Jazz pianist performing at OU has played with musical greats

Noise bothered professional jazz musician Matt Savage when he was a young boy. He was diagnosed with autism at 3 years old, but doesn’t remember much about it.

Soon, Savage began to pick up piano playing. By the time he was 8, critics were labeling him a jazz piano prodigy.

The young musician, now 23, has not only enjoyed a 14-year professional career as a musician, bandleader and composer – he has performed for and played with greats such as Chick Corea, Chaka Khan, Dave Brubeck, Jackson Browne and many others. Savage on Friday, April 8, will perform a solo piano concert at Oakland University from 6-8 p.m. in Banquet Rooms A and B of the Oakland Center. The concert is free and open to the public.

“I’ve been playing music since I was a child, so I feel like it’s been a part of me all this time,” said Savage, who has recorded 11 albums as a bandleader.

Along with his professional music career, Savage, a Massachusetts native, teaches at Applied Behavioral Learning Services, a school near Boston for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. He is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and Berklee College of Music.

“I really like teaching piano because all the notes are in front of you, and it makes it really easy for young kids to pick up,” he said. “It feels really good to give back to the community through music.”

The concert is sponsored by the Office of Disability Support Services and the Advisor to the President on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Oakland’s Disability Support Services office works with up to 600 students per semester.

Savage – whose story has been featured on ABC’s “20/20,” “The Today Show,” NPR’s
“All Things Considered” and countless other national programs – said he’s excited to perform at Oakland.

“Aside from a couple of stops in Detroit’s airport, this will be my first trip to Michigan,” said Savage.

Anders Engnell, Oakland University Student Congress Diversity and Inclusion director, said the event will also touch on the experiences of members of the disabled community at OU and elsewhere.

“Oakland University students will speak at the event about their experiences at OU and Matt Savage will speak about his experiences as a member of the disability awareness community in the United States,” said Engnell.

Go to savagerecords.com to learn more about Matt Savage’s impressive career as a professional musician.