Mat Britain has pursued his love of percussion from the plains of Kansas to the island of Trinidad. He has traveled numerous times to Trinidad and performed with the Amoco Renegades Steel Band at the prestigious Panorama Festival. Living in Nashville, Tennessee, he directs the Vanderbilt University Steel Drum Band program and leads his professional steel band Deep Grooves. His recorded efforts include the steel drum solo on the quadruple platinum hit "When The Sun Goes Down" by mega-star Kenny Chesney as well as recent Chesney cd releases "Be As You Are" (Songs from an Old Blue Chair), and "The Road & the Radio". You can also catch some of Mat's music on numerous tv and radio jingles, episodes of "Live with Regis & Kelly", and if you are up really late at night, re-runs of "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous".

Mat has shared the stage and/or recording studio with music industry veterans such as Grammy Award winning artists Lee Greenwood, Neal McCoy, Charlie Pride, and Louise Mandrell, as well as Nashville's newest stars the Warren Brothers, Rebecca Lynn Howard and Steve Azar. He can also be found touring the country with the Britain/Moore Duo, a unique and creative percussion collaboration with long time friend and Marimba master Dan Moore.

Mat is indeed an All-American percussionist with a global perspective that permeates his grooves, style, and musicianship. He is a proud endorser and clinician for; Pearl Percussion, Zildjian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion mallets and sticks, and XL Protector cases.

Selected Discography; Kenny Chesney-"When The Sun Goes Down", Kenny Chesney-"Be As You Are" (Songs From An Old Blue Chair), Kenny Chesney-"The Road & The Radio", Neal McCoy-"Thats Life" Duet with Charlie Pride- "Youre My Jamaica", Lee Greenwood-"Wounded Heart", Lee Greenwood-"Stronger Than Time", Lee Greenwood-"All-Time Greatest Hits", Keith Stegall-"Passages", Britain/Moore Duo-"Little World of Rhythm"

Selected Jingles/TV; "Live with Regis & Kelly", "Tony Romas" Restaurant, Adventure Island Water Park, As The World Turns, Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous

www.myspace.com/matbritain

Difficulty: Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

“Adrenalin City” was composed by David Rudder and appeared on the 1999 CD release “International Chantuelle”. The lyrics refer to the electric feeling that permeates the entire island of Trinidad at Carnival time. From cab drivers to the executive of the bank, the excitement of Carnival is everywhere and in.....

Difficulty: Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

“Breakdown” was composed in 1990 by Len “Boogsie” Sharpe for the Phase II Pan Groove Steel Band. It is a typical up tempo Soca tune with a moderately simple melody in the lead pans and a unique chord progression, typical of Boogsie’s....

Difficulty: Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

"Jumbie" was composed by Soca great Machel Montano and was part of his 2007 release “Book of Angels”. This high energy, super fast Soca tune was a huge hit in the Caribbean as Jumbie was voted Road March (most played song) at the 2007 Carnival in Trinidad.  The Carnival character called....

Difficulty: Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

“Jump Up With De Steelband” was composed specifically for the Vanderbilt University Steel Band (Intermediate Band) in the Spring of 2008. While writing this piece I remembered back to what it felt like playing pan with the Renegades Steel Band on the.....

Difficulty: Medium (great for high school and college steel bands)

“Pan In De Party” was composed in 1992 by Ken Philmore for the Fonclaire Steel Band from San Fernando, Trinidad. This arrangement tries to capture the active....