"What is music to you? What would you be without music? Music is everything. Nature is music (cicadas in the tropical night). The sea is music, the wind is music. The rain drumming on the roof and the storm raging in the sky are music. Music is the oldest entity. The scope of music is immense and infinite. It is the 'esperanto' of the world." ~Duke Ellington
JaZz Vocalist ...
While having both experience and training in multiple styles of music, JaZz is Carolena's passion with swing, bebop and overall straight-ahead being her preferred genres. However, regardless the style, it is Carolena's distinctive tone quality, exceptional pitch and ear, combined with her artistic lyric interpretation and phrasing that set her apart as a vocal musician of excellence.
Carolena's main vocal JaZz influences are the great Ella Fitzgerald and Carmen McRae, along with Boston-based Carol Sloane. Additionally, she has been strongly influenced and blessed in various ways by multiple exceptionally talented JaZz musicians who are cherished friends, primary of whom is Joe Baque (Superlative Master Pianist), as well as:
John Stowell (Original Master Guitarist/Composer)
Bobby Scann (Trombone/Arranger)
Archie LeCoque (Former Lead Trombone, Stan Kenton Orchestra)
Herbie Phillips (Trumpet/Flugelhorn/Arranger)
The Great Carl Fontana (Trombone)
... and last, but certainly not least ...
Frank Sinatra, Jr. (Vocalist/Conductor/Piano)
Educator ...
When not busy performing Carolena teaches in the Carolena Mátus Voice Studio, lending her 30+ year vocal expertise to beginning voice students in private weekly sessions, encouraging their talent and musical self-confidence to grow in a safe, supportive environment. She also teaches singers with more experience who have either hit plateaus or who have sustained vocal injury due to lack of proper training, including actively performing professional singers, musicians and actors in a variety of genres.