Solo
Piano
A lifetime at the piano.
Matthew Cook has been playing piano professionally for most of his life. His solo piano music reflects the places that have shaped him—from the Washington coast and the slopes of Mauna Loa in Hawaii to the ancient redwood forests of Humboldt County, California, where he has lived for more than forty years.
His recordings include original compositions as well as solo piano interpretations of songs that have stayed with him through the years.
Redwood
Reflections
Inspired by the ancient redwood forests of Northern California, Redwood Reflections is a musical journey through a landscape of morning fog, towering trees, quiet groves and rushing water.
The music follows an imagined path through the forest—from the stillness beneath the canopy to waterfalls, mountainsides and the world high above the trees.
The Story of “Passage”
“Passage” began around 1972 in Aberdeen, Washington, as a piano and vocal love song, written for the woman who would soon become Matthew Cook’s first wife.
Years later, while living high on the slopes of Mauna Loa in Hawaii, with a piano and an expansive view of the Pacific, the song evolved into a solo piano piece. Those years in Hawaii helped shape the approach to solo piano that would become an enduring part of Matthew’s music.
“Passage” was recorded in 1999 for Redwood Reflections and has since reached listeners around the world.
Listen to “Passage” →Explore the Music
Original Solo Piano
Matthew Cook’s original compositions reflect a lifetime of places, experiences and time spent at the piano—from the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii to the redwood forests of Northern California.
Explore Original Music →Solo Piano Interpretations
Familiar songs take on a different character at the piano. Matthew’s solo piano interpretations span American standards, classic popular music and songs by contemporary songwriters.
Explore Interpretations →Solo Piano Albums
A Musical Life
The piano has been a constant through the many places and chapters of Matthew Cook’s life. His solo work brings together composition, improvisation and interpretation in a style shaped over decades at the instrument.
About Matthew →Listen to Matthew Cook
Explore more than five decades of solo piano music.
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