Matt Pierson

Matt Pierson is an American executive, manager, and Grammy-winning music producer known for producing many noted jazz artists beginning in the late 1980s.

He led the marketing and A&R departments at Blue Note Records and served as Executive VP/GM of Warner Bros. Records' jazz division, which he headed for more than 10 years. Since 2004, he has been an independent producer, manager, and consultant.

Pierson's recordings have received Grammy nominations and wins and include Billboard #1 albums and singles. . His producer discography includes recordings by Brad Mehldau, Joshua Redman, Pat Metheny, k.d. lang, Bob James, Kirk Whalum, Jane Monheit, Wallace Roney, Milt Jackson, Milton Nascimento, Robert Randolph, Samara Joy, and Laura Benanti. After earning a bachelor's degree in Studio Music and Jazz at the University of Miami, Matt played trumpet professionally with Miami Sound Machine, Bob James, Julio Iglesias, salsa bands, and other acts, and on commercial recording sessions.

Blue Note Records: 1988–1992

In 1988 he moved to New York City and was hired as Promotion Assistant at Blue Note Records. Mentored by Bruce Lundvall and Michael Cuscuna, he began doing A&R work and producing recordings, beginning with Bobby Watson & Horizon, Benny Green, Rick Margitza, Bob Belden and others. He was involved in signing John Scofield, Joe Lovano, and Rachelle Ferrell to the label, and handled the release of Blue Note reissues. Eventually he rose to the position of Director of Marketing and A&R.

Warner Bros. Records: 1992–2004

In 1992 Warner Bros. Records hired him as Director of A&R, Jazz & Progressive Music. In 1995, he was promoted to Senior Vice President for Jazz. Kevin Mahogany, Larry Goldings, Mark Turner, and others, and oversaw a roster that included Bob James, Joe Sample, Fourplay, Michael Franks, Earl Klugh, George Benson, Al Jarreau, George Duke, and others.

Warner Jazz grew substantially under Pierson's leadership in the early 1990s, especially in mainstream jazz, with the signing of many prominent artists. John Stoddart, Pat Metheny, and Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown.

At Warner he also produced a series of compilations and reissues, including packages featuring artists such as Duke Ellington, George Benson, Bill Evans, David Sanborn, and Jaco Pastorius.

In January 1999, he was promoted to Executive Vice President/General Manager–Jazz.

Movie soundtracks and cast albums

In the late 1990s Pierson worked with Clint Eastwood on Eastwood's Maspaso Records imprint, serving as Music Supervisor and producing the soundtracks to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and Space Cowboys. He also produced the soundtrack to the Louis Malle film Vanya on 42nd Street and the original cast album of 50 SHADES! THE MUSICAL.

Independent producer and manager: 2004–present

After leaving Warner in 2004, Pierson became an independent producer and consultant, consulting for clients including Rhino, Apple, and PledgeMusic.

In 2006 he launched the Mosaic Contemporary imprint for Mosaic Records, producing a series of compilations and reissues.

In 2012, Pierson produced the 2-CD Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project, which featured Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, Kelli O'Hara, Vanessa Williams, Anika Noni Rose, Brian D’Arcy James, Sutton Foster and others, with music by Stephen Sondheim, Sammy Cahn, Stephen Schwartz, Tony Kushner, and others.

From 2015–2020 he served as A&R Consultant for Sony Masterworks, where he signed and produced Robert Randolph's Grammy-nominated Got Soul album and recordings by Bria Skonberg, New Masters, and Laura Benanti.

His productions since 2005 include Samara Joy's Grammy-winning recordings, Kirk Whalum’s Babyface Songbook, Jane Monheit’s The Lovers, The Dreamers, and Me, Taylor Eigsti’s Daylight at Midnight, Becca Stevens Band’s Weightless, Sophie Milman’s In the Moonlight, James Maddock’s Another Life, Kirk Whalum's Grammy nominated Everything is Everything: The Music of Donny Hathaway, and Svetlana's album Night at the Movies which debuted at #1 on the US Billboard Traditional Jazz Album Chart in 2019.

Serving as a judge at the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2019 Pierson met the winner, Samara Joy. After producing her debut recording, he took on management responsibilities. In 2022, he produced her Verve debut recording Linger Awhile, which netted the Best Jazz Vocal Album award at the 2023 Grammy Awards, and earned Joy the Best New Artist award, only the second jazz artist to win the award. Pierson produced Samara Joy's EP A Joyful Holiday which earned Joy two Grammys in 2025: for Best Jazz Vocal Album, and for Best Jazz Performance for her rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Me" featuring Sullivan Fortner.

His management clients include vocalists Stella Cole and Lucía and trumpeter/vocalist Bria Skonberg.

Selected producer discography

Artist Recording Year Label Dida Pelled I Wish You Would 2026 La Reserve Stella Cole It's Magic 2025 Decca Records Lucía Lucía 2025 La Reserve Bria Skonberg What It Means 2024 Cellar Music Stella Cole Stella Cole 2024 La Reserve Samara Joy A Joyful Holiday 2023 Verve Samara Joy Linger Awhile 2022 Verve Pasquale Grasso Be-Bop! 2022 Sony Masterworks Pasquale Grasso Pasquale Plays Duke 2021 Sony Masterworks Samara Joy Samara Joy 2021 Whirlwind Laura Benanti Go Slow 2020 Sony Masterworks Bria Skonberg With a Twist 2017 Sony Masterworks Robert Randolph and the Family Band Got Soul 2017 Sony Masterworks Becca Stevens Band Weightless 2010 Sunnyside Kirk Whalum Everything Is Everything 2010 Mack Ave. Jane Monheit The Lovers, the Dreamers, and Me 2008 Concord Kirk Whalum Babyface Songbook 2005 Rendezvous Brad Mehldau Anything Goes 2004 Warner Bros. Joshua Redman Elastic 2002 Warner Bros. BWB Groovin''' 2002 Warner Bros.

Progression: The Art of the Trio, Vol. 5| 2001 Warner Bros.

Art of the Trio 4: Back at the Vanguard| 1999 Warner Bros.

Snowbound| 1999 Warner Bros.

In This World| 1998 Warner Bros.

Songs: The Art of the Trio Volume Three| 1998 Warner Bros.

Live at the Village Vanguard: The Art of the Trio Volume Two| 1998 Warner Bros.

My Romance| 1998 Warner Bros.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil| 1997 Malpaso

The Art of the Trio Volume One| 1997 Warner Bros.

Village| 1997 Warner Bros.

Freedom in the Groove| 1996 Warner Bros.

Pursuance: The Music of John Coltrane| 1996 Warner Bros.

Warner Jams, Vol. 1| 1995 Warner Bros.

Spirit of the Moment – Live at the Village Vanguard| 1995 Warner Bros.

Introducing Brad Mehldau| 1995 Warner Bros.

Straight Up| 1995 Warner Bros.

Abandoned Garden| 1995 Warner Bros.

Mistérios| 1994 Warner Bros.

MoodSwing| 1994 Warner Bros.

Wish| 1993 Warner Bros.

Joshua Redman| 1993 Warner Bros.

Angelus| 1993 Warner Bros.

Testifyin'!: Live at the Village Vanguard'' 1992 Blue Note