In 2004, a group of young musicians connected in Scranton, PA and formed Morning Pride. The group blends rock, blues, country, reggae, pop, and jam into a unique sound reflecting a wide variety of influences both classic and contemporary. Following small line-up changes in its formative years, Morning Pride now consists of drummer Matt Kester, 23, lead guitarist/vocalist Mike Mizwinski, 24, rhythm guitarist/vocalist John Canjar, 24, and bassist/vocalist Jason Chase, 30.
Morning Pride members Matt Kester and Mike Mizwinski have been acquainted since childhood, growing up in the same circle of established Northeast PA musical families. At sixteen Mizwinski enjoyed the success of his first band, The Appalachian Barnhouse Band, and then went on to share the stage with such talents as- Merle Saunders (Legion of Mary, The Jerry Garcia Band), Jimmy Herring (The Dead, Widespread Panic), Don Preston (Zappa), Jake Cinninger & Joel Cummins (Umphrey's McGee), Charlie Hitchcock & Ben Combe (Particle), Jeff Pevar (Phil Lesh, CSN, Ray Charles, Jackson Browne), Jen Z (Antigone Rising), Marc Ford (The Black Crowes, Ben Harper), Gordon Stone, Creed Bratton (the Grassroots, NBC's The Office), George Wesley, and many more. Kester and Canjar also played together while teenagers. However, it wasn't until their late teens that Kester and Mizwinski reconnected. They soon joined with Canjar, experienced player Jason "Chase on the Bass" Chase from the band Neighbor X, and a young saxophonist named Chris Worobey from local group Crush. Right away the group got down to business forging a sound with rich harmonies and skilled playing. Under the title "The Matt Kester Band" (or simply MKB) the group played clubs and gained a following with help from a featured spot on radio station 102.3 FM The Mountain's "Mountain Grown Original Music Series."
Following brief hiatuses in 2005 and 2006 during which Mizwinski's career was sidelined but ultimately enriched by his recovery from a 5 year struggle with drug addiction, "The Matt Kester Band" became Morning Pride and recorded its first album of original music, "Never Woke Today," in 2006. Alan K. Stout later described this effort in the June 6, 2007 edition of Weekender magazine, simply stating, "the songs are good, the production is strong and the musical diversity is clear, which helps explain the group's popularity among area musicians." After saxophonist Worobey's departure, the group went on to win the Keystone College 2006 Battle of the Bands and play some of Northeast PA's hottest clubs. They have opened for touring acts like The Breakfast and local favorites Old Friends and George Wesley.
All members also stay active with other projects. Canjar plays in another local group, Nowhere Slow. Jason Chase jams and records with a rotating cast of the area's best players. Matt Kester won the drummer's spot in the Northeast PA supergroup Mesh. Also, in 2007 Mike Mizwinski released a solo album, "The Madness in my Mind, " exposing yet another side of his playing abilities to an even wider audience throughout York, PA into Baltimore, MD and beyond.
The group plans to record a new album in 2007 and 2008 with an even more diverse list of original material. With relaxed yet unpredictable, "what will they play next?" live shows, Morning Pride gains new fans every time they play. They have gained respect from accomplished musicians as well as newly beginning acts and continue to perform every show with an eye toward future possibilities for a talented, eager group.
