Matthew Whitaker: The Music of Billy Strayhorn

Matthew Whitaker: The Music of Billy Strayhorn

This event was originally Fred Hersch with the UVM Jazz Ensemble, Alexander Stewart, Director 

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Fred Hersch is unable to appear on the Lane Series this Friday, April 3.

BUT – we have fantastic news:

The incredible jazz pianist Matthew Whitaker has agreed to perform in his stead! Matthew is a multi-instrumentalist, Grammy-winning, Emmy- and NAACP Image Award-nominated band leader, composer and arranger, in huge demand as a performing artist. Matthew has been on my short list to appear on the Lane Series for a long time, and how lucky we are that he is available on short notice!

The concert will still feature the work of Billy Strayhorn. In 2023, Matthew made his debut as musical director for the award-winning musical “Billy Strayhorn: Something to Live For,” which premiered in Pittsburgh, PA. He knows his Strayhorn!

This will be an incredibly exciting concert with Matthew at the keyboard for a solo and trio set of Strayhorn’s music, followed by the UVM Jazz Orchestra with both Matthew and our own amazing Tom Cleary alternating at the piano.

We hope you will take the leap and the opportunity to hear this extraordinary artist about whom Downbeat Magazine has written, "The fleetness of finger, the touch and taste, the grit and grime when he needs it, the lightness and airiness when it’s called upon - Whitaker has it all."