Anywhere, Anytime.
Our growing collection of Courses and One Shot lessons are a first of their kind, deep dive into how to play reggae properly presented in a clear, step-by-step format, for musicians of all levels.
Play along with Exclusive Audio Practice Loops
Jam along to an ever growing library of practice loops which include many of the classic Jamaican riddims as well as originals by the Art of Reggae band. Practice what you are learning in many different keys and styles.
Listen to
Curated Playlists
Curated Playlists
Listen to meticulously curated playlists that provide real world examples of specific concepts being taught. No need to spend hours searching for such recordings. We’ve done it for you!
Join Our Members-Only Community Forum
Connect and reason with reggae musicians from across the globe, make new friends, find musicians for your band/project, and deepen your learning. Art of Reggae educators chime in regularly with expert advice, answers and enjoy meeting you!
MATT JENSON
Art of Reggae founder
The jazz pianists Bill Evans and Thelonius Monk ignited the fire in Matt’s soul that caused him to commit his life to music. Early in his career this pursuit of ‘pure jazz’ landed him at New England Conservatory of Music where he completed a masters degree in Jazz piano and composition. However, as his experience grew, he found himself falling more deeply in love with roots and groove styles of music including blues/southern rock, rock, funk, Afro-Beat, Afro-Cuban; pretty much anything with grit, soul, a wicked back beat, or in clave…that you could dance to. Then, along came Bob Marley and Matt pretty much lost his mind. Bob’s music, life and revolutionary thrust resonated so deeply that Matt did all he could do to find out what this music was about. He made many trips to Jamaica, played in numerous reggae bands, including his own (The Liquid Revolution, Mix up Mix Up) and when he was hired as a professor of piano at Berklee College of Music (2001), he created an entire class/ensemble livicated to Bob Marley. He’s worked some of the musicians in the Wailer’s inner circle including Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt and Chinna Smith. Since then he’s been discovering, studying and loving all of the amazing bands, individual musical artists and styles of Jamaican music. Recently he’s had the incredible opportunity to express his cutting edge vision for the future of roots reggae as a composer, arranger and performer, by recording and touring with the renowned jazz-fusion reggae band Groundation. Matt’s performances and arrangements appear on the band’s 10th album, “One Rock,” released released May, 2022.
Matt is a gifted and passionate teacher with 25+ years of experience and along with his plumbing the depths of Jamaican musical culture, he could not be better placed to help pioneer the emerging field of reggae music education.
Matt’s website: MATTJENSON.COM
Mix Up Mix Up (reggae-jazz connection)
The Liquid Revolution – Dragonfly Taxi album feat. Tuff Lion
Rebel Tumbao (Afro-Cuban arrangements of Bob Marley’s music and more)
TUFF LION
Art of Reggae Guitar Teacher
“Love is the key ingredient in how well you will play any instrument.” This statement by Tuff not only summarizes his musical outlook but his entire livity. He is decidedly and determinedly dedicated (or livicated!) to the communal experience of playing reggae music where the groove, or pocket, is what everyone involved sacrifices themselves to…with out ego. He is a ‘guitarists guitarist’ and whether he is playing a deadly stiff rhythm skank fused with the organ bubble and piano chop or delivering lead lines consisting of anything from smokey jazz riffs to blistering clean and authentic biting blues styles, he’s always playing from the heart, aiming to raise consciousness and uplift. Afterall, this is what it means to be and express ROOTS.
Tuff has appeared on a vast catalogue of recordings including many of his own (not only as guitarist, but as composer, singer, drummer and keyboardist) and with artists such as Midnight, Prezident Brown and so many others. Those who he has worked with want him because his works are recorded and performed without the over distorted rock tone that has become popular with a lot of reggae guitarists today. While you may occasionally hear a wha pedal or a phase shifter effect, Tuff’s most consistent effect is a cautious amount of reverb. It is from this stark set up that emerges the essence of the pure guitarist. Tone and vibes from the hands and the intention, not from pedals. Guitarists and musicians of this caliber are what make this music sparkle and feel so damn good.
Many will be familiar with the viral youtube video ‘The Art of Playing Reggae Guitar’ that Matt and Tuff produced in 2013. This video has provided much of the inspiration for the creation of Art of Reggae. October 2023 an enhanced version of the video was released, with improved audio and more nuggets of wisdom from the original video session. Here you’ll find a 12 lesson course in which Tuff expands on all of the topics on the video and a lot more!
Matt met Tuff on the island of Kauai’i (Hawaii) in 2009 as they were co-faculty members for a week-long immersive camp livicated to the study of reggae music and culture for musicians. (“Reggae School” at the Steel Grass Ranch/Recording studio) There was an immediate simpatico that took place between the two as they realized they shared a similar love for reggae and loved each other’s vision for the style that is so heartically rooted in the tradition yet forward looking towards new possibilities for the art form.
Tuff’s latest solo release, Harmonic Therapy released 8/23
2008 Instrumental release Ten Strings
1999 Midnight Album Ras Mek Peace
Check it out...
Here's what it's all about
Testimonials
WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE SAYING:
Tony Tuitupou
I started working with Matt Jenson 2020, taking private lessons learning to play reggae keyboarding. I am actually a drummer by trade and play various local band reggae bands in salt lake. But when Matt showed me the art of reggae project. I was hooked and volunteered as beta tester. Man, this website blew my mind and gave me the ability to practice at my pace. Matt was very informative and insightful into the world reggae keyboarding. I am looking forward to what else the art of reggae will produce.
Selwyn Brown
Keyboardist and founding member of Steel Pulse
Keyboardist and founding member of Steel Pulse
I’ve been deeply involved in all aspects of reggae music since the 1970’s and I’ve never seen anything like this before! The lessons are clear, concise, inspiring and DEEP. It is difficult to tease out all of the critical subtleties of this music and these lessons illuminate them masterfully. The practice loops and curated playlists are brilliant aids in helping you understand and practice what you are learning. You will come away from your experience knowing how to play reggae properly and most importantly, with the right feeling. It’s all about a heartical and rootical feeling and Art of Reggae has it right and tight. BIGGUP Art of Reggae!
Mr. Kowalsky
I’m the front man of my reggae band where I play the rhythm/lead guitar and sing. I tried many times to learn how to play piano with Reggae language by watching my keyboard players or with YouTube videos without any success. When I discovered Art of Reggae, the awesome lessons put me on the path of learning not only the way to play reggae piano properly but to get a deeper understanding of the meaning of this music. I have now increased my skills as a piano player and I wonder if I should play live piano or keep playing my guitar or do a little bit of both…what a beautiful challenge.
If you love reggae music, take these courses without any doubt!
Fan Comment for Tuff Lion
One man sends one signal, and billions create songs in their mind while observing this precious film. If this man only knew how much love he is earning. If there was a love button , the paint would be off!!! I just want to add my voice here – as a bassist, this right here is pure heavenly musical genius! What a fantastic , beautiful & spiritual tutorial! This to me is the music of life, and Tuff Lion is clearly a master at creating the good vibrations.
Blog & News
Art of Reggae blog
The latest runnings!
10/29/22
This is our second European tour this year, the first taking place in July and August. I wrote a blog about this tour that you can read on the AofR site. As opposed to the Summer tour which was playing mostly mid sized and large reggae festivals, this tour is mainly us playing clubs. I
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Check out this brief video explaining this new One Shot lesson on it's way to the site, from the road with Groundation.https://youtu.be/fuifZSXxkCE