Woodburner is proud to present:
RANDOLPH MATTHEWS ALBUM LAUNCH EXPERIENCE
Renowned by many as the best solo Jazz vocalist on the planet. Randolph Matthews performs solo accompanied only by his looped voice. Where his roots in Jazz, blues and folk music explore the thin line between the divine and secular. His compositions are musically piercing and attuned to the stories of life. Mixing lost love, melancholy and sophisticated technology for atmosphere. Having moved from pub gigs to concert halls, Randolph has broken free from traditional song structures, inventing his own electrifying musical style. He is noticeably seen playing on stage with a fedora hat and an old 1960's suitcase.
Randolph Matthews is a Jazz vocalist, a songwriter, a composer, a producer and a beatbox extraordinaire. 'Beatbox' refers to the technique which reproduces musical instruments through the use of the voice made famous by Bobby McFerrin. But Randolph would prefer to be described as a vocal percussionist because he uses his voice to create beautiful musical landscapes that accompany his voice.
Randolph says about his music; “Its about the freedom and honesty of expression”. Words which once you listen to Randolph Matthews will ring true. He blends Jazz scatting with his typical soul style, McFerrin experimentation with African and electronic influences, a delicate poetry with a pinch of English humour and at the same time he
puts together melodic and percussive lines in real time creating unique and very evocative orchestrations. All of these characteristics make him unique in the jazz and world music landscape.
His brand new album “Untamed” reflects all this and more. It is Randolph Matthews “Untamed” and at his best. In fact it is raw, just his voice and a loop sampler. A small smattering of a sample here and there and all the soul, jazz and blues you could ask for. The beats are deep and the melodies are strong.
The album opens with the J Dillaist “Rockizm” which is a bumping, slightly dark Hip Hop groove. The album then flows on with the energy filled bouncing tracks “Here We Go” and “All Night,” which carry the album through to the sublime hooky “Stronger”. The album also shows the darker side of Randolph with tracks like “Jekyll” which show the conflict that every man has inside and “Burns” which is a love song with a seductive twist. The album is packed with surprises.
This piece of work showcases the strength of Randolph's songwriting combined with the simple, raw loop sampler production and brings it together and blends the two in beautiful sonic harmony.
Randolph Matthews “Untamed” will be releases on Friday 13th October on all digital platforms.
+ SPECIAL GUEST
More info coming soon...
+ CHRIS PHILIPS (Jazz FM)
http://www.jazzfm.com/on-air/chris-philips/
+ GORDON WEDDERBURN
Gordon Wedderburn is a radio presenter, promoter, dj, mc/host and occasional journalist.
He is the man behind GW Jazz, a multi-platform entity that promotes the next generation of jazz related music and musicians. Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, He has called London home for the past fifteen years. Jazz in all its present and future Incarnations is the stimulus behind his activities. The focus is on the present, looking at how the current generation of musicians and producers present and infuse jazz into their work. He presented the monthly show “GW Jazz presents Jazz in the Present Tense” on Wandsworth Radio, in addition to running live jazz events in Deptford and Soho. Gordon dabbles occasionally in journalism
and has contributed articles to Jazz Services, the Vision newspaper (UK/Canada), and Jazz Syndicate management and Promotions.
As a dj, he has played sets at The Ritzy, Rich Mix, Village Underground, Scala, Bedroom Bar and Jazz Re:Fest Festival and the Mondomix World Music Festival on the Isle of Wight.