Matthew Stevens

Description

With his new self-titled album, available May 8 on Candid Records, Grammy Award-winning guitarist, producer, and composer Matthew Stevens delivers a decisive mid-career statement. Long recognized as one of the most captivating and profound guitarists of his generation, Stevens has built a reputation for excellence in the music world, touring and recording extensively with a host of modern icons, including Esperanza Spalding, Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah, Harvey Mason, and Walter Smith III. On this new opus, Stevens fully asserts himself, reaching the peak of his artistry. His music fluidly fuses acoustic and electric sounds, blending genre-bending original compositions with deeply personal covers. The album brings together a group of musicians from different generations, including mentors like Terri Lyne Carrington, guitarists he admires like Jeff Parker, and promising young talents such as vibraphonist Joel Ross and vocalists Anna B. Savage and Corey King. Co-produced by Stevens, Josh Johnson, and Eric Doob, this album is the culmination of twenty years of work. It reflects a period of profound personal and artistic upheaval, leading Stevens toward a state of optimism, enthusiasm, and confidence that marks the beginning of a bold new chapter for one of jazz's most essential voices.