Mister Ott at Lazybones Lounge Restaurant & Bar

Mister Ott

Led by saxophonist and sonic explorer Matthew Ottignon, Mister Ott transcends the genres from which it was born, and by which it was influenced. They are a genre-bending ensemble that fuses Afro-funk, Ethio-jazz, dub, and psychedelia into magnetic dancefloor mantras.

What began as Ottignon’s love letter to the hypnotic grooves of Mulatu Astatke and Getatchew Mekurya has grown into a standout voice of Australia’s improvised music scene.

Rooted in Sydney but fluent in a dozen musical dialects, the band features heavy-hitters Ellen Kirkwood on trumpet, guitarist Ben Panucci, keys player Daniel Pliner, bassist Noel Mason and drummer Carlos Adura.

Their music blends swirling Ethio scales, razor-sharp horn lines, psychedelic guitar, and a rhythm section steeped in dub, funk, and breakbeat. From 2015’s Drop It Like It’s Ott to the explosive Single Shot and latest album In the Flow – their releases showcase a group in constant motion.

Whether laying down cosmic meditations or blasting funk-driven firestarters, Mister Ott embodies what it means to make music that is both deeply rooted and unmistakably modern. “Mister Ott marries the mesmerising eastern-sounding pentatonic scale, distinctive phrasing and trance-like rhythms of Ethiojazz with groove-laden retro funk and mainstream jazz” - Tony Hillier, Rhythms Magazine, June 2015

“With a sound originally rooted in the Ethiojazz ...Mister Ott expand their sonic palette to incorporate psychedelic guitars, reverb-drenched horns, intergalactic keys, and a crunchy drum-and-bass combo that would make DJ Shadow envious.” - Album of the Week, Eastside Radio

“Whenever you hear Matthew Ottignon play, you know you’re going to get the very best in sound experience, so it was not a surprise to hear the pulsing beauty of rich fat sound that filled the room” - Lisa Thatcher, Music Reviews

"This high energy album features superb compositions and writing for the horns, and it’s here that Ottignon truly shines, as only a jazz musician could write such hip, convincing lines." - Eric Myers, The Australian

7pm Doors/Restaurant 8.30pm Band 🎷12am late night bandOpen late