Matthew Sheens on Jazz Inspired

·59 min·5 clips

Australian pianist Matthew Sheens became an American citizen after falling in love with New York's music scene.

Judy Carmichael hosts pianist-composer Matthew Sheens on Jazz Inspired. She introduces Sheens as an Australian musician who moved to the U.S. on a scholarship to the New England Conservatory and later became an American citizen. Sheens discusses his early influences, listing Herbie Hancock, Kurt Rosenwinkel, George Russell, and Bill Evans. He explains his collaboration with vocalist Olivia Quindamo, emphasizing musical trust and the absence of 'babysitting' in their dynamic. Carmichael and Sheens explore the concept of time-keeping in jazz, noting that all musicians should contribute, not just rhythm sections. They talk about interpreting well-known songs like 'If I Only Had a Brain', with Sheens highlighting how it allows listeners to distinguish his improvisation from the source material. The conversation shifts to historical changes in repertoire knowledge, with Carmichael noting that standards were more widely known in the mid-20th century. Sheens shares a personal story about a bike crash in 2019 that broke his wrist and leg, leading him to write music using only his left hand and resulting in his album 'Written in the Dark'. They discuss the challenges of living in New York City, including financial pressures, but Sheens acknowledges it has made him a better musician. Carmichael praises Sheens' playing and thanks him for the interview, concluding with promotional details for the show.

As heard by us

Matthew Sheens connects jazz lineage, New York, and the pull of songs shaped by a musician's own story.

Matthew Sheens comes through as an Australian pianist-composer with a careful ear, and Judy Carmichael shapes the episode around that attentiveness.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for Matthew Sheens: an Australian pianist-composer pondering inspiration, original writing, and the pull of New York's music scene.

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