MATHEUS WENDT
Guitarist, composer and educator
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Bio
Matheus Wendt is a guitarist, composer and music educator from São José do Hortêncio, in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He currently lives in Porto Alegre, where he develops his artistic and educational work. His connection with music began early in life: he picked up the acoustic guitar at the age of seven and started playing electric guitar by the time he was eleven. At fifteen, he began performing professionally, playing with his hometown’s Big Band and local bands.
He holds a technical degree in Musical Instrument Performance with a focus on guitar from Faculdades EST/ESEP (2018), where he studied under Professor James Liberato from 2015 to 2018. During this period, he deepened his knowledge of Brazilian instrumental music and jazz. In 2019, he moved to Porto Alegre to pursue a degree in Popular Music at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), graduating in 2024. As part of his final project, he developed and released his debut album of original compositions, Long Story Short, in May 2024.
The album showcases original compositions performed by a quartet featuring Matheus on guitar, Felipe Schütz on double bass, João Bauken on drums, and Pedro Saul on piano. In recent years, the group has established a strong presence in Porto Alegre’s music scene and throughout the state, with performances at major cultural events such as Noite dos Museus (2024) and Sarau do Solar (2025). They have also appeared at some of the city’s most renowned venues, including Espaço 373, Café Fon Fon, Odeon, Milonga, the Olga Reverbel Room at the São Pedro Theater Complex, and the Álvaro Moreyra Theater.
Matheus was awarded Best Instrumental Music Producer at the 2024 Açorianos Music Awards and was also nominated for Best Composer, Best Instrumentalist, Best Performer (with his quartet), and Best Album (Long Story Short). He was likewise nominated at the 2024 Prêmio Profissionais da Música in the categories of Best Jazz Group, Best Album, and Best Digital Single, in which he was a finalist.
As an educator, Matheus has taught guitar, acoustic guitar, and music theory at MusicArte Ivoti (2017–2022), in the UFRGS Guitar Extension Program (2024), and currently offers private and group lessons both online and in-person in Porto Alegre. He also teaches at HMS Music School.
Long Story Short
Long Story Short (2024) is the debut album from the brazilian guitarist and composer Matheus Wendt. Moving through modern jazz and world music, the album features eight compositions of his own, which reflect his references within his musical trajectory.
The project was developed in 2023 as part of Matheus's graduation project in Popular Music at UFRGS, leading to the recording of the album, which features Felipe Schütz, João Bauken, and Pedro Saul.
The full album is already available and can be accessed on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms.
||| Credits
Matheus Wendt - Electric and acoustic guitar
Felipe Schütz - Double bass
João Bauken - Drums
Pedro Saul - Piano and rhodes
All compositions by Matheus Wendt
Produced by Matheus Wendt
Recorded at Tec Áudio studio, Porto Alegre
on November 6, 7, and December 16, 2023
Recorded by Antonio Flores and Artur Wais
Mixed by Antonio Flores
Mastered by Marcos Abreu
Pictures by Mafe Gonçalves and Caio Kolling
Videos by Caio Kolling
Graphic design and illustrations by Gabriel Sacks and Lídia Brancher
The Light Within
Composed in 2021, this is the first of the compositions featured on the album. This song was a turning point for me, as through its composition, I found the sound I was searching for, one that reflected my personality. From there, it set the direction for the other compositions included on the album.
Sonhador
(Dreamer)
"Sonhador" is a song that I began composing in February 2021 but was only finalized in June 2023. The idea was to create a song with just four chords, while the melody would be simple to understand and assimilate, developing gradually over time, almost meditatively. It evokes the feeling of drifting through the clouds, like a dreamer.
A Ponte
(The bridge)
Playing a ballad has always been incredibly challenging and carries a great sense of responsibility for me. This composition doesn't feature solos in its structure, allowing the music and its atmosphere to take center stage. I tried to incorporate various open string chords on the guitar, reminiscent of the voicings used by Joni Mitchell, capturing a bit of the feeling I had when listening to her.
A Grande Queda
(The Big Fall)
The title "A Grande Queda" is inspired by its dark ambiance, drawing from J.R.R. Tolkien's book "The Fall of Gondolin." Musically, it's a slow 12-bar groove, influenced by Wayne Shorter's "Nefertiti" and the ballads "Infant Eyes" and "Fall." Additionally, this composition showcases my harmonic inspiration from Toninho Horta.
Into a Dream
This was the first song I composed with the title in mind before even starting the composition. "Into A Dream" comes from the memory of watching the movie "The Wizard of Oz" synchronized with the album "The Dark Side of the Moon" by the British band Pink Floyd. Drawing from the sensations evoked by both the album and the movie, I attempted to express musically what I imagined to be a somewhat chaotic and strange yet reflective dream.
Old Tale
As the composition process of the songs progressed, I still felt that a song in 3/4 was missing. From there, I began composing "Old Tale," which was finished in just one day, on March 9, 2022. For this song, João Bauken brought his musical influences to the drums, infusing the rhythm with the south-american rhythm of chamamé, playing in an ambiguous manner between 6/8 and 3/4 time signatures.
Long Story Short
The swing feel of the album's composition arises from two Wayne Shorter songs, "The Big Push" and "Lost." The A section of the song uses a structure similar to that of "The Big Push," incorporating two pairs of chords followed by a modal progression. Meanwhile, the B section brings a structure similar to the B section of "Lost," using a pedal bass with chromatic triads played over it.
"Long Story Short" is a simple way to summarize my journey up to this point and how all my influences led me to create this work. For these reasons, I chose to name the album after the song.
Joni
During 2020, I was on the lookout for new things to listen to and ended up discovering the musical work of Joni Mitchell. Instantly, I fell in love with all of that mysterious, melancholic sound full of sensations and feelings so complex.Of all the influences that shape my work, Joni Mitchell's stands out the most in this song, hence the simple homage to her in its title.
Photos
Videos
Matheus Wendt - Long Story Short Quarteto (Sala Álvaro Moreyra)
Matheus Wendt - Long Story Short Quareto (Sarau do Solar 2025)
Joni - Matheus Wendt Long Story Short Quarteto (Noite dos Museus)
A Ponte - Matheus Wendt Long Story Short (Noite dos Museus)
Private lessons
Personalized private classes (online or in-person in Porto Alegre/RS), both for those who are starting their journey in music and building their repertoire, and for those who want to delve deeper into the studies of jazz, music theory, harmony and improvisation.
Each private class lasts an average of 50 minutes, if necessary, a 100-minute class can be scheduled.
Contact for more information and scheduling.
1
Weekly or fortnightly classes
In this plan, the student takes one lesson (online or in person) every week or every fifteen days. This way, they receive support over a longer period, with the option to purchase (and renew) one-month, three-month, and six-month packages.
2
À la carte classes
In this plan, the student takes ONE lesson (online or in person) on a specific subject pre-established in a prior conversation. This way you make the most of your time and content that is 100% personalized to your needs.
3
Harmony and improvisation group classes
In this plan, 4 classes lasting 120 minutes are offered, one per week (online) for a group of students. During the classes, subjects of musical theory, harmony and improvisation are covered. Each class focuses on a few different topics. The minimum number to open a class is 4 students, with a maximum of 10.