Jazz pianist, vocalist and composer, Matt Baker is part of a select group of Aussie expats who have found fame in one of the world’s most competitive jazz capitals, New York City.
Matt made the move to Manhattan in 2010 where he has established himself as an intuitive, creative force across the boroughs. In June this year he released his fifth album as band leader, ‘Almost Blue’. “I had the fortune to work with a really great producer this time, Matt Pierson,” he explains, “and he actually got me to centre the album around a much more delicate area to me, which was the journey I had been on personally in the six to nine months prior to the recording.
“[There were] a few big things in my life, like the ending of a couple of relationships, moving out, growing up and realising that I’m approaching 40, and that whole concept of new beginnings was the inspiration for the album, so everything points in that direction.”
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The distinct sound captured by ‘Almost Blue’ came from Matt’s collaboration with two legends of the New York jazz scene: double bass player Luques Curtis and drummer Obed Calvaire. Matt says working with such high-calibre artists pushed him to create an album with a new and fresh sound. “Both of those guys tour in their own right with other bands and play in lots of different projects.
"Those two already play a lot together, so they were tight as a unit, as a rhythm section. So coming into that, it was a very new sound and feel for me, which again was exciting and another growing experience, which gave the album its own flavour and sound.
“It would have been very easy to play on the album with guys I play with all the time, or who may have been easier to play with, but part of the challenge was actually working with all the musicians and producers who are better than me. To inspire and challenge me and bring out something new so that the project is another level up from where I came along.”
Matt will return to Australia in August. Having called Manhattan home for six years, Matt says returning to Australia is a bit like entering a foreign country. “I can’t wait, I love coming out to Australia, and now I guess because I haven’t lived there for so long it has that exotic tinge. Now I feel like I’m going on a holiday to somewhere very far away, in a very different climate and everyone has different accents. It’s very cool.”
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When he gets to Brisbane, Matt will perform at the Brisbane Jazz Club, a place he says holds a special place in his heart. “It’s one of my most favourite clubs in the world to play in. I just know that night is going to be one of the most special, easy, fun, swinging, explosive nights out of the whole tour. We’ve got a wonderful band lined up of course, Andrew Shaw [double bass] and Sacha Kloostra [drums].
“It’s just the trio for the whole night and we’re going to be playing a lot of music off ‘Almost Blue’, but also a lot of new arrangements and songs I’ve been working on since the album, and of course some oldies as well.”
Matt Baker Tour Dates
Fri 26 Aug - The Arts Centre Gold CoastSat 27 Aug - Brisbane Jazz Club
Sun 28 Aug - Sunshine Coast Jazz Club
Wed 31 Aug - Paris Cat (Melbourne)
Thu 1 Sep - Paris Cat (Melbourne)
Thu 8 Sep - Foundry 616 (Sydney)
Fri 9 Sep - Avoca Beach Picture Theatre (Central Coast)
Sat 10 Sep - Foundry 616 (Sydney)
