Matthew Whitaker

Saturday and Sunday

June 7th & 8th

Jazz Pianist Matthew Whitaker

Matthew Whitaker, a resident of Hackensack NJ, is truly a gifted musician.  His desire to play music began at 3 years old when his grandfather gave him a small Yamaha keyboard.  At 9 years old Matthew began to teach himself how to play the Hammond B3 organ.

Matthew attends the Lighthouse Music School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in New York City where he studies classical piano and drums. He also attends The Harlem School of the Arts where he studies jazz styles for the piano and is a member of the Advance Jazz Combo and Jazz House Kids in Montclair, NJ where he is a member of the organ ensemble.

He has performed before the UN Youth Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, Lincoln Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center and internationally in Capri Italy, Tetouan Morocco, Tokyo and Osaka, Japan.  Matthew has been recognized by various organizations and has appeared on US and Japanese television.

Matthew was a winning participant in the “Amateur Night at the Apollo Child Stars of Tomorrow”; opening performer for Stevie Wonder’s induction into the Apollo’s hall of fame; guest artist for the Jazz Foundation of America Gala events; performed with Roy Ayers, James Carter, Jon Batiste, D.D, Jackson, Arturo O’Farrill; Jazz Mafia Symphony; with Ozomatli and ‘The New York Pops’ Orchestra; and with Hamiet Bluiett and his Bio-Electric Ensemble.  He can also be found playing the drums during worship service on 3rd Sundays for the Youth Choir at New Hope Baptist Church of Hackensack, New Jersey, his home church.

Matthew has written several original compositions. His artistic influences are composers/musicians Dr Lonnie Smith, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Rhoda Scott, Joey DeFrancesco, Charles Earland; Stevie Wonder, D.D. Jackson, Art Tatum, Ahmad Jamal, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Chick Corea, Jon Batiste, Chopin, Bach, and drummers Otis Brown III, Otis Brown Jr, Roy Haynes, T. S. Monk, Herlin Riley and Johnathan Blake.

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

–      Community Service Award – County of Bergen New Jersey – 2014

–     Joint Legislative Resolution from The Senate and General Assembly of

The State of New Jersey 2012

–     Dream Tree Foundation Scholarship -2012

–     African American Heritage Parade Cultural Award (Next Generation Jazz Musician) – 2011

–     Irwin Widelitz Scholarship – 2011

–     Bergen County Division on Disability Services Salute to Champions Award – 2011

–     Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders Salute to Champions Certificate of Commendation Award – 2011

–     Certificate of Special Congressional Recongnition Salute to Champions Award – 2011

–     Bergen County Special Services School District Salute to Champions Award – 2011

Saturday and Sunday Showtimes are 7:30pm and 9:30pm

Saturday Show Tickets:

Sunday Show Tickets:  LATE SHOW SEATS STILL AVAILABLE.