Matthew meets McCoy Tyner

In August of 2001, Matthew and I went to hear The McCoy Tyner Trio in
Cambridge, MA. What a treat!  We were allowed to sit in while the Trio
was setting up.  Mr. Tyner played piano, of course, Avery Sharpe played
bass, and Al Foster played drums. The Trio was really hot!  And that
was just the warm-up.

After they were happy with the sound levels, Mr. Tyner allowed Matthew
to play the piano for him.  Avery Sharpe and Al Foster joined in with
Matthew, and the Trio played an impromptu blues improv that was really
neat. You know, I hear Matthew create songs on the spot all the time,
yet I am still amazed that he can sit down with two of the best jazz
musicians out there and they can just play!  No sheet music, no signals,
no talking...yet, they blend together and create beautiful music.  I
could tell the guys really got a kick out of Matthew and his remarkable
talent.  Mr. Tyner was SO nice, encouraged Matthew to keep on playing,
and said it was great that we were supporting Matthew in his love for
jazz (giving him lessons, taking him to concerts, letting him play at
jazz jams on weekends, etc.).  He said some very nice things to both of
us.

And then it was concert time.  McCoy, Avery, and Al played a killer
first set.  Matthew listened so intently that he didn’t move a muscle.
And then we received the wonderful announcement that the Trio would play
a second set at 10:00 if people wanted to stick around.  Of COURSE
people stayed, and Matthew was really psyched.  Mr. Tyner, Mr. Sharpe,
and Mr. Foster have the honor of being the first group for which Matthew
was able to stay awake for the entire second set.  He always WANTS to
stay awake, and tries very hard, but being 9 years old usually wins the
battle.  Matthew usually makes it about three quarters through a second
set and then starts to nod off.  But he always refuses to leave and
insists he is awake.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he still hears the
music while he is sleeping and it still registers in his subconscious.