Biography
Matt Calvert, a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer from Britain, established Three Trapped Tigers as one of its founders. He also helped launch the electro-jazz trio Strobes and maintains regular collaborations with Heritage Orchestra. Additionally, he acts as musical director for the live performances of drum'n'bass pioneer Goldie. His distinctive sound features heavily distorted synths, extensively processed guitars, and intense percussion delivered at loud volumes. While fluent in pop, rock, and prog-metal, Calvert demonstrates deep knowledge of jazz traditions, fusion styles, and classical music. His 2018 debut as a leader, Typewritten, which received widespread praise, unusually featured only acoustic instruments performed by a chamber ensemble he assembled himself. During 2020, he handled production, mixing, and performance duties on Multiverse from the jazz duo consisting of Jim Hart and Ivo Neame. Calvert issued Million Seller in January 2024, presenting an album that delves into the music and legacy of Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi band.
Born in England during 1980, Calvert recalls early exposure to Michael Jackson's Bad, Off The Wall, and Thriller, which played repeatedly in his parents' car when he reached age five. Years afterward he mastered advanced music theory through transcribing charts by producer/arranger Quincy Jones. He informed an interviewer that Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" continues to elicit tears. At age 11 he began playing guitar after encountering the Spin Doctors' hit album Pocket Full of Kryptonite. Among his brothers he was the final one to adopt an instrument. Twin brother John Calvert (Ghostpoet, Kwabs and Nao) started on piano, while older brother Tom Calvert (aka Redinho) chose drums and urged Matt toward guitar, although John had also desired to play that instrument and later switched to bass. Studying music alongside his siblings delivered lasting benefits.
During high school Calvert resolved to make music his career, and at 18 he entered the Guildhall School of Music & Drama to pursue jazz studies. Prompted by fellow students, he acquired a laptop and began exploring electronic music independently. While completing graduate work at the Royal Academy of Music, he met drummer/electronicist Adam Betts through John, an encounter that advanced his grasp of electronic techniques. Together with keyboardist/composer Tom Rogerson the pair launched Three Trapped Tigers in 2007. Between 2009 and 2010 the group issued three well-received and influential numbered EPs on Blood & Biscuits, even while Calvert contributed to Heritage Orchestra, appearing on their self-titled 2006 debut album and performing with them in concert.
TTT delivered their first full-length album, Route One or Die, in 2011, the same year Calvert and Betts created Evil Eye, an experimental math rock/prog electro-metal duo that released the EP Bygones. The guitarist also produced, mixed, and performed synths on vanguard jazz fusion band Ma's album The Last. Elements from both projects shaped TTT's 2012 release Numbers: 1-13, while Calvert produced and engineered Yours Sincerely, Dr. Hardcore, the debut album by indie math rock outfit Gallops. The next year he produced and recorded Ruins, the first solo album by London keyboardist and producer Dan Nicholls, an associate from Goldie's band. Over the ensuing three years Calvert continued working with TTT and Goldie's live ensemble. Late in 2014 he and Nicholls formed the 21st-century jazz fusion group Strobes alongside drummer Joshua Blackmore. Their debut album, Brokespeak, was recorded, mixed, and produced by Calvert for Blood & Biscuits in 2016, the year TTT issued Silent Earthling, their third album and first on Superball Music.
Throughout 2017 and the opening months of 2018 Calvert recorded in the studio with Jazzanova, Goldie, and Mura Masa. He also assembled nine additional musicians to perform his own compositions and arrangements written exclusively for acoustic instruments. Issued in 2018 under the title Typewritten, the collection gathered concise miniatures alongside longer pieces that moved fluidly among chamber jazz, post-bop, and crossover classical music. On that session Calvert performed no fewer than nine instruments. Although distribution remained limited, the album earned acclaim throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.
In 2019 he recorded Do Not Be Afraid by world fusion group Vula Viel and contributed guitar to jazz drummer Anton Eger's AE. He participated in Heritage Orchestra's recorded collaboration with Pete Tong titled Chilled Classics. He further produced, mixed, and supplied synth and samples to Multiverse, an expansive jazz project by drummer/vibraphonist Jim Hart and keyboardist/clarinetist Ivo Neame.
For an extended period Calvert remained deeply influenced by Herbie Hancock's pioneering Mwandishi band albums (Crossings, Mwandishi, Sextant). He convened a sextet featuring Supersilent's Ståle Storløkken on synths, Matthew Bourne on Moog, drummer Dave Smith (Robert Plant, Juju), percussionist Sam Wilson, djembe player Mamadou Sarr, and kora master Kadialy Kouyate, yet excluded the Rhodes electric piano commonly heard on the Hancock recordings. Rather than replicate full compositions, he incorporated selected passages, resulting in a bold and unsettling electro-acoustic work titled Million Seller, released in January 2024.
Born in England during 1980, Calvert recalls early exposure to Michael Jackson's Bad, Off The Wall, and Thriller, which played repeatedly in his parents' car when he reached age five. Years afterward he mastered advanced music theory through transcribing charts by producer/arranger Quincy Jones. He informed an interviewer that Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" continues to elicit tears. At age 11 he began playing guitar after encountering the Spin Doctors' hit album Pocket Full of Kryptonite. Among his brothers he was the final one to adopt an instrument. Twin brother John Calvert (Ghostpoet, Kwabs and Nao) started on piano, while older brother Tom Calvert (aka Redinho) chose drums and urged Matt toward guitar, although John had also desired to play that instrument and later switched to bass. Studying music alongside his siblings delivered lasting benefits.
During high school Calvert resolved to make music his career, and at 18 he entered the Guildhall School of Music & Drama to pursue jazz studies. Prompted by fellow students, he acquired a laptop and began exploring electronic music independently. While completing graduate work at the Royal Academy of Music, he met drummer/electronicist Adam Betts through John, an encounter that advanced his grasp of electronic techniques. Together with keyboardist/composer Tom Rogerson the pair launched Three Trapped Tigers in 2007. Between 2009 and 2010 the group issued three well-received and influential numbered EPs on Blood & Biscuits, even while Calvert contributed to Heritage Orchestra, appearing on their self-titled 2006 debut album and performing with them in concert.
TTT delivered their first full-length album, Route One or Die, in 2011, the same year Calvert and Betts created Evil Eye, an experimental math rock/prog electro-metal duo that released the EP Bygones. The guitarist also produced, mixed, and performed synths on vanguard jazz fusion band Ma's album The Last. Elements from both projects shaped TTT's 2012 release Numbers: 1-13, while Calvert produced and engineered Yours Sincerely, Dr. Hardcore, the debut album by indie math rock outfit Gallops. The next year he produced and recorded Ruins, the first solo album by London keyboardist and producer Dan Nicholls, an associate from Goldie's band. Over the ensuing three years Calvert continued working with TTT and Goldie's live ensemble. Late in 2014 he and Nicholls formed the 21st-century jazz fusion group Strobes alongside drummer Joshua Blackmore. Their debut album, Brokespeak, was recorded, mixed, and produced by Calvert for Blood & Biscuits in 2016, the year TTT issued Silent Earthling, their third album and first on Superball Music.
Throughout 2017 and the opening months of 2018 Calvert recorded in the studio with Jazzanova, Goldie, and Mura Masa. He also assembled nine additional musicians to perform his own compositions and arrangements written exclusively for acoustic instruments. Issued in 2018 under the title Typewritten, the collection gathered concise miniatures alongside longer pieces that moved fluidly among chamber jazz, post-bop, and crossover classical music. On that session Calvert performed no fewer than nine instruments. Although distribution remained limited, the album earned acclaim throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.
In 2019 he recorded Do Not Be Afraid by world fusion group Vula Viel and contributed guitar to jazz drummer Anton Eger's AE. He participated in Heritage Orchestra's recorded collaboration with Pete Tong titled Chilled Classics. He further produced, mixed, and supplied synth and samples to Multiverse, an expansive jazz project by drummer/vibraphonist Jim Hart and keyboardist/clarinetist Ivo Neame.
For an extended period Calvert remained deeply influenced by Herbie Hancock's pioneering Mwandishi band albums (Crossings, Mwandishi, Sextant). He convened a sextet featuring Supersilent's Ståle Storløkken on synths, Matthew Bourne on Moog, drummer Dave Smith (Robert Plant, Juju), percussionist Sam Wilson, djembe player Mamadou Sarr, and kora master Kadialy Kouyate, yet excluded the Rhodes electric piano commonly heard on the Hancock recordings. Rather than replicate full compositions, he incorporated selected passages, resulting in a bold and unsettling electro-acoustic work titled Million Seller, released in January 2024.
Albums
Singles