Mathews,
Mat
Throughout his career, Mat Mathews
fought an uphill battle to get the accordion accepted in bop-oriented
jazz. He learned to play music during the Nazi occupation, and
after the war ended, Mathews was inspired to play jazz when he
heard a radio broadcast of Joe Mooney. He worked locally in Holland
including most notably with the Millers from 1947-50. After moving
to New York in 1952, he put together a quartet that for a time
featured (and introduced) the young Herbie Mann on flute and tenor.
Mathews' other sidemen included Art Farmer, Julius Watkins, Joe
Puma, Oscar Pettiford, Percy Heath and Kenny Clarke. In addition
to making records as a leader, Mathews also recorded with Carmen
McRae from 1954-55. By the end of the decade he was mostly working
as a studio musician, and in 1964 Mathews returned to the Netherlands.
His importance to jazz greatly lessened as he has primarily worked
in the studios as a player, arranger and producer, but Mathews'
performances in the 1950s made a strong case for the accordion
in jazz. Mathews recorded as a leader for the Dutch Van Wouw label
(four titles in 1944), Brunswick (1953-54), Dawn (1956), Savoy
(a 1957 date with four French horn players), Verve (live at Newport
in 1957), JJM, Design and, back in the Netherlands, Ariola (1975).
~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
053
- 5381103
