Now in his early forties Matt is still considered one of the younger musicians playing traditional jazz in Britain today. He started learning clarinet at the age of fifteen having become a keen jazz fan through listening to his father's records, which included sessions from the 50's and 60's by Chris Barber, Alex Welsh and the Dutch Swing College Band.

His first experience of playing jazz came in 1988 when he started to sit in with a few bands that played in pubs around the Nottingham area. In 1990 (at the age of twenty) Matt formed the 'Knights of Jazz' who enjoyed a great deal of success in the early 1990's.

Matt's full-time career in music began in 1995 when he became a member of the resident jazz band at Alton Towers theme park, Staffordshire and became bandleader in his final season (1997). During his time there he worked with many of the countries leading traditional jazz musicians including Pete Brown, Terry Brunt, Mike Dexter and Arthur Brown. When the theme park contract came to an end Matt formed the Millennium Jazz Band who became firm favourites in several leading jazz venues.

During the late 1990s several visits to Puerto de Mogan, Gran Canaria where Matt hosted star-studded jam sessions featuring musicians appearing at the jazz festival held on the island. These sessions have included such notables as the late Kenny Baker and clarinet star Pete Allen.

In 2003 Matt was invited to join powerhouse Jump-Jive outfit Hot Banana with pianist Simon Banks, and trombonist Kevin Grenfell, the band’s renditions of Louis Prima classics entertained the passengers making the journey from Plymouth to Santander on the Brittany Ferries Line on a regular basis until 2010. The band continue to appear at festivals and functions around the UK.

Birmingham’s famed Eagle Jazz Band called on Matt’s services in 2004, sadly the band disbanded in 2005 after the death of last remaining founder member Tony Hobson. The group soon reformed under the banner of the Millennium Eagle Jazz Band ‘Continuing the Tradition of Hot and Entertaining Jazz’ to this day.

Matt can also be found with several other line-ups including All Star groups that have recently allowed him the opportunity to work some of the finest UK jazz musicians such as Enrico Tomasso, Tom ‘Spats’ Langham, Melcolm Sked, Tom Kinkaid, Amy Roberts, Jim Swinnerton, Amy Roberts, Nick Ward, John Crocker, George Huxley, Denny Illett, Micky Cooke and Geoff Barnhart (USA).

In addition to performing Matt has recently embarked on a teaching career instructing woodwind and brass instruments to junior school children around the Nottingham area and is in the process of expanding this to cover private instrumental tuition. Other activities include being Chairman of Nottingham Rhythm Club, the longest running Jazz Club of its kind in the Country, founded in 1941-Still Going Strong!