Matthew Whitaker Quartet

The South Beach Jazz Festival kicks off with Sobe at Nobe featuring Matthew Whitaker, an 18-year-old, blind American jazz pianist with an impressive resume and incredible talent. This multi-award-winning, internationally recognized, young jazz phenomenon has played world-renowned stages including Lincoln Center, the Apollo Theater, Cargenie Hall, and New Orleans Jazz Festival… just to name a few. You may have seen him featured on 60 Minutes earlier this year.

“Matthew Whitaker is only 18, and he’s also blind, but the musicianship, arrangements, and bandleading skills displayed here would be equally impressive were this album made by someone with five times the experience.” – JazzTimes Magazine

The two-time ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award winner will take the stage with his quartet on Friday, January 8 at 8 pm. Matthew Whitaker’s sound is filled with refined dynamics, a light and artful touch, accompanied by bright strings and rhythm. His approach to each instrument is thoughtful and distinctive- melodic and improvisational on piano, complex textured and harmonically dense on the organ. With a personal touch, supported by highly skilled colleagues, Matthew, whose enthusiasm is incessant, is the center of this quartet, smooth, graceful, and full of energy. Matthew and his band will have any audience on their feet swaying and shouting with delight.

This event is presented live at the Bandshell, with a reduced capacity audience. Mandatory Covid-19 safety protocols are in place.

The event is presented by Power Access, the City of Miami Beach, Miami Dade Count, KCC Productions, and Yamaha Entertainment Group.

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