Ron Mathewson


Ron Mathewson is a Scottish jazz double bassist and bass guitarist born in Lerwick, Shetland Isles, Scotland. Mathewson is best known for his years spent working with Ronnie Scott, but has also done recordings with Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Joan Armatrading, Ben Webster, Philly Joe Jones, Roy Eldridge, Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans.

Biography

Mathewson was born into an unusually musical household and at eight years old he was studying classical piano. He continued to study and perform classical piano until he reached sixteen, having started playing bass guitar a year earlier. His talent was noted and encouraged by the Shetland musician, Peerie Willie Johnson.
In 1962, Mathewson was in Germany playing professionally with a Scottish Dixieland band. In London he also performed with various jazz and R&B bands throughout the early 1960s. Around this time he was also a member of The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band.
In 1966 Mathewson became a member of the Tubby Hayes band, with which he performed until 1973. From 1975 on in to the 1990s, he was frequently a participant in various Ronnie Scott recordings and concerts.
In 1983, he appeared on his old friend Dick Morrissey's solo album After Dark with Jim Mullen, John Critchinson, Martin Drew and Barry Whitworth.
On 11 February 2007 a benefit concert was held for Mathewson, who was reportedly recovering from two broken hips, a broken wrist and a burst artery.

Discography

With Tubby Hayes
With Philly Joe Jones
With John Taylor
With Gordon Beck
With Ronnie Scott
With Phil Woods and His European Rhythm Machine
With John Stevens
With Terry Smith
With Kenny Clarke
With Kenny Wheeler
With Acoustic Alchemy
With Ian Carr
With the Spontaneous Music Ensemble
With The Chitinous Ensemble
With Stan Sulzmann
With Rollercoaster
With Ray Nance
With Charles Tolliver