Home » Jazz Musicians » Jay Matharu

Jay Matharu

Jay Matharu is a British-born guitarist, composer, and educator based in Uppsala, Sweden. Having toured widely across Europe, he has built a reputation as a versatile musician with an expansive sound. His music is an eclectic fusion drawing from jazz, progressive rock, and Indian classical music, amongst a wide array of influences.

As both a performer and composer, Matharu’s work is defined by intricate motivic development and a seamless integration of diverse tonalities. He treats each piece as an unfolding journey, prioritising improvisational exploration, where technique always serves the emotional narrative. This approach results in a deeply expressive sound defined by melodic storytelling, rhythmic complexity, and emotional depth.

Matharu’s professional portfolio is built on high-level collaborations across diverse musical landscapes. His work with the international trio Dissonant Distance (Dissonant Distance, 2018; Consequences of the Light, 2022) established his reputation for spontaneous musical dialogue, while his broader experience includes varied session and live work across an eclectic mix of genres.

Having previously established himself on the Swedish metal scene as lead guitarist and co-songwriter for Liv Sin (Kaliyuga, 2023; Close Your Eyes, 2025), Matharu now turns his focus toward his own music. He continues to perform with Johan Langquist’s The Castle and the progressive symphonic metal band Hexed, while working toward the release new solo music.

Gear

Strandberg 6 & 7 String Guitars

Fender amps

Neural Quad Cortex

Strymon, One Control, Wampler, AC Noises, EHX effect pedals.

Tags

Paris Move (FR) - review - “Jay Matharu makes no compromises, and he shows little interest in pursuing easy accessibility. Instead, he presents his artistic vision on his own terms. In an era increasingly crowded with genre hybrids, Jay Matharu’s achievement is not that he combines influences, but that he transforms them into something unmistakably his own.”

Jazz in Family (IT) - review - “Jay Matharu manages to create a dialogue between jazz fusion, progressive rock, and influences from Indian classical music without losing narrative coherence. The result is a mature, thoughtful work that holds your attention from start to finish.”