Jazz Up the New Year with the Matt Savage Trio in Denver
by Steven R. Smith, Member, Board of Directors, Summit Public Radio
Come join me in celebrating the New Year by attending a special performance of the Matt Savage Trio (www.savagerecords.com.) This concert is co-supported by Summit Public Radio (www.summitpublicradio.org) and KUVO (www.kuvo.org) for the benefit of
(www.augustanaarts.org) – a musical education and outreach program. The concert takes place on Saturday, January 8 at 7:30 pm at the Augustana Lutheran Church, 5000 E. Alameda Avenue.
Summit Public Radio has procured 10 tickets to this concert – available on a first come, first served basis – to new and renewing members. A new member may receive a ticket with a $50 contribution to SPR and a renewing member with a $75 contribution to SPR.
Autistic Child Prodigy
Now a star at age 18, Matt Savage burst on to the jazz piano scene at the age of 8. At age 3, Matt was diagnosed with Pervasive Development Disorder, a form of autism that made him unable even to listen to music. Following 4 years of intense therapy, including diet and a special auditory program, Matt was able to retune his sensory and social perceptions and his musical skills began to flourish. Amazingly, Matt taught himself to read and play music literally overnight. Thereafter, Matt’s mother decided to provide him with formal musical training. But he largely learned music by listening to recordings and he learned the history of jazz by reading CD liner notes.
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| Matt Savage at the Piano |
In the last 10 years, Matt has appeared in numerous concerts all over the world (to rave reviews), on television with the likes of Letterman and Conan, on ABC’s 20/20 and on NPR’s All Things Considered.
Matt has written hundreds of original compositions and has received ASCAP’s Young Jazz Composers Award every year since 2005. He is currently a sophomore at Berklee College of Music in Boston and has just released his ninth album, Welcome Home (entirely composed and arranged by Matt) celebrating his travels and the many places he calls home.
The Beat of His Own Drummer
For me, the concert represents an opportunity to celebrate and remember another childhood. My own. The drummer in the band for this concert is my childhood friend, Steve Silverstein. I have known Steve since 1962, when we were both six year’s old — growing up in Needham, Mass. We began running around together at that age and really haven’t stopped. Although we attended different elementary schools, we played little league baseball together and got thrown out of Hebrew School together (usually my fault). Steve started playing drums when he was eight years old and never stopped. We have remained friends through junior high, high school, college and beyond.
Steve is a great example of doing what you love and finding the color of your parachute. After receiving an MBA, Steve spent a decade in the computer industry. Unfulfilled, Steve was determined to make a career out of his love for the drums and particularly the jazz idiom. He began teaching drums and playing gigs all around the greater Boston area – and was fortunate to become an original member of the Matt Savage Trio in 2001.
An Evening of Fun and Support
So please join me for this wonderful evening of great music and an opportunity to support a couple of outstanding organizations.
Steve