2@1 - Matt McMahon & Guy Strazz
In 2025, pianist Matt McMahon and guitarist Guy Strazz rekindled the 2@1 piano and guitar collaboration; Matt played on two of my previous ABC jazz releases. 2@1 was nominated for ‘Best jazz Album of the Year’ at the 2009 Australian Independent Recording Awards.
The project is a synthesis of jazz in counterpoint with Brazilian, Indian classical, and Iberian classical/ flamenco musics; the latter two are prominent in the composition Silk Road which later became the basis for the composition and recording of "Silk Road Double Concerto for Guitar, Piano and Orchestra" (Guy Strazz, 2012-13) released in 2025 on Bandcamp.
Performances
Melbourne Jazz Festival, The Basement (Syd), Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Johnston Street Jazz, Bennets Lane (Melb), Peninsula Theatre, Central Coast Conservatorium of Music, and more recently, Limited Edition, Church Street Studios and the upcoming concert in September at Phoenix - The Church
Matt and Guy share similar musical experiences through common collaborations/performances with artists, including Vince Jones, Dale Barlow, Ross Edwards, Joseph Towadros, Mike Stern, and Slava Grigoryan.
Press
A radiant album from pianist Matt McMahon and guitarist Guy Strazz; amongst the most lyrical voices in the land
– John Shand (SMH)
Silk Road will have to be one of the finest guitar compositions ever created in Australia
– Peter Wockner, Jazz and Beyond
The night was a celebration of acoustic mastery, musical storytelling, bursts of improvisational brilliance, and the enduring power of collaboration.
- Local Edition, Sep 2025 concert review.