Ronnie Mathews

Ronald Mathews (December 2, 1935, in New York City – June 28, 2008, in Brooklyn) was an American jazz pianist who worked with Max Roach from 1963 to 1968 and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.

He was also a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the late 1950s through the 1960s.

By thirty, he began teaching jazz piano and led workshops, clinics and master classes at Long Island University in New York City.

Besides Dexter Gordon and Clark Terry, he toured and recorded on two Louis Hayes projects in the 70's (i.e. the Louis Hayes-Woody Shaw Quintet and the Louis Hayes-Junior Cook Quintet).

One of the highlights of his career, and one of his longest associations, was with the Johnny Griffin Quartet.

He acted as lead in recording from 1963 and 1978–79.

For almost five years (1978-1982) he was an integral part of this band and forged lasting relationships with Griffin, Kenny Washington (drums) and Ray Drummond (bass).

The New York Times described Mathews as "a constant and provocative challenge to Mr. Griffin. [...He] is the energizer of the group".

One of the few Johnny Griffin recordings that features Mathews' original compositions is "To the Ladies" (Galaxy).

In the 1980s, Mathews began honing his role as a front man.

He performed as a leader in duo, trio and quartet configurations around the world (from New York City to Genova, to the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, and more).

He also toured with Freddie Hubbard and Dizzy Gillespie's United Nations Band.

Mathews was also involved in cross-media projects: he was pianist for the Tony Award winning Broadway musical, Black and Blue in 1989, and, in 1990, he was one of the artists who recorded for Spike Lee's movie, Mo' Better Blues.

After a stint touring and recording with the Clifford Jordan Big Band in the early 1990s, Mathews joined T.S. Monk for eight years of touring and recording.

The Chicago Tribune stated that "The soul of the band [...] is pianist Ronnie Mathews, whose angular romanticism provides the horn players with a lush and spicy foundation for their improvising".

Three albums were recorded with the T.S. Monk, Jr. Band, including Charm.

In 1998, Hal Leonard Books published his collection of student arrangements: "Easy Piano of Thelonious Monk".

With Roland Alexander

With Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

With Thomas Chapin

With Larry Coryell

With Kenny Dorham

With Teddy Edwards

With Dexter Gordon

With Johnny Griffin

With Bill Hardman

With Louis Hayes

With Roy Haynes

With Joe Henderson

With Freddie Hubbard

With Sam Jones

With Clifford Jordan

With T. S. Monk

With Frank Morgan

With Lee Morgan

His most recent work was in 2008, as both a mentor and musician with Generations, a group of jazz musicians headed by veteran drummer Jimmy Cobb.

He contributed two new compositions for the album that was released by San Francisco State University's International Center for the Arts on September 15, 2008.

Critics have compared him to pianists Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, and McCoy Tyner.

In his twenties, Mathews toured internationally and recorded with Roach, Freddie Hubbard and Roy Haynes.

Mathews died of pancreatic cancer on June 28, 2008, in Brooklyn.