Matthew Herbert is one of electronic music’s most versatile and prolific figureheads. His dazzling new album There’s Me and There’s You is seductive, sophisticated and subversive. Blending lush jazz instrumentation, soulful vocals, intricate rhythms and an arsenal of found-sound samples, it marks Herbert’s second collaboration with his Big Band.

The Big Band project combines the cream of the UK jazz scene – on trumpets, trombones, saxophones, piano, bass and drums – with Herbert’s own electronic wizardry. The Big Band sound is deconstructed and reconstructed live, with Herbert looping, splicing and manipulating the raw material to create a totally distinct version.

Herbert unlocks rich vaults of unique sound and fascinating rhythm from the most unlikely objects. Samples on his albums have included washing machines, nails hammered into coffins, meteorites and an RAF Tornado bomber. He has also prolifically produced and remixed artists as diverse as Björk, REM, Quincy Jones, John Cale, Yoko Ono and Dizzee Rascal.

PHOTO: EVA VERMANDEL

---

WHAT THE PRESS SAID

“Fusing an unlikely combination of bras jazz electronic music, Matthew Herbert showed an enthusiastic audience at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday night that he knows how to put on a seriously good show…Shifting from gentle to explosive, Herbert’s music is original, complex and enormous fun to listen to on a summery evening in Sydney.” – The Daily Telegraph – 27 January

"Big band jazz is the new punk. You say you want a revolution? Well here’s your soundtrack ... more" - BBC

"Herbert manages to explode the dry conversatism of the avantguarde by radically having fun." – The Guardian

“Seeing the band in full flow, freestyling on both traditional and modern equipment, you had the feeling you were seeing jazz in its most contemporary form, the latest stage in its evolution...more” - BBC

“The most seductive, sophisticated and subversive collection of protest songs ever recorded."

“His latest experiment is perhaps his most audacious of all, a blend of political themes, laptop squelches, home-made samples and big band jazz arrangements… more” - Rave Magazine

“Herbert’s repertoire encompasses the stripped-back sounds of techno, house and glitchy electronica through to big-band jazz.” – The Sydney Morning Herald

“The sensory assault - visual as well as aural - that follows is innovative and inspired... more” Times online

"Herbert artfully creates samples on stage from the most unlikely of objects including gossip magazines, batteries and plastic bags among other things." - fineMUSIC

---

COMMENTS

Td 10/12/08

Such a fan - can not wait!

---

Brian Tierney 11/12/08

This is such a bonus to my planned trip to Sydney (from Ireland) in Januray and in the Opera house as well...Mathew Herbert is genius!!!

---

unfortunate 10/01/09

same night as Neil Young :-(

---

Helena 19/01/09

I'm still looking for these tickets, hopefully we will find someone who are unable to go to MHBB.

---

left early 25/01/09

My bf who was clearly bored throughout the show forced us to leave when the entire band has gone backstage. I want to know if the band had played any more songs or if Dani had made an appearance. It was disappointing that we left earlier but it was truly a fantastic show!

---

Louise 25/01/09

Yes, you missed the best - when Esther sang the last (encore) song and was on stage with just the piano! What a voice!

---

HiD 26/01/09

Gave hope and joy to this ol' fan. No question, the Matthew Herbert show at Sydey Opera Concert Hall was fearless, humorous, and truly innovative! The extraordinary talent, superb musical direction and sheer delight of all on stage, made this THE event of the Festival. MH, genius indeed! plus Eska's style and vocals were fantastic, as were the rest of the uk and oz musicians. Thank you to the Sydney Festival for this great bit of programming, bringing Sydney to the 21st century with some truly modern, culturally sophisticated, sheer pleasure at the SOH!!! More please!

---

Brian Tierney 26/01/09

Dear left early...Your boyfriend made you miss a double encore of the best songs of the night...one old one new...can't remember names. But it was Herbert and the Big Band at his best. No Dani though but her replacement was sensational I thought. I did think it was a bit of a quiet show but as it was my first time in ths SOH I loved every minute of it. Probably not what you wanted to hear but I hope you get appropriate revenge!!! Brian

---

Australian Rozie 27/01/09

It was awesome, so entertaining! Seeing Herbert (and the musicians and fab vocalist too) at the Opera House was fantastic. He gave an honourable mention to the Mad Racket crew too. Some people were there for the "big band" rather than the Matthew Herbert but I think they enjoyed it in the end.

---