A great deal of the music that I have come to love over the years is stuff that I first came across in the bargain sections of mainstream record shops, and now the internet is a constant source of new and interesting music. Django Reinhardt, Robert Johnson, The Carter Family, Johnny Cash, Woodie Guthrie - you can get hold of records by all these people for next to nothing.
What first grabs me about new music is the feel of it. I've never been excited about virtuosity for its own sake - I think very few people are. When you listen to some fantastically accomplished player, if they're really good you won't notice their technique, because technique is something mechanical which music never is. If all you get from listening to a player is awe at their manual dexterity you're listening to the wrong bit.
Some people I like: Blind Willie Johnson, Skip James, Nina Simone, The Band, Jimmie Rodgers, Leo Kottke, John Renbourn, Liam O'Flynn, The Stanley Brothers, Jolie Holland, Norman Blake, Roscoe Holcomb, Dock Boggs, Django, John Fahey, Planxty.
Matthew Ord is a guitarist and singer currently based in London. He first picked up a guitar aged about twelve after listening to ‘Led Zeppelin Re-mastered’ several thousand times. Fifteen years, numerous recording sessions and a few hundred gigs later, his playing combines formidable technique with a subtle and thoughtful approach to the music he performs.
Although the Delta and Piedmont blues of the 30s and 40s is fundamental to his style, Matthew’s musical approach owes an equal debt to great British and American folk musicians of the 60s such as John Fahey, Leo Kottke and John Renbourn. His set list typically includes classic blues by Skip James and Blind Blake alongside his own arrangements of traditional fiddle, harp and pipe tunes, bluegrass, ragtime and his own original compositions.
Since deciding in early 2005 to pursue a career in music Matthew has played well-known venues such as the Bull’s Head in Barnes, the Castlebar and Tenby Blues Festivals and the National Theatre on London’s South Bank where as well as regular solo appearances he also worked as a guitarist on one of their productions.
Early last year Matthew joined critically-acclaimed alternative country-blues outfit Hey Negrita as lead guitarist, in time to work on the band’s third album, to be released later this year.
During 2007 Matthew continued his solo playing and teaching career in parallel with playing with Hey Negrita, with appearances at clubs, festivals and prisons across the UK.
In March this year the band went to the US, appearing at the prestigious South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, finishing up with a St. Patrick’s Day gig in New York.
I edited my profile with Thomas’ Myspace Editor V4.4
Mat The Word, Is my mate, His finger- Picking's great. So's his cross- Picking but... At a loss Don't know why (For a man So dashing) Orange head? Green Flashing? Poem bad Greener = sad
You have spurred me on to use my space. I send you a message: pray tell me name of pub domani that has already escaped my colander of a brain so I can come support you IF my pins and wheels will carry me?
Twas lovely to catch up, even midst rain and parallel exhastion. If not tomorrow, a night west soon?
I hope you enjoyed the songs on my MySpace page more than the blundering I fell into at The Little Flower. I look forward to seeing you again at The Velvet Underground on Saturday. Wishing You the Best Always. Kurt P.S. Thanks for including me in your friends.
Will we be seeing ya at this month's Red Eyed & Blue on Tuesday March 11th? We sure hope so! It's taking place at the Hawley Arms' brand spanking new music venue The Wilmington. We've got a crackin' lineup with Adrian Crowley, Trevor Moss & Hannah Lou, The Snakes and DJ sets from the Truckin' Lauras and DJ James Steel.
Hey would love to come but got a work b'day dinner at the same time! then got my party the next day so can't make it a big one.. shame..maybe next time.. hope it goes well though.
hey music man! hope the rest of ur weekend wasn't to shabby.. see you have a gig at Madame JO JO's. I have to work (suxs) but have a good one.. which DVD did you guys get? :)
Three cheers for Matt and the fabulous party on Saturday. Was fantastic to see you and Maryanne. Skip James at four in the morning was incredible. Eleanor and I were in heaven. Hope to see you very soon. Paul
Hi Matt, how's it going? I've become a bloody secretary booking our tour of British Columbia. Starting to pay off, but I'm not a fan of this much computing. It makes my brain hurt. Jez
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