Scottish guitarist Matthew McAllister and American guitarist Matthew Cochran enjoyed critically-acclaimed solo careers well before they decided to form a duo. After a decade of friendship and periodic collaborations, Cochran & McAllister premiered their duo project in 2023 with tours in Scotland and the U.S. The pair quickly established themselves as a major new voice in the guitar world through a combination of unique, accessible programming and warm, easygoing onstage rapport.
Cochran & McAllister’s programming features luminaries such as Bach and Vivaldi, plus highly original reimaginings of music by film composers such as Hans Zimmer and Philip Glass and Jazz giants Pat Metheny, Chick Corea and Ralph Towner. In Summer 2023, the duo will debut Matthew Cochran’s large-scale original piece Pale Blue Dot, an homage to one of the duo’s literary and scientific heroes, Carl Sagan. Cochran & McAllister’s first full-length recording will be released in late 2023.
When Cochran & McAllister are not on the road, they stay connected to their audience through a regular livestream called “Duo Talk,” a lively, informative and at times irreverent exploration of the world of the guitar. Past episodes feature tributes to Julian Bream and John Williams, the Presti-Lagoya Duo and Roland Dyens; conversations with contemporary artists like Göran Söllscher, and discussions with experts on recording technology, guitar societies and music education.