Matthew Alec

Biography He was born on October 9, 1983, in Parma, Ohio and was raised in the small town of Richfield, Ohio. Matthew graduated in 2007 with Bachelor of Arts in Music degree with concentration in classical saxophone on Kent State University in 2007. He studied both classical music and jazz with the famous saxophonist Greg Banaszak. Cleveland Magazine nominated him as Best Horn Player in Cleveland in 2009.

Career Alec began his professional music career in Northeast Ohio as a founding member of the Cleveland-based soul and funk group Winslow. Active during the late 2000s and early 2010s, the band became known regionally for its blend of funk, rock, and soul influences and performed extensively throughout the United States.

During his tenure with Winslow, Alec performed alongside artists and groups including Earth, Wind & Fire, Incubus, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Average White Band, Lupe Fiasco, O.A.R., Ozomatli, Rusted Root, Bret Michaels, and Keane. The group released the albums Crazy Kind of Love (2008), which featured Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell, and Left of the Right Direction (2013), which Alec co-produced.

In 2020, Alec founded , an independent record label focused on promoting jazz and contemporary instrumental musicians from Northeast Ohio.

In 2021, Matthew Alec and The Soul Electric released their debut studio album, Cleveland Time, through Cleveland Time Records. The album featured trombonist Tom “Bones” Malone, former musical director for Saturday Night Live, and received coverage from publications including All About Jazz The album also charted on U.S. and Canadian jazz radio charts, reaching the Top 20 on the NACC Jazz Chart. , and Cleveland Time, received national jazz media coverage and streaming distribution. , followed by Soul Jazz Classics: Live in 2018 in 2023. The recordings further expanded Alec’s profile within the contemporary jazz fusion and groove-based jazz scenes.

In 2024, Alec was included in All About Jazz in 2009.

In 2024, Alec was ranked No. 19 in All About Jazz – Winslow (2008) – Lauren Brabson (2022) – Zach (2024)

Notable performances

Notable performances with the group Winslow: Tower City Amphitheater (Cleveland) Opening for Incubus (2010) Opening for Earth, Wind, and Fire (2012) House of Blues (Cleveland) Opening for Robert Randolph and The Family Band (2010) Opening for Rusted Root (2012) Kent State University (Kent, OH) Opening for Lupe Fiasco (2011) Headlining Akron's Porch Rokr Festival (2013)