Mat Mathews

Mat Mathews, born Mathieu Hubert Wijnandts Schwarts (June 18, 1924 – February 12, 2009), was a Dutch jazz accordionist.

Early life Mathews was born in The Hague and learned to play accordion while the Netherlands was still under the Nazi rule during World War II. He originally took up music to avoid forced labor as those engaged in cultural endeavors were pardoned during the initial stages of the occupation. During the war he escaped from a Germany-bound prisoner train and hid for three years in the attic of his mother's house. After hearing Joe Mooney on an AFN radio broadcast after the war, he decided to play jazz.

Later life and career Mathews moved to New York in 1952 and formed a quartet which included Herbie Mann.

Discography Jazz For G.I's (Brunswick 1954) -shared album with Tony Scott Quartet Accordion Solos (Brunswick, 1956) -recorded from 1953-54 The Modern Art of Jazz (Dawn, 1956) The Gentle Art of Love (Dawn, 1956) 4 French Horns Plus Rhythm (Elektra, 1957) Eddie Costa, Mat Mathews & Don Elliott at Newport (Verve, 1957) Swingin' Pretty and All That Jazz (1959) Meditation (Jazz World, 1995) Live at Music Room (1996)

With New York Quartet New York Jazz Quartet (Elektra, 1957) New York Jazz Quartet Goes Native (Elektra, 1957) Music For Suburban Living (Coral, 1958)

As sideman With Bob Stewart Let`s Talk About Love (London Dawn, 1956) With Carmen McRae Carmen McRae (Bethlehem, 1955) By Special Request (Decca, 1956) With Joe Puma Wild Kitten (Dawn, 1958) With Rita Reys, Sylvia Pierce & Peggy Serra New Voices (Dawn, 1957)