The Jazz in Britain label is releasing Blow today, 1 January 2021, an album of previously unreleased material with bassist Ron Mathewson and his brother Mat, and making it available for free on Bandcamp.
The label recently released Memorial (REVIEWED HERE). We asked Matt Parker and John Thurlow of Jazz in Britain to explain the background behind the release of Blow:
“Mat Mathewson was Ron’s older brother, who left Shetland before Ron to go to study chemistry at Edinburgh University. Ron followed him down to Edinburgh and took music lessons while his brother studied. Mat was a very good pianist and composer and was largely responsible for teaching Ron and directing his career. Unlike Ron, Mat was never a professional musician although he did play with a number of well-known groups and was on at least one BBC radio session with Don Rendell.
Ron and his brother Mat Mathewson having a jam together at Mat’s house on 01/01/1976, Ron on bass, Mat on electric piano. A bit of brotherly telepathic playing, two guys having fun on New Year’s Day. Just shy of 30 min long. From Ron’s tape archive. Previously unheard. We’re releasing it for free to celebrate 12 months in business.”
