Matthias Heyman conducts research in jazz in all its forms and approaches. He recently completed the first Belgian PhD in the discipline of jazz, a multidisciplinary study on double bass player Jimmie Blanton (1918-1942), and is now active as a postdoctoral researcher with a project on the artistic and educational impact of jazz competitions, with the Belgian contest Jazz Hoeilaart / B-Jazz as a case study. He also specializes in historical performance practice in jazz and the history of jazz in Belgium. In 2011, he was the lead researcher in a project on the national jazz heritage, which resulted in a plan that is currently being implemented. In addition to his research activities, he teaches all jazz history courses at the LUCA School of Arts (Leuven) and the Jazzstudio (Antwerp). In addition, he has already provided several guest lectures, including at the University of Amsterdam, the AP University College and at Ghent University.
As a performer he collaborated with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Jef Neve, Bert Joris and Toots Thielemans, and he played in orchestras under the direction of Jaap van Zweden, Reinbert de Leeuw and Philippe Herreweghe. Matthias Heyman has been a guest at numerous international congresses (the Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, the United States) and has written several populist (Jazz Mosaic, Breath) and academic (Journal for Jazz Studies, Jazz Research Journal, Jazz Perspectives) articles.