All That Jazz: the music of Randolph Matthews

Celebrating a dazzling career as a virtuoso jazz singer, Randolph Matthews, at 51, is gazing at a vista of possibilities.

This unique performer with a golden voice cannot be squeezed into a box labelled ‘jazz’. In three decades since launching himself out of a mundane nine-to-five job into the precarious music industry, Randolph’s talents have embraced a multitude of genres, including soul, blues, and ‘vocal gymnastics’ – using his voice as a complex instrument. He’s also a masterful composer, songwriter, and voice movement therapist.     

Randolph’s resumé of accomplishments is impressive. In 2011 and 2012, he toured with Young Voices, involving 7,000 primary school children performing at London’s O2 Arena, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, and other cities throughout the UK, inspiring youngsters with a passion for music.  

“Touring with Young Voices was an incredible experience, especially since it was the first time I’d been on such a massive stage,” he reflects. “I have to admit, it was daunting at first – standing in front of thousands of people, feeling the weight of it all. But once I found my confidence, it became thrilling. Seeing those kids light up on stage, knowing I was helping to ignite their passion for music, was truly fulfilling.”

Randolph performed for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2012 and recalls the disbelief and awe he felt. “Performing at Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee was an experience like no other. Standing in that historic setting was surreal. I mean, how many people get to say they performed for the Queen? It was both humbling and exhilarating, though I must admit, I was half-expecting a royal wave or a knighthood on the spot! But seriously, being part of such a significant celebration was unforgettable, and it’s a story I’ll be telling for years to come.”

Randolph has opened for acclaimed artists including Joan Armatrading, Bill Frisell, Angelique Kidjo and Richard Bona, and revered Ethiopian jazz musician, Mulatu Astatke, at an array of events.

In 2019, he wrote and starred in the mesmerising show, ‘Walter Tull in B Major’, a musical journey through the life of the renowned English footballer – and first British Army officer of Afro-Caribbean descent – who sadly died at 29 on the battlefield in 1918. Walter Tull is a legend in his hometown of Folkestone in Kent where Randolph now lives with his wife, Sjoukje Gummels, a model and meditation teacher, and their two sons, Marvin, 22 and Eliy, 15, after moving from London in 2015 to enjoy rural and seaside charms and a more relaxed pace.

Explaining the motivation driving the Walter Tull opus that captivated audiences around the country, Randolph says: “I wanted to create a song cycle of exhilarating music that confronts the issues of Walter Tull’s heroic life 100 years ago, which is still relevant today for people of colour. It’s a celebration of courage, resolve and one man’s composure to live as an equal within society.”

Throughout the decades, the charismatic singer has performed live at intimate gigs and concerts throughout Europe including the Jazz Ascona Festival in Switzerland, winning best band in 2018, and leading jazz workshops in Germany.  

Randolph has now turned his focus to recording his original songs. His rendition of Have You Said It, released on Spotify in July 2024, is deeply personal. “The song came after a couple of near-death experiences in my family. I had to question whether I’d said everything I needed to say to them. And ask if they had said what they need to say to me? Time is an illusion. The only thing we really have is precious moments with people.” 

In between time in the studio, Randolph is planning a Creators’ Retreat in a historic villa in a picturesque rural town in Italy in June 2025 to bring together creative people from all the arts. He says: “I love being a creator using my voice, movement and imagination as tools to create something new. Everyone has these abilities. The retreat will explore the act of creation and innovation in a natural landscape allowing people to break free from their usual constraints. It’s a chance for people to feel whole and find the missing pieces of themselves.”

The Retreat is a celebration of Voice Movement Therapy, which transformed Randolph’s life when he ventured to Massachusetts to study this pioneering approach in 2003. For 20 years the skills he learned at those intense trainings have infused his work as a singer and musician. 

“In my experience, our voice is a true reflection of our inner self, deeply connected to our healing and personal empowerment. Voice Movement Therapy goes beyond just words – it’s an embodied, creative process that helps us explore who we are and how we connect with others.”

Randolph encourages everyone to find their voice and express themselves, because finding his voice was the key that unlocked his purpose in life at the age of 18.

Having just left home, he was working as a telecom engineer in the financial district of London Bank when he started jamming with musical friends and discovered he possessed a powerful voice. “I never expected to find my true calling while working in the heart of the city, but those jam sessions opened my eyes – and ears – to a part of myself I never knew existed.”

Until this turning point, music was not a big part of his childhood and adolescence. He grew up in Tottenham with his parents of Caribbean heritage, who migrated from Grenada in the Windrush generation of the 1960s. 

Growing up with three siblings, Peter, Deborah and Andy, his childhood was stable and comfortable thanks to his hard-working mum, Veronica, a dedicated nurse, and dad, Raymond, a skilful builder. 

He remembers visiting Grenada as a kid for exciting holidays in the tropics. His parents later built a spacious five-storey home there and planted exotic fruits on acres of lush gardens set on a beautiful river. 

“Those holidays are some of my most cherished memories – running through the gardens, the smell of ripe fruit in the air and the sound of the river. It was like stepping into another world, where the pace of life was slower and the culture so rich and vibrant. The warmth of the people, the music, the food – it all left a lasting impression on me, something I carry with me even now.”

In 2023 he took his own family to the idyllic island to connect with his roots. “I felt it was essential for my sons to experience the place where their grandfather’s journey began, to see with their own eyes the home and land he poured his heart into. It wasn’t just about showing them a beautiful place – it was about passing down a legacy of resilience, dedication, and the deep sense of pride that comes from knowing where you come from. I wanted them to understand the sacrifices made and the opportunities that were created for us through sheer hard work and determination,” he says, his voice filled with pride for his parents’ achievements.

“My mum was from Tivoli, a village of former slaves from Ghana who played traditional djembe drums. Mum grew up playing drums and singing in school and the church choir. Through me becoming a musician, her love of music has been revived. 

 “My grandfather was known in Grenada as a brilliant fiddle player. He was called the ‘Jimmy Hendrix of fiddle-playing’ because he played the instrument behind his head! Music is definitely in my blood!”

Randolph suffered an injury at birth to his right arm that affected his childhood academically and restricted him in playing sports at St Thomas More Catholic School in Wood Green. 

At the age of 13 he had major surgery at Stanmore Orthopaedic International Hospital. Recovery required a challenging year wearing a plaster cast. During his stay in hospital, he witnessed other children with serious diseases, terminal illnesses and amputations and one young friend died. The profound experience cultivated compassion and deep appreciation of the preciousness of life.  

“Spending that year in the hospital was a life-changing experience. Seeing kids my age going through such unimaginable pain and loss made me realise just how fragile life can be. It taught me to never take anything for granted and to have deep empathy for those who are suffering. That time in the hospital shaped me in ways I’m still discovering.”

These days Randolph Matthews is empowered and in his prime. He’s ready to branch out as a citizen of the world and share his passion for music and creativity with diverse cultures far and wide. He’s a man on an unstoppable mission.