Moppa Elliot

Matthew “Moppa” Elliott was born and raised by two music-loving parents in Pennsylvania. In 1996 he attended the prestigious Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts and in 1997 enrolled in Oberlin College and Oberlin Conservatory of music, completing degrees in biology and jazz performance, respectively. While at Oberlin, Elliott performed frequently in and around Cleveland, Ohio and was mentored by Ernie Krivda, Greg Bandy and others while co-leading a group with trumpeter, Dominic Faranacci. In 2002, Moppa Elliott moved to New York City and in 2003 formed the group, “Mostly Other People Do the Killing” with trumpeter Peter Evans, saxophonist Jon Irabagon, and drummer Kevin Shea. The quartet won numerous polls and began touring extensively in 2009. Their first five studio albums were followed by an expansion of the group to a septet for 2013’s “Red Hot” release, and in 2014 they released “Blue”, a note-for-note recreation of Miles Davis’ classic album, “Kind of Blue.” In addition to leading “Mostly Other People Do the Killing,” Elliott performs frequently in New York City, operates his own record label “Hot Cup Records,” and teaches music at St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset, NY. He has appeared in the Downbeat Critics’ poll in three categories: Rising Star Bassist, Rising Star Composer, and Rising Star Arranger, and has produced recordings by the Danny Fox Trio, Jon Irabagon, Sam Kulik, and many others.