The Cosimo Matassa Project are a collective of musicians in London, UK, working to conjure up the unique rhythm ‘n’ blues flavours that emerged from New Orleans in the late 1940s and early 1950s. At the core of the band are pianist and arranger Al Dunn (Loudon Wainwright / Richard Thompson), singer and double bassist Dai Price (Dai & The Ramblers) and drummer Roy Pfeffer (The Big Smoke Family). They’re often joined by guest musicians from London’s rhythm ‘n’ blues scene, and members of our collective have played with the likes of Allen Toussaint, James Hunter and Van Morrison. Over the last couple of years the band have become a staple on the R’n’B circuit, gigging around London clubs and bars such as Nightjar in Old Street, Brasserie Zedel in Mayfair and Ronnie Scott’s in Soho.
The entire project is born out of respect for the artists who passed through Cosimo Matassa’s studios, a real love for the music and a desire to summon up the sheer joy that pervades all of Cosimo’s recordings. Playing tunes by well-known artists from that era such as Fats Domino and Big Joe Turner, the band also like to unearth lesser-known gems by the likes of Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry, Dave Bartholomew and Tami Lynn, as well as throwing in a few of their original songs.