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Last Show: Tuesday 9 ^th May 2017

The Pheasantry (Chelsea)

Australian born Jazz Pianist/Vocalist Matt Baker leads a powerful trio presenting a repertoire of originals and standards from his latest albums ‘Almost Blue’ produced by Matt Pierson, and the 2017 DVD release ‘Live At Birdland’. Matt Baker was a three-time semi-finalist in the Montreux International Solo Jazz Piano Competition, and in 2016 headlined at Birdland, The Blue Note New York, Scullers Jazz Club, and performed solo piano at Carnegie Hall. A student of Taylor Eigsti’s since moving to New York, Matt was mentored by piano legend Oscar Peterson, and as well has studied with Mulgrew Miller, Benny Green and Jacky Terrasson. Back home Matt also performs with some of New Yorks top musicians including Joel Frahm, Jim Cammack, Jerome Jennings, Judy Collins, as well as the UK’s Barb Jungr.

This one night only event will be an intimate night of hard swinging piano and warm vocals – all presented in a program of classic jazz with an exciting contemporary edge.

“The Australian piano whiz..”

Stephen Holden, The New York Times, Oct 2014

Australian born Jazz Pianist/Vocalist Matt Baker has performed jazz festivals, clubs and concert halls in Australia, Europe, USA and the Pacific Rim. As of 2010, he is now proud to call New York City his home.

Matt Baker and The Trio present music from Baker’s new album “Almost Blue” - a "fully realized love letter to the place he longed to be a part of, a place he now calls home”, each song echoing a part of the album’s haunting narrative. The trio is constantly adding new repertoire from the Jazz and Great American songbooks to their library. Hard swinging piano and warm vocals – all presented in a program of classic jazz with an exciting contemporary edge.

Baker recorded his 5th album Almost Blue (via JazzElm Music), with producer Matt Pierson, released in June 2016. The album features tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm, along with Luques Curtis on bass, Obed Calvaire on drums and guitarist Lage Lund. His previous album ‘Underground’ featuring Gregory Hutchinson, Dayna Stephens and Jeremy Pelt received rave reviews in Downbeat, Jazz Times and Jazz Wise UK, and reached #26 on the US JazzWeek charts.

Baker’s sideman credits include engagements with, among others, guitar icon Bucky Pizzarelli, tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm, bassist Marco Panascia, and vocalists Alexis Cole, Tierney Sutton, Judy Collins and Barb Jungr. Baker headlined in 2016 at Birdland, The Blue Note New York, Scullers Jazz Club, toured Australia, US and Canada, and performed solo piano at Carnegie Hall.

Matt Baker was also a three-time semi-finalist in the Montreux International Solo Jazz Piano Competition

A student of Taylor Eigsti’s since moving to New York, Matt watched Oscar Peterson perform live an entire week at the Blue Note, which he recounts as being as great a lesson as any! Baker has also studied with Mulgrew Miller, Benny Green, Fred Hersch, Aaron Goldberg, Jacky Terrasson, James Williams, Ralph Sutton and Ella Fitzgerald’s life-long accompanist Paul Smith.

Band

Matt Baker (piano)

Tim Thornton (bass)

Chris Draper (drums)