A Conversation with John Mathews, Bass Trombone

Written by Allison Young

We recently sat down with the CJRO bass trombonist and all-around national treasure, John Mathews. He talked to us about all things trombone, music, and even distilling! Learn more about John in the conversation below.

How long have you played with the band?

I played my first gig with the band in 2016, I had just come out to Colorado for my master’s degree where I was a trombone teaching assistant at the University of Northern Colorado. It was a really neat situation because I actually subbed on Paul McKee’s book (2nd trombone), who was and still is one of my trombone heroes. Paul had recently come out to my undergrad at the University of South Dakota as a guest artist and had been an idol of mine for years and years, so subbing on his book was scary but really fun. I also subbed for Steve Weist a bit in that era on lead, which was also super intimidating since he’s one of the best lead trombone players in the world. Subbing for Steve and sitting next to Paul was also scary, I had big shoes to fill. I guess I filled them well enough since I’m still here playing bass bone - definitely my preferred chair in the section.

What’s your favorite concert you’ve played with the band?

One show that stands out was our tribute to Maynard Ferguson a few years back. I was playing 2nd on that show and sitting next to Steve Weist who actually toured with Maynard for about a decade, so it was so cool to play that music with him from a section playing standpoint. Those were pretty formative education years for me too, so soaking that up was really special. I’m also really looking forward to this July concert

What’s your favorite chart to play with the band?

I think if I had to choose one definitive answer it would be Vince Mendoza’s ‘Choros #3,’ but I also really really love a lot of the new music on this upcoming concert. Almost every chart is brand new or original, and the compositions are so awesome. Annie Booth’s new chart ‘Tundra’ that we’re playing sort of reminds me of ‘Choros #3’ with a sort of classical vibe.

Who are your biggest musical influences - trombone specific and otherwise?

The two I’ve mentioned, Steve Weist and Paul McKee, are for sure two of my biggest influences. Steve has the air forward, brassy, more aggressive sound perfected while Paul does the effortless, airy, higher facility sound. If you can do what they do, you’re a great player. JJ Johnson for sure too - he sort of pioneered how the trombone could be used in jazz and was an incredible player. One of the GOATs for sure.

What are you most looking forward to about the upcoming concert?

The music is just so cool. I’m excited for the opportunity for our audience to hear some great new music that is written specifically for the musicians in the band. The personnel in the group is so solid at this point that the composers really know who they’re writing for chair by chair, so this music is written not only for this group but for these people and it’s brand new. I think with this next album, when we look back at it, will be a landmark point in where the CJRO is coming from and where it’s going to. We’ve had a lot of rehearsal time on the music and get to perform it twice before going into the studio, so it’s going be to super sharp. I’m so excited to share this live performance before the session.

What do you like most about playing with the CJRO?

I feel so grateful being able to play with this band. It’s a great recurring gig with really amazing musicians and great people that treat people the right way. When I take a gig I look for two out of three things: great music, great people, or great money, and this is a rare gig that checks all 3 boxes. It’s enriching and rewarding, and I hope to play with this band for a really long time.

What music are you listening to right now? (Can be any genre or artists, just any music you've been enjoying recently)

Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of folk -  modern folk like Bela Fleck and the Flecktones in addition to folks like Gillian Welch, etc. My girlfriend Rachel is a string player, mainly violin but she also plays banjo, so I’ve been getting into learning banjo lately and that’s really influenced my listening!

If you could switch places with one member of the band, who would it be?

I think I would switch with baritone saxophone honestly so I could inform my ear from that side of the low end. It would be cool to hear both my parts and Allison’s parts from the other side and get a new perspective on it. Also Allison [Young] is my favorite bari sax player to play with and it would be cool to get even more into that mind meld. Along those lines, I also think the band orientation should be altered so bari and bass bone are by the rhythm section.  

If you could do any concert theme with the band, what would it be?

This is kind of strange because I don’t know exactly what I’d program, but it would essentially be a ‘master works’ of the big band idiom. Not necessarily things like ‘In the Mood’ or pieces that defined the style, but songs more in the line of Mendoza’s ‘Choros #3,’ Maria Schneider, Annie Booth’s music, etc. Music that is difficult and demanding, musically enriching, just true masterworks and high art works. Just some of the best tunes culminated for the big band idiom. It’s hard to define what a masterwork is, but I’d want everyone to have a hand in it. There are so many well-informed people in the CJRO and I’d want us all to have a say in it.

Do you have any upcoming gigs/releases/projects you're particularly excited for?

In addition to playing trombone I’m a full time distiller at 477 Distilling up in Greeley, and we’re opening our second location in September or October! It will be right next to Verboten Brewing in Loveland. I’m also really looking forward to this July gig and recording session, and also play with Paul Anka when he comes through Denver in September.

Catch John playing with us at the Arvada Center Amphitheatre on July 13!