I like to keep tabs on what guitarist Matthew Stevens is doing generally. But when I think of the Toronto born 44 year old most it is to do with a Christian Scott [as the trumpeter then was] album Anthem that I played to death back around 2008. I heard Stevens live with Scott around that time. Oh I think it was at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho if memory serves me correctly.
There has been a lot of water under the bridge since. More albums with Scott and with people like Walter Smith III and Ben Williams plus records of the guitarist’s own. His approach has become quite an ambient laidback sound full of fresh ideas and a sound that sometimes can sit well outside the jazz bracket courtesy of bluesy and electronica elements that are part of his open approach.
Don’t go looking for extended big soloing, more licks that turn into hooky thoughtful asides, bottleneck slides and effortless organic responses that make considered use of subtle drum patterns and fills. Stevens is over playing the Love Supreme festival in Sussex this July as a member of Esperanza Spalding’s band.
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