Spotlight Artist Matthew Whitaker Jazz Piano Virtuoso

UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance (CAP UCLA) proudly presents jazz piano virtuoso Matthew Whitaker on Sunday, June 18th at 7 pm at The Theatre at Ace Hotel.

Whitaker will perform music from his third and latest album, Connections, a sixteen-track collection that serves as a bold declaration of his maturity as a player, composer and bandleader. Tickets start at $40 and are available now at cap.ucla.edu or by calling 310-825-2101.

Whitaker has been garnering acclaim for almost as long as he has been making music. At just 13 years old, he became the youngest artist to be endorsed by Hammond Organs in their over 80-year history. At 15 he was named a Yamaha Artist; the youngest musician to join the stellar roster of jazz pianists.

Now 22 years old, Whitaker has a career that has taken him all over the world, playing on renowned stages including Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The Apollo, Carnegie Hall, SFJAZZ Center, Newport Jazz Festival and international venues in France, Italy, Germany, Indonesia, UK, Australia, Switzerland, Portugal, Japan, Spain, Morocco and South Korea.

In both 2019 and 2020, Whitaker won The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) Foundation’s Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers award for his compositions, Emotions and Underground. Whitaker has appeared on television programs such as FOX TV’s Showtime at the Apollo, the Today Show, Harry Connick Jr Show, Ellen and 60 Minutes. He recently starred, produced, and scored the All Arts documentary About Tomorrow as well as composed the original score for the film Starkeisha, currently streaming on Hulu. Whitaker’s three studio albums include Outta The Box, Now Hear This, and Connections where he has collaborated with Derrick Hodge, Ray Chew, Jon Batiste, Christian McBride and Regina Carter.

Funds provided by the Henry Mancini Tribute Fund and the Kevin Jeske Young Artist Fund.

The CAP UCLA 2023 spring programs continue Thursday, June 22 with Dan Froot & Company’s Arms Around America: Live Podcast Recording.

• Sunday, June 21st at 7 pm

• The Theatre at Ace Hotel

• 929 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015

• Tickets start at $40.

Isaiah J. Thompson wins the 2023 American Pianist Awards

The JAZZ HOUSE sets a new precedent with alumni claiming 3 of 5 finalist spots at the coveted American Pianists Awards

We are bursting with pride about the extraordinary accomplishme nts of our talented alumni Isaiah J. Thompson, who won the American Pianists Association 2023 Awa rd for Jazz and the Cole Porter Fellowship, along with his friends and fellow alumni, Caelan Ca rdello and Esteban Castro, who were finalists in the competition.

One of the most coveted prizes in the music world and the large st for American pianists, the American Pianists Awards are held every two years alternating class ical and jazz, to discover the best aspiring young American pianists. The unique and innovative com petitions span 13 months and provide a platform to deeply engage musical artists in a variet y of creative formats and settings. As grand prize winner, Thompson will receive career support valued at more than $200,000 including a cash prize; two years of career assistance; a media and perform ance tour; a recording contract; an artist residency and more.

Hosted by Bill Charlap, Saturday’s competition finale culminate d with Cardello, Castro and Thompson, and pianists, Paul Cornish of Los Angeles and Thomas Linge r of New York City performing on the Hilbert Circle Theatre stage in Indianapolis in breathtaking du ets with vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant and with the Buselli-Wallrab Jazz Orchestra.

“I cannot express how grateful and blessed I feel to have been chosen to represent the American Pianists Association as their 2023 winner. I have known some of my fellow finalists since before I can even remember. Their friendship and musicianship makes the piano and the piano community just a little less intimidating because of how much integrity, humility and kindness they all generously display. Thank you APA for affirming that pianists’ sounds and identities come in all shapes and sizes, for supporting young musicians and for uplifting jazz with the esteem and nobility that this art form deserves.

ISAIAH J. THOMPSON, 2023 American Pianist Award Winner

As finalists of the Cole Porter Fellowship chosen from more than 1,200 nominations across the nation, Castro, Cardello and the other two finalists received cash prizes of $25,000, along with exceptional performance opportunities and global visibility. Many former winners in the APA competition have gone on to great success include Sullivan Fortner, Emmet Cohen (a former JAZZ HOUSE student and 2021 MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL headliner), Aaron Diehl, Dan Tepfer and Aaron Parks.

Early Training at the JAZZ HOUSE

Thompson, Cardello and Castro all overlapped at the JAZZ HOUSE, starting as early as early as elementary school. Each found their “tribe” - a supportive community, inspiring curriculum, like-minded peers, caring mentors, top training by an esteemed faculty and loads of performance opportunities. JAZZ HOUSE students regularly get the opportunity to meet an extraordinary extended network of professional musicians, and world-renowned artists starting with the organization’s Artistic Director, 8-time GRAMMY Award-winning bassist, Christian McBride. Through McBride, these students got to work with such keyboard legends as the late great Chick Corea and George Duke; Monty Alexander, Kenny Barron, Eddie Palmieri, Christian Sands and many more world-class musicians who add to the rich training and experiences.

students and earned a seat in the award-winning JAZZ HOUSE Big Band, then went on to prestigious music schools and early recognition on the music scene.

Alumni have found that the JAZZ HOUSE has a life-long community. Many have come back as TAs for the JAZZ HOUSE Summer Workshop, join as arts interns, or are hired for various performances and gigs. Several graduates have come full circle, working year-round at the JAZZ HOUSE.

The legacy of the JAZZ HOUSE continues with each new student finding their path through jazz.

According to Melissa Walker, the organization she started 20 years ago is beginning to see the impact of its working with more than 52,000+ students in-school and afterschool programs, with its alumni rising to greatness.

The three alumni honorees’ talent was on full display early on and and they inspired their peers to work a little harder and practice a little longer. They all developed into advanced

“We like to say the JAZZ HOUSE is an instrument for change, and that really holds true with our students whether they go into music, or become leaders in their communities or careers. We are so proud of our alumni that have come through the program, and are making their mark on and off the stage. I was beyond thrilled to attend the APA finals in Indianapolis along with our VP of Jazz Education, Ted Chubb and represent the entire community of the JAZZ HOUSE. Bravo Esteban and Caelan for your exciting journey. And I am so proud of Isaiah, and the man and the musician he has become!”

MELISSA WALKER, Founder + President, JAZZ HOUSE KiDS

WATCH! Melissa Walker on the 2023 American Pianist Awards Finalists + JAZZ HOUSE Alumni