BIOGRAPHY 

Matt Cook is an award-winning tenor saxophonist from London that has played at top venues such as The Vortex, Pizza Express Soho and Ronnie Scotts. He’s been described in JazzJournal Magazine as ‘Spectacular’ as well as likened to maestro saxophonists such as Wayne Shorter (London Jazz News 2020) and Mark Turner (Marlbank 2024).

Born into a musical family, Matt grew up surrounded by music from Dave Brubeck to Antonio Carlos Jobim. He started the Saxophone at the age of nine but it was not until receiving lessons from Roger Perrin that his passion for jazz flourished

Matt joined the Junior Department at the Royal Academy of Music at the age of sixteen, before going on to study for a BMus Jazz Saxophone degree with a scholarship. He graduated in 2022 with First Class Honours. 

At the Academy he honed his craft with mentorship from UK Jazz Heavyweights such as: Iain Ballamy, Stan Sulzmann, Soweto Kinch and Nathaniel Facey. Whilst only in his first term at The Royal Academy, he was selected as a semi-finalist for the acclaimed BBC Young Jazz Musician Award. Since graduating, Matt has recorded and performed with a plethora of different musical artists across a multitude of genres such as: Karim Saber, Hugh Harris (The Kooks), Josh Barry, Soft Launch, Moyses Dos Santos (Nile Rogers), Ken Hoon and many others. Matt is also the recipient of the renowned 2024 Peter Whittingham Jazz Development Award.

He established his quintet whilst at The Royal Academy of Music in London combining some of the most creative and in-demand young musicians on the London Jazz Scene. ‘I wanted to bring four very different musical voices together that could each bring their own style and flair to the music.’ 

Matt’s eclectic compositional influences range from modern jazz contemporaries such as Immanuel Wilkins and Ambrose Akinmusire, to older pioneers such as John Coltrane and Joe Henderson. He is not afraid to bypass genre, with flavours from 20th Century classical composers like Messiaen and Ravel and even nods to alternative rock bands such as Radiohead. 

Matt strikes the balance between honouring the tradition in his compositions without being stifled by it. Expect memorable melodies with extended solos and deeply moving harmonic progressions.  

'Spectacular contributions from Matt Cook on tenor' -JazzJournal

‘A Boundary Pushing Saxophonist’ - Camden New Journal

‘Wonderfully understated playing' - Jazzwise

‘Two sets of Cook’s very strong originals went over very well and further mark this talented pool of musicians as ones to watch!’ - London Jazz Guitar Society