Matt Skelton

Matt Skelton is a drummer equally at home in modern and vintage Jazz styles enjoying a diverse musical career that has already spanned three decades. He has accompanied many leading jazz luminaries such as Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Conte Candoli, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli, Warren Vache, Scott Hamilton, John Hendricks, Kurt Elling, Curtis Stigers, Gregory Porter, and most recently Georgie Fame. He has recorded and appeared with singers such as Marion Montgomery, Dame Cleo Laine, Claire Martin, and Dame Jessye Norman. Travelling as John Wilson's drummer he has most recently performed with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Stockholm Philharmonic, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Antwerp Radio Orchestra, and The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 2015 Matt has taught at both The Guildhall School Of Music and for The London College Of Music, University Of West London.

For the Woodwind Brass and Percussion department Matt has most recently devised a project intended to bring the study of drum kit more closely aligned to that of multi-percussion. This has involved working closely with the composer Mark Anthony Turnage and celebrated drummer Peter Erskine in preparing material and special events scheduled for the forthcoming academic year.

At the Guildhall Matt teaches on both the Jazz and Woodwind Brass And Percussion courses. He is director of the Guildhall Big Band devising a concert project series spanning the history of Big Band jazz.

For the Woodwind Brass and Percussion department Matt has most recently devised a project intended to bring the study of drum kit more closely aligned to that of multi-percussion. This has involved working closely with the composer Mark Anthony Turnage and celebrated drummer Peter Erskine in preparing material and special events scheduled for the forthcoming academic year.

He leads his own Blackhawk - Shelly Manne-inspired quintet featuring James Davison and Mark Crooks.

Recent film soundtrack includes ‘Motherless Brooklyn’, ‘Catch 22’, ‘Doug Days’, ‘Four Kids And It’, ‘Blythe Spirit’, ‘The Lost Marilyn Tapes’ and ‘A Spy Among Friends’.

Matt was Sir Richard Rodney Bennett's drummer of choice and for eight years toured and recorded as a member of Stacey Kent’s group, including her.

Matt played and recorded for Alan Barnes’s Parliamentary Jazz Award-winning 60th birthday project +11 and subsequent album.

Many appearances at Ronnie Scott's including James Pearson’s Portrait of Bill Evans, Joe Stilgoe's 80's big band project and as a frequent guest member of Kansas Smitty’s House Band.

Grammy-nominated 2007 release ‘Breakfast On The Morning Tram’ on BlueNote.

In 2015 he toured in the USA and recorded with Seth Macfarlane.

West End musical theatre credits include the 2015 Savoy revival of 'Gypsy' and 'the Broadway transfer of 'An American In Paris' at the Dominion theatre 2017.

He regularly appears with the BBC Big Band and often with the BBC Concert, BBC Philharmonic and BBC Symphony orchestras including the last night of the proms 2017.

In 2018 Matt toured internationally with Sir Simon Rattle with the London Symphony Orchestra for various Leonard Bernstein centenary concerts including performances of Bernstein's 2nd Symphony, ‘The Age Of Anxiety’, and a concert version of ‘Wonderful Town’.

2019 highlights included appearing at the Edinburgh Festival with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in a concert version of ‘West Side Story’ for Sir John Eliot Gardiner OBE.

Matt played drums for Callum Au's critically acclaimed orchestral album, ‘Songs and Stories’ featuring Claire Martin released in 2020 and during lockdown Matt hosted many Zoom masterclasses.

Most recently Matt was the drummer at the Barbican 2021 production of Anything Goes.

Later in 2022, Matt will be recording with Claire Martin for her orchestral Richard Rodney Bennett songbook album project along with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Forthcoming engagements include concerts with the BBC Big Band, Leon Greening quartet and with James Pearson’s 2022 Gershwin Rhapsody In Blue project.

He continues to perform with orchestras such as the LSO, RLPO, Northern Sinfonia and with the Britten Sinfonia for Alison Balsom’s forthcoming 2022 Warner Classics album release.