https://www.matthoyne.com/blog-3-1 daily 0.75 2023-08-28 https://www.matthoyne.com/blog-3-1/blog-post-title-one-57hd8 monthly 0.5 2020-05-19 https://www.matthoyne.com/blog-3-1/blog-post-title-two-tzgcd monthly 0.5 2020-05-19 https://www.matthoyne.com/blog-3-1/blog-post-title-three-pht6m monthly 0.5 2020-05-19 https://www.matthoyne.com/blog-3-1/blog-post-title-four-khnwh monthly 0.5 2020-05-19 https://www.matthoyne.com/404-page daily 0.75 2020-01-19 https://www.matthoyne.com/lake-tyers-tom-allen-graham daily 0.75 2020-08-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1596768972270-VLHDBGZ5S0PMAAXP28LY/Lake+Tyers.jpg Lake Tyers - Tom Allen Graham - Lake Tyers is a beautiful example of the commitment to a singular approach to music making, within which there is great detail and subtle variety. Without straying from the understated and restrained character of the album, Tom crafts sonic worlds with the careful thought that goes into each chord voicing, compositional structure, melodic choice and articulation. It’s not easy to create music that retains an overall sound and aesthetic that doesn’t start to sound a bit same-y after a few tunes and Lake Tyers seems to strike this balance with great artistry. https://www.matthoyne.com/why-on-earth-start-another-music-blog daily 0.75 2020-08-07 https://www.matthoyne.com/a-short-film daily 0.75 2020-08-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1597544860900-6NWMTUP9QCP5QWJ802HN/a3114266115_10.jpg A Short Film - The Rest Is Silence - Jazz musicians, (and I very much include myself in this motley bunch) are generally horrendous with coming up with band names. The process is normally insufferable, with everyone offering their suggestions and no one ever able to agree. I sometimes wonder how many bands have split up before they ever began as a result of rifts caused during the naming process. For jazz musicians, this process is far too confronting, so we generally opt out. The result is a lot of band names that are a series of last names followed by some collective noun for musicians eg trio, quartet. (A good example would be the Albanese, Morrison, McMormack and Bandt Quartet – I highly doubt they could agree on a band name but oh boy what a band!) https://www.matthoyne.com/vegetablebass daily 0.75 2020-08-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1598162221411-JYZOG07IBVHC7T5ZK9RT/a2773073286_10.jpg Vegetable Bass - Helen Svoboda - I spoke with you today Standing in dismay The world is not what it once was. You’ve seen it all unfold The stories that you’ve told The wisdom that you hold The world is not what it once was. The world is not what it once was. - A Tree Tells by Helen Svoboda https://www.matthoyne.com/bucolica-soft-power daily 0.75 2020-08-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1598758140513-YP9YP7VU5QVZ1LUVCE0R/a3197177033_10.jpg Bucolica - Soft Power - Reading the album notes for Soft Power’s Bucolica, there is a reference to the music being influenced by “Australiana”. While I got the general gist of what Australiana could mean, it wasn’t until I started listening to the opening chorus/tremolo drenched guitar riff of Loving You Quiet that I immediately and intuitively understood. It feels strangely familiar to the music that my parents listened to, and that I imagine holds a place in the collective memory of most middle-class suburban 20-somethings. In Bucolica, there is the same catchy hooks and universal appeal of 80’s pop-rock bands like Mental as Anything, Split Enz, Hunters and Collectors and Crowded House. And so, after some posturing, I posit that Australiana = dad rock. And with Father’s Day looming around the corner, Bucolica is the perfect socially distanced gift idea for Dad! https://www.matthoyne.com/badlands-chelsea-lee daily 0.75 2020-09-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1599978937268-GYP8QVNJ97GLK7H2TTET/a1682306520_10.jpg Badlands - Chelsea Lee - This new album by Adelaide based vocalist Chelsea Lee is entitled badlands but after listening to it on high rotation for the last month or so, I’ve come to realise that it could have easily been called badass (although as an Australian, I’ve always been mystified by how to pronounce this… is it arse or ass? The later feels way too American and the former just seems a bit gross… does anyone else have this internal angst about how to pronounce badass? Just me? Cool cool, moving right along…) In an era in which modern jazz can all seem a bit polite and devoid of emotion and imagination, this music sounds freshly badass in the best possible way! https://www.matthoyne.com/spark-scott-van-gemerts-unbroken-trio daily 0.75 2020-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1600568885575-F0NKLGLHFVBUSVPT6K9M/a3399923544_10.jpg Spark - Scott Van Gemert's Unbroken Trio - In jazz, such a big part of the sound is generated through the “hook-up” between the bass and the drums. When it’s really happening, and the bass player and drummer have this perfect connection, it makes everyone sound and play better. As a soloist, it’s like you can get away with murder. Ask any jazz musician to name some of their favourite bass-drum pairings and they’ll start talking of Tony and Ron, Elvin and Jimmy, Charlie and Paul as if they’re couples coming to a dinner party. They’re the yin to each other’s yang and throughout the history of jazz you’d be hard pressed to find more than a few handfuls of classic albums that don’t feature this winning combination. But take one away and immediately things start feeling uncomfortable. As a musician, you feel exposed and it’s hard to get the time feeling good, the balance feels off, you’re either too loud or too soft. It’s a particularly terrifying prospect to play or record without a bass player. Perhaps I’m projecting my own angst here, but there’s something really unsettling about the cavernous hole that is left through the absence of a bass player filling the bottom end. https://www.matthoyne.com/menagerie-koi-kingdom daily 0.75 2020-09-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1601180094975-NWW1ZVIF6T9MGON5QIYZ/a2526399468_10.jpg Menagerie - Koi Kingdom - There’s something slightly unsettling about the album artwork for Koi Kingdom’s Menagerie. If you look at it for too long, the colourful koi fish seem to be sad and depressed and the dark, muted lighting starts to all feel a bit creepy. This amazing cover artwork was created by the multi-faceted talents of guitarist Marcos Villalta, one third of the collectively led Koi Kingdom that also features Cheryl Durongpisitkul on saxophone and Stephen Hornby on bass. After listening to the music for the last few weeks I’ve come to see how the unique design of the album artwork marries so perfectly with the themes and character of the music itself. Both are highly detailed and intricate, both have this veneer of colourful, quirky cheer that seems to conceal something slightly eerie and surreal and both are incredibly unique and original. Even the album title, Menagerie, seems to tie in neatly with all of this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1601180588713-9AOI8FW0F22S6R0V235P/0013993299_10.jpg Menagerie - Koi Kingdom - As a listener (and now, self-appointed amateur music blogger…), I run the risk of making connections where there are none, missing the point completely and making an arse of myself in the process. Who knows, maybe these pieces were based off rhythmic cycles and tone rows generated from field recordings of koi fish mating calls? But if I run with my previous themes, right or wrong, this music takes on layers of meaning that make the listening experience even more fulfilling. https://www.matthoyne.com/treading-water-avgenicos-brothers daily 0.75 2020-10-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1601610040052-R8HBR8GONYSV7PP2CCU3/a3340198802_10.jpg Treading Water - Avgenicos Brothers - Treading Waters is a joint project led by Sydney brothers, Tom and Michael Avgenicos, both of whom I don’t know personally but have heard word of their talents floating around the Melbourne music scene for years. However, on first sight of the album, I became slightly nervous… there was something a bit too slick about the whole thing. Perhaps I’m leaning into my preconceived notions about Sydney-siders, and in doing so saying more about my Melbourne hipster ideals, but I’m a little allergic to things that have any kind of commercial slickness. I’m the sort of listener who can get a bit bored of music that sounds too good. I like music that takes risks and isn’t afraid to be challenging or ugly if it is saying something in the process. But after actually listening to the music (always a good idea!), my Melbourne hipster anxieties were alleviated, and I was thrilled to find a collection of songs that were daring and crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Melbourne-rs, fear not, this music is the real deal! https://www.matthoyne.com/eldorado-pat-jaffe daily 0.75 2020-10-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1603586195203-S0CPN8W7XYNPW2SL3THQ/cover.jpg Eldorado - Pat Jaffe - Early on Sunday mornings, I get up, leave Grace sleeping in bed and get ready to go for a nice long run. This has become something of a weekly ritual for me, a long weekend run where I can listen to a few albums ambling around the quiet parks and streets of Melbourne. One particular Sunday, I put my headphones on and set off listening to Pat Jaffe’s Eldorado. The slightly muted, opening chords of Sketch immediately became the perfect accompaniment to the sunlight warming my face as I ran through the trees in the park near my house. I could already sense that this was going to be a good run! https://www.matthoyne.com/slippery-hannah-mckittrick daily 0.75 2020-11-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1606443605352-1F12OQ8VJH6W1RH11ZZ7/a2505564419_10.jpg Slippery - Hannah McKittrick - Striking a balance between the art of song writing and improvisation is an incredibly difficult thing to do. More often than not, the carefully crafted lyrics and melodies seem to work against the spontaneity and freedom of improvisation. Great songwriters will endlessly turn over the same phrase, painstakingly making slight adjustments to the rhythm, timbre and inflection until it sits just right. Improvising musicians can tend to be a bit slap-dash about the whole thing, writing tunes that leave lots of room for interpretation and input from the fellow musicians. Finding a successful middle ground between these opposing forces can be tricky. If you try to be too exact with how you want the parts to sound, the music and playing can start to feel a bit stifled and rigid. But on the other hand, if it’s too open you can run the risk of losing the sentiments of the lyrics and song, allowing the music to ramble on without a clear point or direction. https://www.matthoyne.com/overlay-andrew-saragossi/the-relative-size-of-things-theo-carbo-and-rachael-archibald daily 0.75 2020-12-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1608604099483-S707DYGNJS7A5ID8YISS/a0550925587_10.jpg Overlay - Andrew Saragossi/The Relative Size Of Things - Theo Carbo and Rachael Archibald - All of this serves as a lengthy introduction to my deep dive into what I think are two really unique, engaging and collaborative mixed media artworks; The Relative Size of Things by Theo Carbo and Rachael Archibald and Overlay by Andrew Saragossi + various film makers. It also occurred to me while writing this that these guys may be slightly offended by describing their releases as “music videos”. And though on paper they are technically music videos, for the readers at home, think a little less Avril Lavigne’s Sk8er Boi (is there a more quintessential noughties music video?) and a bit more audio-visual experience projected onto a dark wall in a contemporary art gallery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1608603841447-DWK464CZZ80DY2KCKBI4/a0874954440_10.jpg Overlay - Andrew Saragossi/The Relative Size Of Things - Theo Carbo and Rachael Archibald - In the world of jazz and improvised music, the video clip or music video never really seemed to take off. Like most of gen Y, I grew up watching a healthy dose of Rage and Video Hits on a Saturday morning and as a kid I think a part of me considered those video clips to be like a documentary into the life of a professional musician. It seemed as though they spent a lot of time lounging pool side, surrounded by bikini-clad women and when they weren’t doing that, they were playing at massive outdoor festivals to audiences of thousands and then going to really cool after parties. As a ten year old, I was sold! And although it may seem like I currently live a lifestyle of glitz and glamour as a small-time, local jazz guitarist in Melbourne, I can’t help but feel like I was misled… https://www.matthoyne.com/emergence daily 0.75 2021-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1614740932349-SLRC3SCI6NRUTNLD43PJ/119544+Emergence+Poster+A3.jpg Emergence https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1612313647753-W5ALBHDGXV49ZV4HJNJD/ad5321d8c92eb5f5e55d0b08e0a3847e.jpg Emergence - FLORA CARBO presents MAGNIFY MAGNIFY is Melbourne saxophonist Flora Carbo’s newest creative endeavour. The project sees the amplification of the ‘Flora Carbo Trio’ (Maddison Carter on drums and Isaac Gunnoo on bass) with the addition of Eitan Ritz (modular synthesiser) who will manipulate and process live sounds from the trio. Exploring the intersection between acoustic and electronic, Flora’s compositions are inspired by Sidney Bechet, Ornette Coleman and Arthur Russell. First Tuesday of every month. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1612313812403-VNZQVK8N5WW7S0GZ53IL/IMG_9555+copy.jpg Emergence - MATT HOYNE presents BIG VIBE Catching a night of music by Big Vibe is, well exactly that… a really big vibe! Unashamedly maximalist, this music relishes in being high energy, seriously swinging and heaps of fun. Presenting a new repertoire of original music created by guitarist Matt Hoyne, Big Vibe are inspired by a deep reverence for African American improvised music but draw on their own personal languages and experience to create something unique. Playing with a sense of adventure and exploration, the music will be in safe hands with the immense talents of Matt Steele (piano), Robbie Finch (bass) and Lewis Pierre (drums). To be joined by a few special guests along the way, Big Vibe will be raring to go every second Tuesday of the month! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1612313969238-FH6EGUTRFWZAF7IKV12S/65479279_1140211762837036_4212177695380865024_o.jpg Emergence - BRENNAN HAMILTON SMITHS presents RHOMBUS Rhombus is a chordless jazz quartet which combines the eclectic influences of New Orleans, Western Classical music and 90’s Rock. The compositions are deeply melodic, drawing inspiration from singer-songwriters such as Nick Drake and Bob Dylan. The band has a heavy focus on high energy group improvisation and expressive horn harmonies. Rhombus combines the talents of James Macaulay (Trombone), Miles Henry (Drums), Paddy Fitzgerald (Bass) and Brennan Hamilton-Smith (Saxophone, Clarinet), bringing together their modern and traditional influences through original compositions. Third Tuesday of every month. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1612314101775-4824BB1QICZC93859ZIP/20779_tinney_cover2__1_.jpg Emergence - HARRY TINNEY presents WASTELANDS WASTELANDS is a musical initiative by Melbourne-based guitarist Harry Tinney formed in response to a pervasive sense of cultural and spiritual apathy. Drawing on his early gospel, folk, and rock influences, the all-new compositions provide an instrumental statement of resilience in the face of adversity. The compositions are darker in aesthetic compared to his previous musical offerings, brought to life with the addition of Angus Radley (electric bass) and Felix Bloxsom (drums) in a unified trio setting. There is a distinct emphasis on preserving simplicity within song forms, allowing for textural and dynamic improvisation on thematic elements. Fourth Tuesday of the month. https://www.matthoyne.com/reparations-stephen-byth daily 0.75 2021-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1614742054461-IUUHR73ASRL6T1JQTP81/a2816751980_10.jpg Reparations - Stephen Byth There’s that old saying that you should never mention religion or politics at a dinner party. With the exception of playing a game of Monopoly, few things have the ability to start monumental arguments between family and friends like the aforementioned topics. However, as I get older, I’m starting to feel like we should talk a lot more about politics, especially when it comes to jazz and improvised music. Going through jazz school, it felt like the teachers followed the old adage to a tee. With hindsight, it seems exceptionally strange that a tertiary course based on music created by a people for whom immense inequality and systemic racism was a daily experience, rarely discussed politics or race. While I can understand that it’s very challenging to sensitively navigate such complex topics, especially to a room full of (mostly) privileged, white Australian 18-year old’s, I think that it’s important to acknowledge and discuss as part of the music’s history. https://www.matthoyne.com/blogs daily 0.75 2023-01-04 https://www.matthoyne.com/practice daily 0.75 2023-01-04 https://www.matthoyne.com/matthoyne daily 1.0 2025-08-12 https://www.matthoyne.com/matthoyne/gigs monthly 0.5 2025-08-11 https://www.matthoyne.com/matthoyne/noisyaustralians monthly 0.5 2023-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1600593943042-WHN7TLI0XDYOK8S41NYD/a3399923544_10.jpg Matt Hoyne - blog - Spark - Scott van Gemert’s Unbroken Trio Is trombone, electric guitar and drums the new string quartet? You’ll have to read/listen on to find out! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1597546449928-VU630DNDKLBQW41WEF0K/a3114266115_10.jpg Matt Hoyne - blog - A Short Film - The Rest Is Silence A mixed bag of sounds, songs and styles: high quality, collective music making by siblings and friends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1597547019163-OERA0QBY0PY6NCZU4V8B/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-08-08%2Bat%2B8.57.24%2Bam.jpg Matt Hoyne - blog - Why on earth start another music blog? Good question! Let me try and justify it to myself and you… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1601199063292-EE93Z3FD9GR0Y0UX15SO/a2526399468_10.jpg Matt Hoyne - blog - Menagerie - Koi Kingdom Highly intricate compositions, filled with a surreal quirkiness and playful orchestrations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1614982082030-O7N1454J5ED4C7PS7R27/a2816751980_10.jpg Matt Hoyne - blog - Reparations - Stephen Byth Thoughtful music that portrays Australia’s beautiful landscapes and texture yet can turn on a dime to express the anger and turmoil of this nation’s dark history. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1601681627652-T8OA9TT4DZFCNNW02UHP/a3340198802_10.jpg Matt Hoyne - blog - Treading Water - Avgenicos Brothers Groove-centric contemporary jazz made by a band of heavy weight Sydney based musicians. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1598163890471-KED4IHKDE07IIO8AA1ZI/a2773073286_10.jpg Matt Hoyne - blog - Vegetable Bass - Helen Svoboda A unique collection of quirky compositions for solo bass and voice inspired by your favourite vegetables. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1597546783743-CRO79MO3ZTDHBQDM90XB/Lake+Tyers.jpg Matt Hoyne - blog - Lake Tyers - Tom Allen-Graham An understated trio outing filled with melodic songs and some serious guitar playing - the perfect mood setter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1606537726731-DPLG5SLQ5GRHOFZBRPNU/a2505564419_10.jpg Matt Hoyne - blog - Slippery - Hannah McKittrick A slow moving musical world that will have you listening time and time again! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1598758805855-QD2722QR5OUUVGFRTVEG/a3197177033_10.jpg Matt Hoyne - blog - Bucolica - Soft Power Catchy, riff-filled songs that will be sure to bring a smile to your dial! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1603608576982-3TKDCUOEB14NUPM7C4BU/cover.jpg Matt Hoyne - blog - Eldorado - Pat Jaffe Beautifully crafted solo piano music that makes for perfect running listening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1599980107124-GXSRGZRKEVGEP9GC3XXK/a1682306520_10.jpg Matt Hoyne - blog - badlands - Chelsea Lee Badass vocal jazz with a social conscience - what more could you want! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1608772328875-4E5ZCCLD4JAD93WAW7Y0/Blog+2.jpg Matt Hoyne - blog - Overlay - Andrew Saragossi/The Relative Size of Things - Theo Carbo & Rachael Archibald A deep dive into 2 unique audiovisual EP’s - the film clip equivalent for contemporary art music! https://www.matthoyne.com/matthoyne/listen monthly 0.5 2025-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/cbfa9919-99ef-4087-8cb2-aef50101434b/Final+2.png Matt Hoyne - listen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1590361699959-HU5NJWOFS9RR76XC52IV/Stories+We+Tell%2C+Songs+We+Sing+Matt+Hoyne Matt Hoyne - listen - Stories We Tell, Songs We Sing My debut album featuring Merinda Dias-Jayasinha, Tom Noonan, Tamara Murphy and Lewis Pierre and artwork and animation by Jon Dinapoli. Available on Bandcamp as CD and digital download, listen and buy here. You can also listen on all major streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal and Youtube. https://www.matthoyne.com/matthoyne/about monthly 0.5 2025-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1579730459899-XD47YHCPNGKNSL6CHPDC/Matt+Hoyne+Guitar+Music+Jazz+Melbourne+Jazzlab+Uptown Matt Hoyne - about https://www.matthoyne.com/matthoyne/contact monthly 0.5 2020-08-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e1c07c54316850ed6d8cdc1/1579156349498-MO8GRHWWW1FI2D8BGP39/000008.jpg Matt Hoyne - contact https://www.matthoyne.com/matthoyne/watch monthly 0.5 2025-08-11