Rising jazz star Matthew Whitaker is a musical prodigy who, though just 21 years old, has been performing in the public eye for more than a decade at venues including the Apollo Theater, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center. Blind since birth, he plays not only piano but also organ and drums and has appeared on Today, Ellen and 60 Minutes.

Whitaker’s third and latest album, Connections, features cameos by Jon Batiste and other artists on original tunes and interpretations of classics from musical heroes including Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder, Chick Corea and Thelonious Monk.

Join us for this engaging conversation in anticipation of Matthew Whitaker’s performance at the Palladium on April 30.

About JazzTalk

JazzTalk is a series of informal online conversations with jazz artists performing in the current Center Presents season. Host Todd Williams is a nationally known saxophonist, composer and music educator who first gained national fame as a member of Wynton Marsalis’ ensembles. Williams talks with each guest about a variety of topics, including their background, inspirations and current work. Viewers can join in via Zoom and pose questions after the discussion. Participation in the webinar is free.