Thursday,
July 25, 6-8 p.m.
Thursday’s
“Plaza Jazz” concert is one you won’t want to miss.
The evening’s solo performer will be jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and performer Matt Savage, whom the Boston Globe has called “a jazz
prodigy.”
Find out what's happening in Wakefieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Savage will perform from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 25 in the Gold Room at Beebe Library.
A 2012 Globe story chronicled the young musician’s early struggles with autism as well
as his astonishing musical abilities, which have earned him the label “jazz
savant.” The Wall Street Journal called Savage “phenomenally talented.”
Find out what's happening in Wakefieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
He has appeared on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “The Late Show with
David Letterman.” Following the Letterman appearance, the Matt Savage Trio’s
album, “Hot Ticket: Live in Boston,” hit #11 on the JazzWeek radio charts and
garnered the #2 position in “Live Jazz” sales on Amazon.com (behind only Keith
Jarrett).
In addition to his appearances on the Letterman and Conan O’Brien shows, Savage’s media appearances have included Marian McPartland’s prestigious Piano Jazz series on NPR.
“We are very fortunate to have him performing here,” Beebe Library Assistant Director
Catherine McDonald said of the talented and much-in-demand musician, who is reported to have a very entertaining stage presence.
Savage entered Berklee College of Music at age 17 and graduated at age 20 with a 3.99 grade point average before heading off to the Manhattan
School of music to pursue graduate studies.
Savage has been
connected with some of the biggest names in jazz since first labeled a “jazz
prodigy” at age 8. That same year he met and played piano for Dave Brubeck.
He has performed (on stage and in jam sessions) with artists such as Chick Corea, the Ellington All Stars, Chaka Khan, Wynton Marsalis, Jason Moran, Arturo O’Farrill, John Pizzarelli, Joshua Redman, Terri Lyne Carrington, David Wong, Erena Terakubo and the Aardvark Orchestra. He’s even performed with folk musicians such as Al Stewart and Shawn Colvin. He toured Japan with Shota Ishikawa and Tatsuhiko Takeda and joined forces with Javier Mayor de la Iglesia and Hasier Oleaga at
the Heineken Jazzaldia Festival in Spain. He has performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Ottawa International Jazz Festival and the Costa Rica
International Jazz Festival.
The past decade has been filled with awards and countless moments in the media spotlight. As a composer, Savage consistently garners recognition through ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Awards. Likewise, he tops the International Songwriting Competition. He scores music for ensembles of all sizes and instrumentation, including big
band.
Savage’s appearance
on Thursday evening is part of the Plaza Jazz Series sponsored by the Friends
of Beebe Library in cooperation with the Berklee College of Music.
