Siddhesh Joshi (Editor)

Matt Tolentino

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Genres
  
Pre-swing, Jazz, Dance

Role
  
Musical Artist

Name
  
Matt Tolentino


Labels
  
Jazzador Records

Years active
  
2007–present

Record label
  
Jazzador Records

Matt Tolentino

Birth name
  
Matthew Anthony Tolentino

Born
  
May 10, 1985 (age 38) Dallas, Texas (
1985-05-10
)

Occupation(s)
  
Musician, Multiinstrumentalist, Singer, Bandleader

Associated acts
  
The Singapore Slingers, The Royal Klobasneks, The Matt Tolentino Band

Albums
  
Midnight, the Stars, and You

palesteena performed by matt tolentino public domain


Matt Tolentino (born May 10, 1985) is a Dallas, Texas musician and bandleader specializing in the live performance and preservation of pre-swing music, with a focus on American popular songs from 1920 to 1935. Tolentino sings and plays music from "between the World Wars" regularly at numerous Dallas venues as a solo (accordion) act, as leader of a four-piece ensemble called The Matt Tolentino Band, as leader of a seven-piece polka band called The Royal Klobasneks, and most notably as leader of a full eighteen-piece orchestra called The Singapore Slingers, which has been named the "Best Pre-Swing Jazz Orchestra" and the "coolest, quirkiest, retro jazz group" in Dallas.

Contents

Tolentino's fascination with jazz-age music began at age 8, when a neighbor gave him a cassette tape recording of the Coffee Club Orchestra (as featured on radio's A Prairie Home Companion). By age 16, his devotion to music was such that he asked his parents to help him buy a used accordion instead of a used car. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 2003. A musical autodidact, Tolentino sings lead vocals and plays many instruments, including clarinet, tuba, bass saxophone, ukulele, banjo, piano, and accordion.

Matt tolentino and the singapore slingers


Recognition

In early 2014, Tolentino was profiled in connection with his brainchild annual Jazz Age Sunday Social concert event at Dallas Heritage Village. A photo spread of his home and its period decor was also featured.

In late 2014, Tolentino was recognized by the Dallas Observer as number 42 among the 100 most creative people in Dallas.

Discography

  • When Summer Is Gone (CD) (pre-swing music recorded by The Singapore Slingers) (2010)
  • Midnight, The Stars, And You (CD) (Matt Tolentino solo project) (2011)
  • The Frank Skinner Project (CD) (pre-swing music recorded by The Singapore Slingers) (2014)
  • Here We Go! (CD) (polka music recorded by The Royal Klobasneks) (2016)
  • References

    Matt Tolentino Wikipedia