Ron Mathewson

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Ron Mathewson

Background information
Birth name	Ron Mathewson
Born	February 19, 1944 (1944-02-19) (age 64)
Origin	Lerwick, Shetland Isles, Scotland
Genre(s)	Jazz
Instrument(s)	double bass bass guitar
Associated acts	Gordon Beck

Ron Mathewson (born February 19, 1944) 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 such artists as Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Ben Webster, Philly Joe Jones, Roy Eldridge, Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans.

[edit] Biography

Mathewson was born into an unusually musical household: at eight years old he was studying classical piano. Ron continued to study and perform classical piano until he reached sixteen, having started playing bass guitar a year earlier. (His talent was soon spotted -- and encouraged -- by the legendary 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 whom he performed with until 1973. From 1975 on in to the 1990s, Ron 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.