ABOUT

Matthew Ottignon, hailing from New Zealand and now entrenched in Sydney's vibrant music scene, embodies mastery across all musical realms, boasting undeniable musical lineage.

His schedule brims with tours, soloist work, composing, and educational pursuits, solidifying his status as one of Australia's most sought-after musicians.

He weaves sound with assuredness, from delicate flutters akin to the fairywren's grace, to adding sudden drama or chunky meat to the bones of the grooves.

Infused with a worldly perspective shaped by past musical encounters, Ottignon's original compositions for Mister Ott resonate with melodies from distant lands, particularly drawing from Ethiopian music intertwined with the free-form improvisation and syncopation emblematic of African-pedigreed jazz.

The acclaimed "Tread Lightly," was applauded in 2021, and stands as a testament to Ottignon's powerful contribution to Australian jazz repotiore, featuring Matt on tenor saxophone alongside the talents of Stu Hunter on piano, Cam Undy on bass, and Miles Thomas on drums.

Notably, Ottignon's homage to Mark Simmonds garnered fervent acclaim upon its debut, while his quartet "Volant" is making waves amongst Sydney’s underground jazz scene.

For several years, Matthew has enchanted young audiences as the character "Mister Saxophone" on the popular children's TV program "Lah-Lah," introducing music to budding ears with infectious charm and enthusiasm.

Among a host of industry stalwarts, Matthew has appeared on stage with international legends from Lou Reed and Brian Wilson to Steve Cropper and Donald Duck Dunn. He’s played with and/or appeared on the recordings of (among others), Ngaiire, Tim Minchin,  Blue King Brown, Portishead, The Herd, Jimmy & Mahalia Barnes, Katie Noonan, Marcia Hines, Aria winners Monsieur Camembert, Guy Sebastian, Mike Nock, Jackie Orszazcky, Bernie McGann, Cameron Undy and multi-award winning trumpeter/composer Phil Slater.