George Matthews (musician) Hawkins's group in the early 1950s. In the 1960s he played with Lucille Dixon and Clark Terry, among others. With Dizzy Gillespie George Matthews (musician) George Matthews (sometimes listed as Georges) (September 23, 1912 in Dominica, British West Indies – June 28, 1982 in New York City) was a jazz trombonist. Matthews's father was a guitarist; Matthews himself was adept on tuba and trumpet as well as trombone. He received classical training in New York City and played with local dance and jazz bands before joining Tiny Bradshaw's group in the early 1930s. He worked later in the 1930s with
Dizzy Gillespie Bahá'í Faith frequently on his trips abroad. He is honored with weekly jazz sessions at the New York Bahá'í Center in the memorial auditorium. In the 1980s, Gillespie led the United Nation Orchestra. For three years Flora Purim toured with the Orchestra. She credits Gillespie with improving her understanding of jazz. In December 1991, during an engagement at Kimball's East in Emeryville, California, he suffered a crisis from what would turn out to be pancreatic cancer. He performed one more night but cancelled the rest of the tour due to his medical problem, ending his 56-year touring career. He led