Matthew Justin Garrison was born June 2, 1970 in New York City. Here he spent the first eight years of his life immersed in a community of musicians, dancers, visual artists and poets. After the passing of his father, the legendary bassist Jimmy Garrison, (who was also John Coltrane's bassist), his family relocated to Rome, Italy, where he began to study piano and bass guitar. In 1988, Matt returned to the United States and lived with his godfather, Jack Dejohnette, for two years. He studied intensively with both Dejohnette and bassist Dave Holland.
In 1989 Matthew received a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he began his professional career with the likes of Gary Burton, Bob Moses, Betty Carter, Mike Gibbs and Lyle Mays, to name only a few. He currently performs and records with such artists as Joe Zawinul, Pat Metheny, Steve Coleman, John McLaughlin, and the Gil Evans Orchestra.
He has also performed, toured and recorded with Joshua Redman, Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Mike Gibbs, Roy Hargrove, Dennis Chambers, Ravi Coltrane, Bela Fleck, Kenny Burrell, Mike Stern, Joey Defrancesco, Fareed Haque, Arto Tuncboyacian, Peter Erskine, Dave Liebman and Richard Galliano.

Winner of the Louis Armstrong Award (Onteora, 1989) and endorsed by Fodera Bass Guitars and Epifani Speakers, Matt has been featured in Downbeat, Bass Player, Pat Metheny Newsletter, Guitar Player, New England Performer, BassMagazine (France) and Guitar & Bass (France).