With his spirited playing, 18 year-old Matthew Whitaker has won over many famous fans including his hero Stevie Wonder. Now it is time for the audience at large to discover him. The young, blind pianist and organist grew up with soul, gospel and jazz and continues to study classical piano and drums as well. His improvisations can be either breathtaking or very danceable and can be filled with quotes from the Great American Songbook.

In his early teens Matthew became the youngest artist to be endorsed by Hammond, the iconic organ maker, and the youngest jazz pianist ever to be endorsed by Yamaha. He has performed with the likes of Cory Henry, James Carter, Roy Ayers. On his debut album Outta the Box he collaborated with, among others, Christian McBride, Will Calhoun and Sammy Figueroa. He recently won the Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award for his song Emotions, which will appear on his new album.

Marcos Robinson guitar, Matthew Whitaker Hammond organ/piano, Karim Hutton bass, Isaiah Johnson drums