Ron Mathewson
Ron Mathewson (born 19 February 1944) is a Scottish jazz double bassist and bass guitarist born in Lerwick, Shetland Isles, Scotland. Mathewson is best known for his years spent working with Ronnie Scott, but has also done recordings with Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Joan Armatrading, Ben Webster, Philly Joe Jones, Roy Eldridge, Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans.
Ron Mathewson | |
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Birth name | Ron Mathewson |
Born | 19 February 1944 |
Origin | Lerwick, Shetland Isles, Scotland |
Genres | Jazz |
Instruments | Double bass Bass guitar |
Associated acts | Gordon Beck |
Biography
Mathewson was born into an unusually musical household and at eight years old he was studying classical piano. He continued to study and perform classical piano until he reached sixteen, having started playing bass guitar a year earlier. His talent was noted and encouraged by the Shetland musician, Peerie Willie Johnson.
In 1962, Mathewson was in Germany playing professionally with a Scottish Dixieland band. In London he also performed with various jazz and R&B bands throughout the early 1960s. Around this time he was also a member of The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band.
In 1966 Mathewson became a member of the Tubby Hayes band, with which he performed until 1973. From 1975 on in to the 1990s, he was frequently a participant in various Ronnie Scott recordings and concerts.
In 1983, he appeared on his old friend Dick Morrissey's solo album After Dark with Jim Mullen, John Critchinson, Martin Drew and Barry Whitworth.
On 11 February 2007 a benefit concert was held for Mathewson, who was reportedly recovering from two broken hips, a broken wrist and a burst artery.[1]
Discography
With Tubby Hayes
- For Members Only (Live) (Miles Music)
- Mexican Green (Fontana)
With Philly Joe Jones
- Trailways Express (Black Lion, 1968 [1971])
With John Taylor
- Reverie (Vinyl Records)
With Gordon Beck
- Seven Steps to Evans w/ Tony Oxley & Kenny Wheeler (MPS)
- All in the Morning (Jaguar)
- Jazz Trio (Musica)
- Gordon Beck's Gyroscope: One, Two, Three....Go! (Jaguar)
With Ronnie Scott
With Phil Woods and His European Rhythm Machine
- Live at Montreux 72 (Les Disques Pierre Cardin)
With John Stevens
- Blue (Culture Press)
With Terry Smith
- Fall Out (Philips)
With Kenny Clarke
- Rue Chaptal (MPS)
With Kenny Wheeler
- Song for Someone (Incus, 1973)
With Acoustic Alchemy
- Early Alchemy (GRP)
With Ian Carr
- Solar Plexus (Vertigo)
With the Spontaneous Music Ensemble
- The Source: From and Towards (Tangent)
- Live Big Band and Quartet (Vinyl)
With The Chitinous Ensemble
- Chitinous (Deram)
With Stan Sulzmann
- On Loan with Gratitude (Mosaic)
With Rollercoaster
- Wonderin' (1980)
With Ray Nance
- Huffin'n'Puffin' (1971)
With Charles Tolliver
References
External links
- Ron Mathewson biography and discography.
- "Ron Mathewson - Shetland's forgotten genius of the double bass", Tom Morton's Beatcroft, 11 November 2008.