Ronnie Mathews – Wikipedia
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American jazz pianist
Ronnie Mathews |
|
---|---|
Birth name | Ronald Mathews |
Born | New York City, New York, U.S. |
December 2, 1935
Died | June 28, 2008 New York City |
(aged 72)
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, educator |
Instrument(s) | Piano |
Labels | Prestige, East Wind, Bee Hive, Nilva |
Musical artist
Ronald Mathews (December 2, 1935 in New York City – June 28, 2008 in Brooklyn) was an American jazz pianist who worked with Max Roach from 1963 to 1968 and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. He acted as lead in recording from 1963 and 1978–79. His most recent work was in 2008, as both a mentor and musician with Generations, a group of jazz musicians headed by veteran drummer Jimmy Cobb. He contributed two new compositions for the album that was released by San Francisco State University’s International Center for the Arts on September 15, 2008.
Critics have compared him to pianists Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, and McCoy Tyner.[1]
Biography[edit]
In his twenties, Mathews toured internationally and recorded with Roach, Freddie Hubbard and Roy Haynes. He was also a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in the late 1950s through the 1960s. 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).[2]
One of the highlights of his career, and one of his longest associations, was with the Johnny Griffin Quartet. For almost five years (1978-1982) he was an integral part of this band and forged lasting relationships with Griffin, Kenny Washington (drums) and Ray Drummond (bass). The New York Times described Mathews as “a constant and provocative challenge to Mr. Griffin. […He] is the energizer of the group”.[3] One of the few Johnny Griffin recordings that features Mathews’ original compositions is “To the Ladies” (Galaxy).
In the 1980s, 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 the Netherlands, and more). He also toured with Freddie Hubbard and Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Band. Mathews was also involved in cross-media projects: he was pianist for the Tony Award winning Broadway musical, Black and Blue in 1989, and, in 1990, he was one of the artists who recorded for Spike Lee’s movie, Mo’ Better Blues.[4]
After a stint touring and recording with the Clifford Jordan Big Band in the early 1990s, Mathews joined T.S. Monk for eight years of touring and recording. The Chicago Tribune stated that “The soul of the band […] is pianist Ronnie Mathews, whose angular romanticism provides the horn players with a lush and spicy foundation for their improvising”.[5] Three albums were recorded with the T.S. Monk, Jr. Band, including Charm. Mathews died of pancreatic cancer on June 28, 2008 in Brooklyn.
In 1998, Hal Leonard Books published his collection of student arrangements: “Easy Piano of Thelonious Monk”.
Discography[edit]
As leader[edit]
- 1963: Doin’ the Thang! (Prestige) with Freddie Hubbard
- 1975: Trip to the Orient (East Wind) with Louis Hayes, Yoshio Suzuki
- 1978: Roots, Branches & Dances (Bee Hive) with Ray Drummond, Al Foster, Frank Foster, Azzedin Weston
- 1979: Legacy (Bee Hive) with Ricky Ford, Bill Hardman, Walter Booker, Jimmy Cobb
- 1980: Song for Leslie (Red) with Ray Drummond, Kenny Washington
- 1985: So Sorry Please (Nilva) with Ray Drummond, Alvin Queen
- 1988: Selena’s Dance (Timeless) with Stafford James, Tony Reedus
- 1989: At Cafe Des Copains (Sackville)
- 1990: Dark Before the Dawn (DIW) with Ray Drummond, Billy Higgins
- 1992: Lament for Love (DIW) with David Williams, Frank Gant
- 1995: Shades of Monk
- 2001: Once I Love with Walter Booker, Alvin Queen
- 2008: Fortuna with Roni Ben-Hur
As sideman[edit]
With Roland Alexander
With Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
With Thomas Chapin
With Larry Coryell
With Kenny Dorham
With Teddy Edwards
With Dexter Gordon
With Johnny Griffin
With Bill Hardman
With Louis Hayes
With Roy Haynes
With Joe Henderson
With Freddie Hubbard
With Sam Jones
With Clifford Jordan
With T. S. Monk
With Frank Morgan
With Lee Morgan
With Sal Nistico
With Charlie Persip
With Max Roach
With Woody Shaw
With James Spaulding
With Sonny Stitt
References[edit]
- ^ “Blue Note ROY HARGROVE & ROBERTA GAMBARINI with RONNIE MATTHEWS, GEORGE MRAZ & JIMMY COBB – 2007-01-20”. www.bluenote.net.
- ^ Yanow, Scott. “Ronnie Mathews | Biography & History | AllMusic”. AllMusic. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ^ Wilson, John S. (25 June 1981). “JOHNNY GRIFFIN ON SAXOPHONE”. The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ^ Keepnews, Peter (July 2, 2008). “Ronnie Mathews, 72, Pianist Who Accompanied Jazz Stars, Dies”. The New York Times.
- ^ Duckman, David (8 November 1995). “T.S. Monk Jr. and Top Players Impress With Polish, Passion”. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
External links[edit]
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