Matt Carmichael
Ambassador for Jazz (Saxophone)
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“RCS is an amazing hub for the creative scene in Glasgow and has been the catalyst for a lot of the most exciting music coming out of the city at the moment. It was a wonderful place to study at and be surrounded by so many inspiring people throughout my four years there. I continue to work with students, alumni and teachers from across the departments at RCS all the time and will do so for the rest of my career.”
About Matt
RCS Programme: BMus Jazz (Saxophone), 2021
Biography:
Heralded by BBC Music Magazine as “a distinctive new voice in a crowded scene”, Scottish saxophonist and composer Matt Carmichael continues to move from strength to strength and grow his reach globally with his powerfully emotive blend of melodic jazz and folk music.
Born just outside of Inverness before moving to Glasgow, where, at the age of 11, he enthusiastically ran home from school clutching a letter from his local music service offering saxophone lessons. Music instantly became his passion, and he soon began writing music for his own band, performing their first gig at the Butterfly and Pig in Glasgow — before half the band were legally allowed in the pub.
Since then, the band has developed a special chemistry and sound together, grounded in collective improvisation. They regularly perform internationally at venues like Bimhuis, Fasching, Celtic Connections, Ronnie Scott’s, and Love Supreme, as well as Matt working as a soloist and arranger with the Grammy Award-winning WDR Big Band and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.
Following his critically acclaimed debut Where Will the River Flow (which amassed over 8 million streams), Carmichael signed to the renowned label Edition Records for his second album, Marram. His latest album, Dancing with Embers included collaborations with Rachel Sermanni and Brìghde Chaimbeul and was shortlisted for the multi-genre SAY awards, as well as winning Best Album in the Scottish Jazz Awards.
Matt’s Links:
Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Website / Ambassador Q&A
