Born in 2001, Matthew Whittaker’s love for playing music began at age 3, after his grandfather gave him a small Yamaha keyboard. At age 9, Matthew began teaching himself how to play the Hammond B3 organ. Four years later, he became the youngest artist to be endorsed by Hammond in that company's 80+ year history. He was also named a Yamaha Artist at age 15, becoming the youngest musician to join the stellar group of jazz pianists.

Matthew went on to win 1st Place on Fox TV’s revival of Showtime at the Apollo in 2016; and in 2019 and 2020, he was the winner of the ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award. Matthew has appeared on the Today Show documentary series "Boys Changing the World," Harry Connick Jr Show, Ellen, and 60 Minutes.

Since then, he's toured both in the US and abroad, performing on prestigious stages around the country including Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts, SF Jazz Center, Monterey Jazz Festival, and Newport Jazz Festival.

In this energetic performance, join this rising jazz and R&B sensation as he and his band serve up a variety of popular tunes and original compositions.



This performance was originally recorded at Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, AZ.

Born in 2001, Matthew Whittaker’s love for playing music began at age 3, after his grandfather gave him a small Yamaha keyboard. At age 9, Matthew began teaching himself how to play the Hammond B3 organ. Four years later, he became the youngest artist to be endorsed by Hammond in that company's 80+ year history. He was also named a Yamaha Artist at age 15, becoming the youngest musician to join the stellar group of jazz pianists.

Matthew went on to win 1st Place on Fox TV’s revival of Showtime at the Apollo in 2016; and in 2019 and 2020, he was the winner of the ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award. Matthew has appeared on the Today Show documentary series "Boys Changing the World," Harry Connick Jr Show, Ellen, and 60 Minutes.

Since then, he's toured both in the US and abroad, performing on prestigious stages around the country including Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts, SF Jazz Center, Monterey Jazz Festival, and Newport Jazz Festival.

In this energetic performance, join this rising jazz and R&B sensation as he and his band serve up a variety of popular tunes and original compositions.



This performance was originally recorded at Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, AZ.