About us

Matthew Hecht

Some of us still have things to learn later in life. Matthew learned that he enjoys singing, and found that his voice had some potential. He took up songwriting around the same time. Initially, as a way to deal with the emotional fallout of a local Santa Fe tragedy. Soon it became a much appreciated means of expression. And aren’t we all looking for a means to express ourselves?

Matthew is guitarist in Two Trails, vocalist on many songs and songwriter behind most of the original compositions that are intermingled with favorite covers in Two Trail’s repertoire.

Matthew’s work has been recognized with a New Mexico Music Award. Many of the songs have been finalists for NMMA’s, in categories of Singer/Songwriter, Folk and Rock. He may be done with competitive songwriting (time will tell!). His songs have been released as four albums and as singles, and can be seen and heard at MatthewHechtMusic.com, on his bandcamp page plus the usual streaming sites.

As for the rest of his CV, in ultra-short form: former National Team cyclist, PhD physicist who worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the National Center for Atmospheric Research on oceans and climate.

Danny Michael

Danny made the switch from guitar to mandolin around age 50, trading in a spare Martin guitar for the diminutive eight-stringed instrument. A friend (who might happen to be his bandmate) thought he was a little crazy. A fine guitarist, starting over again?!? Such concern was soon proven unwarranted, as Dan took to the mandolin like a duck to water. He spent a good many years as mandolinist in the hard working bluegrass band Railyard Reunion, one of only two members through the full duration of the band’s existence… along with the late and still incomparable Tim Nolan (who really does have a wikipedia page). If there are wild mushrooms to be found, he’ll find more good ones than you.

Fred Milder

When Fred was 11 years old at summer camp, his counselor played guitar sitting on a bed during the post-lunch required “rest hour.” His counselor was very popular. It was that era’s rock and roll (early 1960’s) and that’s all it took to get Fred hooked. Over the ensuing 63 years, Fred has studied and played just about every style of music imaginable, including rock, jazz, jug band, blues, bluegrass, classical, salsa, and liturgical, on guitar, bass and tres (Cuban, fretted string instrument); in groups from as small as a duo to as large as a 28-piece jazz band, and in venues as small as a private cocktail party (where he met his eventual wife), to streetcorners in Harvard Square, to international jazz festivals. In two trails, the upbeat joy of the music and the depth of Matt’s compositional lyrics has reinvigorated Fred’s love of all that makes up great Americana music. Fred’s first paying gig was a gas station opening “Battle of the Bands” when he was 13, and his band, The Coachmen, won the $5 per bandmember prize. And the beat goes on….