Matthew Whitaker - Connections (2021) [Hi-Res]

As more than a year of lockdown and collective isolation appears to be ending, Matthew Whitakerthe twenty-year old keyboardist from New Jerseyhas released an exciting, expansive new recording entitled Connections. Aptly titled for this pivotal moment, the sixteen-track collection is his third album and serves as both a bold declaration of Whitakers maturity as a player, composer and bandleader, and as a statement of musical connectionand re-connection, as Whitaker points out. Connections is really about this idea of community, of musicians and family and everyone really, coming back together after being separated for so long, Whitaker says. Its about how grateful I am for the connections we have with each other musically and spiritually as well. More than my other albums, this one has music that was created in the studio, improv moments that happened live. A few of these songs I wrote during the pandemic so Im happy we were able to record those, and Im excited. This is more expansive than anything else Ive done!.

Connections features music composed both before and during (and in reaction to) the pandemic, and recorded mostly between March 2 and 4, 2021. It includes a generous mix of original compositions with message-driven titles of uplift and instruction (A New Day, Acceptance, It Will be Okay, Stop Fighting), balanced with familiar melodies by Whitakers musical heroes, from Duke Ellington (Dont Get Around Much Anymore), Stevie Wonder (Lately), and gospel singer Richard Smallwood (Trust Me), to Duke Pearson (Jeannine), Chick Corea (Spain), and Thelonious Monk (Bye-Ya)this last one a sparkling, standout duet with pianist Jon Batiste.