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Ronnie Mathews
One of the most prestigious pianists of the past 40 years and yet one of those essential contributors to the puzzle of jazz history who has not received due recognition. It seems Ronnie Mathews would be more a household name than it is, for his lofty investment into jazz. His years of touring and his many albums, both as leader and sideman, are overwhelming in number. Critics have showered accolades upon his name and affectionately compare him to fellow pianists Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell, with a sprinkle of McCoy Tyner. Not that Ronnie ever imitated them, but rather, that he is in league with these jazz greats. In his twenties, Ronnie was already an accomplished player who toured internationally and recorded with the likes of Max Roach, Freddie Hubbard and Roy Haynes. He was also a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the late 1950's through the 60's. By thirty, he began teaching jazz piano and led workshops, clinics and master classes at Long Island University in New York City. Besides Dexter Gordon and Clark Terry, he toured and recorded on two Louis Hayes projects in the 70's (i.e. the Louis Hayes-Woody Shaw Quintet and the Louis Hayes-Junior Cook Quintet). Of the three Louis Hayes recordings that features Ronnie, his original compositions can be heard on "The Real Thing" (Muse). One of the highlights of his career and longest associations was with the Johnny Griffin Quartet. In Ronnie's own words, "This was a very, very special group." For almost five years (1978-1982) he was an integral part of Johnny Griffin's Quartet and forged lasting relationships with Johnny, Kenny Washington (drums) and Ray Drummond (bass). The New York Times describes Ronnie as "a constant and provocative challenge to Mr. Griffin...(he) is the energizer of the group..." Never getting enough of a good thing, Ronnie boasts of a possible reunion of the quartet sometime soon. One of the few Johnny Griffin recordings that features Ronnie's original compositions is "To the Ladies"(Galaxy). In the 80's, Mathews began honing his role as a front man. He performed as a leader in duo, trio and quartet configurations around the world (from New York City to Genova, to the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland, and more). He also toured with Freddie Hubbard and Dizzy Gillespie's United Nations Band. One sign of his broad scope of talent and musical amiability, is his position as pianist for the Tony Award winning Broadway musical, "Black and Blue" in 1989.
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Dexter Gordon: Tokyo 1975
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by Mike Jurkovic
Though in many regards a standard, none-too-frenetic quartet setting, Dexter Gordon Quartet Tokyo 1975 is still as grand a starting point for Elemental Music's inaugural launch of previously unreleased jazz performances as can be. Gordon found himself exuberantly liberated from the antiquated (and sadly all too present) prejudices of America during his fourteen-year expatriation to Europe from 1962 to '76. Working and living primarily in Paris and Copenhagen, Gordon gigged and recorded with visiting friends and fellow expats ...
read moreDexter Gordon Quartet: Tokyo 1975
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by C. Michael Bailey
Elemental Music is a record label that can be uttered in the same breath with Omnivore Records and Resonance Records. These labels can be credited with significant additions to the universal jazz catalog. Near recent examples of unreleased performances put out by Elemental Music include: Art Pepper Live At Fat Tuesday's (2015) and Red Garland's Swingin' On The Korner: Live At Keystone Korner (2015), as well as Jimmy Giuffre: New York Concerts (2014). Elemental Music has since found ...
read moreRonnie Mathews/Roland Alexander/Freddie Hubbard: Ronnie Mathews/Roland Alexander/Freddie Hubbard
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by David Rickert
The early sixties were filled with musicians who gigged constantly at clubs, enjoyed infrequent work as sidemen, and managed to put out an album or two on a major label. This two-fer from Fantasy highlights Ronnie Mathews and Roland Alexander, two obscure musicians who nevertheless were afforded the opportunity to record as leaders in a market that was willing to take chances on promising talent.
Mathews shows on his debut a willingness to extend the hard-bop template; someone who writes ...
read moreRonnie Mathews: Doin' the Thang!
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Ronnie Mathews is barely known today, but the pianist was a distinguished sideman starting in 1960 and a leader through the years. As a sideman, he appeared on Freddie Hubbard's Breaking Point (1964), Lee Morgan's Rumproller (1965) Max Roach's Drums Unlimited (1965) and Dexter Gordon's The Homecoming (1976), as well as on albums by many leading jazz stars. As a leader, one of Mathews' finest albums wasDoin' the Thang!, recorded for Prestige in December 1963. This album is not to ...
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Ronnie Mathews: December 2, 1935 - June 28, 2008
![Ronnie Mathews: December 2, 1935 - June 28, 2008](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/RonnieMathews.jpg)
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All About Jazz
The family of Ronnie Mathews is saddened to announce his passing on Saturday morning, June 28, 2008, in Brooklyn, NY. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer. A memorial service will be announced for September 2008 in New York City. Ronnie Mathews was one of the most respected jazz pianists and composers of the past 40 years who toured internationally and recorded extensively with Max Roach, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Haynes, Dexter Gordon, Louis Hayes, and Woody Shaw. He had long ...
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A Celebration of Life for Ronnie Mathews
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Source:
All About Jazz
A Celebration of Life for Ronnie Mathews
Monday, June 23 - beginning at 7pm Sweet Rhythm 88 7th Ave S New York, NY 10014 212-255-3626 On Monday, June 23 there will be a A Celebration of Life for Ronnie Mathews" for the great jazz pianist Ronnie Mathews at Sweet Rhythm Jazz Club in NYC at 88 7th Avenue South. Doors open at 7:00 P.M. and jazz music will be played throughout the ...
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