Matthew Ottignon – Australian/NZ Jazz Classics

Matt Ottignon meets Alister Spence Lloyd Swanton and Toby hall for a night celebrating the rich history of Australian and NZ jazz from the last 50 years. As the first performance was such a success, the band are back and will be performing music from composers such as Mark Simmonds, Bryce Rohde, Sam Anning, Sandy Evans, Bernie McGann, Andrea Keller, Mike Nock and more.

Originally from Auckland, New Zealand, Matt landed himself a spot in Mike Nock’s band while studying at the Sydney Conservatorium in 1999 and has been a Wangaratta National Jazz Awards finalist, a two-time Freedman Fellowship nominee and Jazzgroove Association Artistic director.

Matt has performed before at the Foundry with Ten Part Invention, Java Quartet, Dereb the Ambassador, his own band Mister Ott and recently was invited to play in Chris Cody’s new band Astrolabe for S.I.M.A. and also with visiting New York Cuban pianist Elio Villafranca.

For this evening’s performance he will be joined by esteemed musicians Alister Spence and Lloyd Swanton and Toby Hall. They have been an integral part of the Sydney jazz scene since the early 80’s performing together in Clarion Fracture Zone, recording 7 albums as the Alister Spence Trio and have been on many of defining recordings of the Australian jazz scene.

"Lusciously lyrical tenor." - The Australian
"Entering the sub consciousness takes on a more substantial atmosphere as Matthew Ottignon’s tenor weaves quickly and abstractly." - The Australian

Matthew Ottignon - saxophone
Alister Spence - piano
Lloyd Swanton - bass
Toby Hall - drums