Hallo!!

I’m Matt Benson. I’m a musician. I’ve been fortunate to play trombone, sing and play piano with an eclectic mix of musicians from many different walks of life.

I have been in George Ezra’s band since May 2017.

Have a listen to a taster of ‘Rest Easy’ from my debut album “Sit Back Down Again”.

“Rest Easy”

Camden Recording Studios “the speakeasy sessions” August ‘23

The Fire…

A fire broke out in my dad’s music shop in Belfast around about ‘94. The shop was completely trashed, all except for a little student model trombone that was found under a pile of smoking rubble on the top floor. It was still in working order, and between you and me I think the fire gave it something a bit special.

My da brought it home for me and we spent that evening cleaning it up in the kitchen sink. He taught me how to play ‘twinkle twinkle little star’ in C Major that night. Here’s a photo of me with my burnt up old trombone on that night:

With my sister Catherine and the trombone the day after the fire

True story… Thats how I came to play the trombone…

Brassroots

I began performing professionally in 2010 with lots of bands around London, notably New Orleans style brass band ‘Brassroots’. Far as I know, Brassroots was the first band to do that high energy pop covers thing in the UK. The bands cover of ‘Goodlife’ was re-mixed by Giles Peterson and it all kicked off! I learned a lot about how to perform with Brassroots with Jerome Harper and the lads. We played a lot of major festivals including WOMAD, Secret Garden Party and Glastonbury.

BomBom

At this time I was studying jazz at Trinity College of Music in Greenwich, London. I managed to find myself some work outside of college with a few smaller bands. Tried my hand at everything really. In 2012 I got a break and recorded on the Balkan/Dub-Step single ‘BomBom’ with a band called ‘Sam and the Womp’. A total shock when it went on to be a 4x Platinum number one selling single.

You just never know what’s around the corner, do ya?

The Ikos

Later, still living in London, around 2013-2016, I got hooked on the music of New Orleans namely because of the enthusiasm of a Virtuoso New Orleans Pianist named Dom Pipkin, and his band ‘The Ikos’. I had such a killer time learning how to play New Orleans trombone with ‘Dom and The Ikos’ “‘round London Town.

Bad Manners

From 2015 to 2017 I toured with the infamous Ska band ‘Bad Manners’. Adrian Cox (sax), Tony ‘Rico’ Richardson (sax) and Colin Graham (Trumpet). It was a monster brass section, a fun band and I had a blast on those gigs.

George Ezra

I began touring with George Ezra in May 2017 after a good friend put me forward for an audition. It’s been a massive adventure to be a part of something that special and be a part of it when it went stratospheric. We’ve played on Jools Hollands Hootenanny, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Late Show in New York, The Brit Awards 2019, the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2019, the Royal Albert Hall.

Everyone involved in the band and crew feels like family to me now. I feel very fortunate to have this in my life.

Notable recording/performance credits over the years include three tracks on the ‘Gold Rush Kid’ 2022 George Ezra Album!! I played one gig with The Pogues, a real treat. I did some recording with Amelia Warner (Slow Moving Millie), a very special day indeed. I jammed with drummer Zigaboo Modeleste, from the ‘The Meters’, in the 100 Club in London, again not something ill forget: ‘You gotta love it’ was Zigaboos advice to me when I asked how he’d managed to play for a living as long as he had. I still think about that one.

More recently I have played with Neil Hannon of Divine Comedy for the film ‘Lola’ about a time travelling radio!! Also a little track with the inimitable and wonderful Cathy Davy!

My most recent big highlight is playing with the Hot 8 Brass Band at their residency in The Howling Wolf, New Orleans.

Other bands or artists I’ve played with over the years:

The Toasters, The Veils, Imperial Leisure, The Rails, Lamar, Brian May, Slash, Shara Nelson, Lifford David Shillingford, Coolio, Sonny Green, Paul Sanchez, Davis Rogan (Writer of music from HBO series Tremé), Roys Big Smoke Family, Max Splodge, Slow Moving Millie/Amelia Warner, The Rotterdam Ska-Jazz Foundation (RSJF), Larry Garner, Jamie Lenman, Jay-Dee Brassband, Dom and the Ikos, Radical Dance Faction, Darren Hayman, Cut The Funk, Ellis Island Sound, Paul Taylor's Blowpipes, Roberto Pla's Latin Ensemble, NI Soul Troop...

Matthew has recorded at Abbey Road Studio 2, SARM Studio 1, AIR Studios, Pool Studios, Camden Studios Dublin. He has worked with, among others, the following producers:

Joel Pott, Cian Boylan, James Wyatt, John Barrett, Raz Olsher, Rob Cass (Cave Productions Ltd.),Tom Newman, Richard Kayvan

YouTube Playlist

The brass section with Quincy and Shania at Montreux Jazz Fest

big news

Currently i’m writing and recording original material. This for due for release late ‘24, all being well, please be patient, it is coming!

You made it to the end, well done ;)

Reach out and contact me here for all things

Pssst… There’s another tune down below

Thanks!

Matt :)

I am available for remote recording via the ‘contact me’ page, which goes straight to my personal email. I love being creative and collaborating with musical ideas so if you have any questions get in touch. I am very at home in the creative process :)