Portland Jazz Hero
Neil Mattson is an arts leader, entrepreneur, and educator dedicated to strengthening arts and culture in his community. As the founding executive director of Montavilla Jazz, he has spent more than a decade elevating Portland’s jazz scene through innovative programming, strategic partnerships, and neighborhood-based cultural activation.
Under his leadership, Montavilla Jazz has expanded arts access in public schools, bridging gaps in music education and serving hundreds of students annually through artist residencies and festival programming.
As founder and CEO of Montavilla Guitar Studio, he has taught more than 25,000 private music lessons, reflecting his deep commitment to individualized learning and long-term student development. He has also supported the professional growth of numerous music educators.
Mattson is a guitarist and composer with more than 25 years of professional performance experience which includes his role as founding member and arranger for The Hot Club of Detroit. He appears on numerous recordings, including Shy Girls’ Still Not Falling (2013), Ben Macy’s Of Scars and Permanence (2012), and James M. Gregg Quintet’s Another Bridge Born (2011). His Trio Flux released its debut album in 2011, followed by Mobius (2013) and Zwyze (2025).
Neil has performed at major festivals including the PDX Jazz Festival, Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival, Detroit Djangofest, and the Detroit International Jazz Festival. His compositions have been performed by the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble. His stellar musicianship informs the education initiatives and jazz programming that makes Neil Mattson a true Jazz Hero.
—Marcia Hocker, 2018 Portland Jazz Hero and Pancho Savary,
