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International Jazz Day 2019 Education Program puts focus on the students

Posted on by Will Ramsey

April 30, 2019 — International Jazz Day 2019 celebrations came to a close today with a series of free master classes, performances and other activities for students at the renowned Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and other locations around the city.

Students from local and regional institutions benefitted from educational sessions conducted by internationally-acclaimed artists including Antonio Hart (USA), Eric Reed (USA) and Eli Degibri (Israel), all offered at the University of Melbourne’s sparkling new Ian Potter Southbank Centre. Participating students hailed from across the state of Victoria and beyond, and represented a range of skill levels, ages and backgrounds.

In his workshop, backed by a trio of Melburnian student musicians, Hart emphasized the importance of the dance music roots of jazz. The saxophonist got the audience moving with an interactive demonstration of the swing time-feel, and challenged attendees to expand their musical vocabularies into all 12 keys. Ideally, “keys shouldn’t exist” for players, intoned Hart, before launching a half-dozen local saxophonists into Thelonious Monk’s “Straight, No Chaser.”

Eli Degibri used his clinic to stress the importance of building a musical vocabulary from one’s influences, while also developing an original voice. Degibri, who graduated from the Institute’s Jazz Performance program in 1999, spoke about the humbling experience of touring with Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock as well as his latest project, which pays tribute to Soul Station,the signature soul jazz album by legendary saxophonist Hank Mobley. Degibri also gave a performative demonstration of the expressive range of the saxophone, encouraging students to follow the example of players like Joe Henderson by exploiting the instrument’s uncanny ability to imitate other instruments, like the flute.

The seven Fellows from the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music contributed individual master classes focused on instrumental technique, group dynamics and improvisational mechanics. Additionally, Dr. J.B. Dyas, the Institute’s Vice President of Education and Curriculum Development, hosted a clinic focused on improving tune learning and retention. Enthusiastic throngs of amateur and professional musicians—including multiple faculty members from the Melbourne Conservatorium—moved from room to room, soaking up insights from the visiting musicians.

The April 30 program was the last in a three-day series of educational outreach programs organized in honor of International Jazz Day. The festivities began on April 26 in Sydney, where Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock, International Jazz Day 2019 Co-Artistic Director James Morrison and other artists packed the iconic Sydney Opera House for a day of intensive workshops with students from the state of New South Wales. Programs there were organized in cooperation with the Opera House and The Arts Unit of the NSW Department of Education. Activities continued on April 29 at the Melbourne Conservatorium’s Federation Hall with engaging presentations from Hancock, pianist A Bu (China), vocalist Michael Mayo (USA) and Australian didgeridoo master William Barton.

Vocalist and Institute Class of 2018 graduate Michael Mayo (right) gives feedback to a vocal student during the International Jazz Day 2019 Daytime Educational Program, April 29, 2019. Steve Mundinger/Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz

Spotlight on the organizers

The day’s highlight was a panel discussion and presentation featuring six International Jazz Day organizers from around the globe. The session showed a cross-section of community leaders and cultural advocates who devote their time and resources to curating Jazz Day events each year at all levels of society, often with little or no remuneration. 

Participants included:

  • Roman Khristyuk, Director of the Igor Butman Foundation (Russia)
  • Paolo Petrocelli, Founder, Italian Youth Association for UNESCO
  • Aya Sekine, Founder, We Love Jazz SG (Singapore)
  • Brenda Sisane, Director, International Jazz Day South Africa
  • Peta Si’ulepa, Director, Samoana Jazz Arts Festival (Samoa)
  • Tarek Yamani, Founder, Beirut Speaks Jazz (Lebanon)

Attendees, including UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone, heard about the unique challenges of building a jazz culture in locales like Singapore, Samoa and Lebanon, and how International Jazz Day has in many cases catalyzed significant transformations on the local cultural landscape.

“Our organizers are the heart and soul of International Jazz Day,” said Program & Outreach Director Mika Shino. “Their tireless efforts ensure that, far from being limited to one day, the positive effects of this special program resonate throughout the year. For many in the Jazz Day family, the inspiration created on April 30 translates to increased attendance at live jazz performances, new jazz education opportunities for student musicians, and a richer artistic and cultural life for entire communities.”

A global cohort of International Jazz Day organizers participate in the annual “Jazz Day Around the World” panel discussion at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, April 30, 2019. Steve Mundinger/Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz

The moving stories of this select group of organizers, coming on the eve of the culminating All-Star Global Concert at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall, spoke volumes about the true purpose of International Jazz Day: sharing experiences, and music, across cultures and geographic boundaries. As part of his introduction for a master class during the Melbourne celebrations, the renowned visual artist, academic and opera singer Tiriki Onus told audience members to pause for a moment and listen. He asked them to think about the voices of the elders who had shared stories on that very spot for more than two-and-a-half thousand generations.

“What we do here,” said Onus, “singing our songs, dancing our dances, telling our stories, is no different from what those old people have done—whether we are playing on boomerangs and possum skin drums, or on a double bass and a Bösendorfer. The gift that we bring this country is our stories; the stories that we pour in here.”

Master class with Herbie Hancock, James Morrison and the Hancock Institute Fellows presented at the Sydney Opera House in honor of International Jazz Day 2019. Sydney Opera House

International Jazz Day 2019 education programs were made possible in part through the generous support of the Carnival Corporation.

Worldwide celebration of International Jazz Day, 30 April to kick off in Australia

Posted on by Will Ramsey

The 2019 All-Star Global Concert will be webcast for free on jazzday.com, unesco.org, YouTube and Facebook at 15:00 UTC / 11:00 New York / 16:00 Paris on Tuesday, April 30.

Paris and Washington, D.C.—UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock today announced the programme for the 2019 edition of International Jazz Day, which will be launched in Australia and celebrated in more than 190 countries around the world.

Global Concert to take place in Melbourne

On 29 and 30 April, a wide range of jazz performances, education programmes and community service initiatives will be presented in partnership with the Melbourne Conservatorium, University of Melbourne, featuring more than a dozen celebrated jazz masters. The events on International Jazz Day itself (30 April) will culminate in an All-Star Global Concert at the Melbourne Arts Centre’s renowned Hamer Hall.  It will be webcast via YouTube, Facebook, the United Nations and UNESCO to millions of viewers worldwide.

The Arts Centre Melbourne’s Hamer Hall will host the 2019 All-Star Global Concert with Herbie Hancock, James Morrison and others.

More than 30 world-renowned artists

Iconic jazz pianist Herbie Hancock (USA) and acclaimed trumpeter James Morrison (Australia) will serve as artistic co-directors of the All-Star Global Concert, and John Beasley (USA) will serve as the evening’s musical director. The concert will feature performances by an international roster of artists from more than a dozen countries. Confirmed artists include: Cieavash Arian (Iran),William Barton (Australia), Dee Dee Bridgewater (USA), Till Brönner (Germany), A Bu (China), Igor Butman (Russian Federation), Eli Degibri (Israel), Kurt Elling (USA), Matthew Jodrell (Australia), Ledisi (USA), Eijiro Nakagawa (Japan),Mark Nightingale (United Kingdom), Chico Pinheiro (Brazil), Tineke Postma (Netherlands), Antonio Sánchez (Mexico), Nathan Schreiber (Australia), Somi (USA), Lizz Wright (USA), Tarek Yamani (Lebanon).  More artists are expected to be announced.

Artists performing at the 2019 International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert include (from top left) Ledisi, John Beasley (musical director), Kurt Elling, Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock, James Morrison, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Aditya Kalyanpur, Tineke Postma, Antonio Sánchez, Lizz Wright, A Bu, Igor Butman, Somi, William Barton, Mark Nightingale, Joey De Francesco, Ben Williams, Eli Degibri, Eijiro Nakagawa, Brian Blade, Tarek Yamani, Matthew Jodrell, James Genus, Till Brönner, Eric Reed, James Muller, Antonio Hart and Chico Pinheiro, among others.

A global celebration

Thousands of other programmes all over the world will celebrate jazz as a universal language of peace, among them jazz-themed films, lectures, book readings, theatre performances and panel discussions, as well as jam sessions, master classes, and radio and television broadcasts. As in previous years, a majority of International Jazz Day partner activities will focus on education and community impact, benefitting millions of students, academics, professional musicians and music lovers everywhere.

Read the full press release.

Christian McBride Holds Free Master Class During February Residency

Posted on by Will Ramsey

Master jazz bassist and nationally recognized broadcaster Christian McBride punctuated his weeklong residency at the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA with a free master class at the Jan Popper Theater last Tuesday. The packed session was webcast live via the Herb Alpert School of Music’s website.

Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance Artist-in-Residence Christian McBride (center) performs with the Institute’s Class of 2020 during his February 12 master class at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Photo: Holly Wallace / Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz

“For some reason, in jazz, when you see female musicians, people tend to [say] ‘that’s unusual.’ We want that to stop.”

Hosted by Hancock Institute West Coast Director Daniel Seeff, the master class featured live performances with the Institute’s Jazz Performance Ensemble and a Q&A session in which McBride addressed a wide range of topics, including gender equality in music. “For some reason, in jazz, when you see female musicians, people tend to [say] ‘that’s unusual,’” noted McBride. “We want that to stop.”

Institute West Coast Director Daniel Seeff (right) interviews Artist-in-Residence Christian McBride during McBride’s master class at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Photo: Holly Wallace / Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz

The Tuesday evening event was a highlight of McBride’s latest residency at the Institute’s two-year Jazz Performance program. Over the course of the week, the jazz master worked directly with the Institute’s Class of 2020, both as an ensemble and individually, as well as with students from the broader UCLA community. He also served as a guest lecturer for two UCLA courses—Distinguished Professor Robert Winter’s Analysis for Performers and Jazz and Political Imagination, taught by UCLA Distinguished Professor and Gary B. Nash Endowed Chair in U.S. History Robin Kelley.

A six-time Grammy winner, the Philadelphia-born McBride is one of the most requested, most recorded, and most respected figures in the music world today. He currently hosts “The Lowdown” on SiriusXM and NPR’s “Jazz Night in America.”

Intensive learning opportunities with masters of the music are a hallmark of the Institute of Jazz Performance program. Past Artists-in-Residence have included NEA Jazz Masters Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, Dianne Reeves and Wayne Shorter, among many others.

Learn more about the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance.

Local to the Los Angeles area? Sign up for our Los Angeles area events mailing list and stay informed about future master classes and other free, public events.

Hancock Institute Brings All-Star High School Jazz Sextet to Oklahoma Public Schools, Feb. 25 – Mar. 1

Posted on by Will Ramsey

Tour to feature internationally renowned recording artists Steve Wilson and Lisa Henry

Weeklong series of events includes a performance open to the public at the UCO Jazz Lab on March 1

Washington, DC – With lead funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz will bring its “Peer-to-Peer” jazz education program to Tulsa and Oklahoma City public schools February 25 – March 1. Combining performance with educational information, these “informances” will be presented by six of the country’s most gifted high school music students along with internationally acclaimed saxophone recording artist Steve Wilson, Kansas City jazz and blues vocalist and a former winner of the Institute’s International Jazz Vocals Competition Lisa Henry, and renowned jazz educator Dr. JB Dyas. Each school visit will include an assembly program featuring musical performances for all students, followed by jazz workshops for each school’s jazz band and choir with the visiting student performers playing alongside and sharing ideas with their Oklahoma counterparts.

The 2018 National Peer-to-Peer All-Star Jazz Sextet, with teaching artists Lisa Henry (far right) and Don Braden (third from right), receive a standing ovation from students and faculty at Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota during the Institute’s April 2018 Peer-to-Peer Jazz Education Tour. Photo: Bart Marantz / Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz

The members of the all-star sextet selected nationwide to participate in the Oklahoma tour include trumpeter Stéphane Clément, 18, from Miami; trombonist Adan Montes, 17, and pianist Dalton Hayse, 18, from Los Angeles; guitarist Manny Michael, 17, from Sioux Falls; bassist Bakari Williams, 18, from Dallas; and drummer Nino Aiyer, 17, from Houston.“We’ve really enjoyed working on Mr. Wilson’s compositions the past couple of months,” said Clément, who recently performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC along with Hancock and other jazz greats. “His music covers the full gamut, from swing to contemporary.”

Teaching & Learning, Side by Side

Immediately following the informances, Wilson, Henry, and Dyas will conduct jazz workshops for each host school’s jazz band and choir in which the visiting students will play side-by-side with their Tulsa and Oklahoma City counterparts, providing tutelage peer to peer. In so doing, they will teach and learn from one another not unlike Herbie Hancock did with Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, and so many other eminent band mates over the past half century. They’ll also learn about each other’s cities and culture.

Guitarist Manny Michael (right) from Sioux Falls, SD, will be one of six talented student jazz musicians visiting Oklahoma public schools as part of the Institute’s upcoming Peer-to-Peer Tour. Photo: Bart Marantz / Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz

“I’m really looking forward to talking and playing jazz with the Oklahoma students,” added Hayse. “So many great jazz players have come from that part of the country.” Indeed, such jazz icons as Chet Baker, Barney Kessel, Howard McGhee, Jay McShann, Oscar Pettiford, and Jimmy Rushing hail from the Sooner State.

The weeklong tour will conclude with two performances open to the public on March 1st at Oklahoma City’s premier jazz venue, the UCO Jazz Lab (at the University of Central Oklahoma School of Music, 100 E. 5th St. in Edmond), where Oklahoma residents and visitors are invited to enjoy an evening of music with Wilson and Henry alongside jazz’s future “young lions.” The octet will perform standards, jazz classics, and contemporary jazz, including compositions from Wilson’s and Henry’s latest recordings. The shows begin at 8:00 pm and 9:45 pm.

Read the full press release here.

Institute VP recognized at inaugural UCLA Publications Showcase

Posted on by Will Ramsey

Dr. JB Dyas, the Institute’s Vice President of Education and Curriculum Development, was recognized today as part of the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music’s inaugural Faculty and Graduate Student Publications Showcase. Sponsored by the Office of the Dean and the UCLA Music Library, the event celebrated a selection of books, individual chapters, and published articles by members of the UCLA music community over the past year.

Dr. Dyas, a leader in jazz education, was honored for his recent articles for prospective and current jazz educators. “Living the dream – how to get a job in jazz education” and “Jazzing up jazz band” both appeared in issues of DownBeat magazine. They provided practical advice for music professionals, with tips for organizing student rehearsals, recommended classroom resources, and the “Theoretic Trilogy” for effective tune learning.

Click here to read “Jazzing up jazz band.”

Also in attendance at the event were Herb Alpert School of Music Founding Dean Judith Smith and Music Department Chair Travis Cross. Librarian Matthew Vest of the UCLA Music Library delivered introductory remarks.

Two men stand smiling in a library in front of a television monitor
Dr. JB Dyas, Institute VP of Education & Curriculum Development (right), with UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music Music Department Chair Travis Cross at the January 29 Publications Showcase. Photo: Holly Wallace / Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz

Jazz Education, Coast-to-Coast

When he is not contributing his insights to leading jazz education publications, Dr. Dyas leads the Institute’s National Performing Arts High Schools and Peer-to-Peer jazz education programs, which reach thousands of students across the United States every year. Recent Peer-to-Peer tours have brought renowned jazz masters like Don Braden, Bobby Broom and Dayna Stephens into public schools in Savannah, Georgia; St. Augustine, Florida; Fargo, North Dakota; and San Diego, California. Dr. Dyas also headed up the Institute’s groundbreaking National Jazz Curriculum initiative, which provides comprehensive online teaching resources free of charge to history and social studies instructors in primary and secondary school classrooms.

Learn more about the Institute’s public school-based jazz education programs.

Institute leads free workshop for talented South Central music students

Posted on by Will Ramsey

Music students at the Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center in South Central Los Angeles benefitted today from a pair of Institute-led workshops designed to hone critical skills and help them succeed in competitive university music programs. Dr. JB Dyas, the Institute’s Vice President for Education and Curriculum Development, worked with the Center’s Junior and Senior Jazz Bands on tune memorization, audition preparation, and other practical techniques. 

A man, standing, talks to a group of young seated students holding musical instruments
Institute Vice President Dr. JB Dyas works with students at the Pullum Center on January 22, 2019.

Following the workshop, Dr. Dyas recruited three talented students from the Pullum Center bands for the LAUSD/Herbie Hancock Institute All-City Jazz Band, which comprises the best high school jazz musicians in Los Angeles. The Institute administers the All-City group in partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Beyond the Bell after-school initiative. As All-City Jazz Band members, guitarist Cesar Gandara and saxophonists Ronnie Heard and Christopher Powe will have the opportunity to study and perform with nationally renowned jazz artists and educators at some of LA’s highest-profile venues, including the Hollywood Bowl.

As part of its decades-long commitment to Los Angeles, the Institute regularly leads free jazz education and outreach programming in schools and community-based organizations like the Pullum Center. Programs include daily and weekly in-school and after-school instruction with renowned teaching artists, as well as public performances and workshops at LA institutions like the World Stage and the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.

A man, standing, and a group of seated students holding musical instruments all laugh.
Dr. Dyas shares a laugh with students at the Pullum Center during the January 22 workshop.

Robert Hurst Concludes Weeklong Residency at Institute of Jazz Performance

Posted on by Will Ramsey

Today capped a memorable weeklong residency with acclaimed jazz bassist Robert Hurst at the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance. A seven-time GRAMMY Award winner, Hurst shared his decades of experience and insight with members of the Institute’s Class of 2020 as well as students at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music—a special benefit of the program’s ongoing partnership with UCLA.

During his time on campus, Hurst worked in-depth with the seven Institute students both in a full ensemble format and one-on-one. He also conducted private lessons for UCLA undergraduate bassists.

UCLA undergraduate bassists with January 2019 Artist-in-Residence Robert Hurst. Photo by Holly Wallace / Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance

A highlight of every Institute residency is the visiting artists’ master classes, offered for free to UCLA students, local musicians and members of the public as opportunities to learn directly from true masters of the music. Hurst’s, which took place on Wednesday, January 9, saw the Tonight Showveteran break down critical elements of performance and technique. For his live musical examples, Hurst was ably assisted by the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance Ensemble. 

A Detroit native, Robert Hurst has enjoyed a stellar, 30-year career as a highly respected GRAMMY and Emmy Award-winning electric and acoustic bassist, composer, educator and recording artist. He performed in the bands on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Lenoand Saturday Night Live. Currently, Hurst serves as Associate Professor of Music at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance and directs the university’s chamber jazz ensembles. 

He has performed on over 150 critically acclaimed recordings and toured with artists including Sir Paul McCartney, Charles Lloyd, Wynton Marsalis, Dave Brubeck, Terence Blanchard, Tony Williams, Nicholas Payton, Sting, Pharoah Sanders, Barbra Streisand, Willie Nelson and Yo-Yo Ma. Hurst’s latest recording, Black Current Jam, was selected as one of the Best Albums of 2018 by DownBeatMagazine.

Learn more about the Institute’s college program.

Tom Oren Selected as First-Place Winner for 2018 Piano Competition

Posted on by Will Ramsey

Washington, DC – The 2018 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition and All-Star Gala Concert came to a thrilling conclusion following the announcement of Tom Oren (24), of Tel Aviv, Israel, as first place winner of the Competition. Tom then joined a host of jazz greats onstage to perform the Miles Davis tune “Walkin'” for the enthusiastic audience.

Presented by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, the world’s preeminent jazz education organization, the Competition awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships and prizes, including a major scholarship and a guaranteed recording contract with Concord Music Group for the winner. The distinguished judges included Monty Alexander, Joanne Brackeen, Cyrus Chestnut, Herbie Hancock, Jason Moran, Danilo Pérez and Renee Rosnes.

The December 3rdevent at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater featured a star-studded Gala Concert with a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin and the presentation of the Institute’s Maria Fisher Founder’s Award to internationally celebrated vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater. Hosted by award-winning actor Blair Underwood, the evening featured amazing performances by a diverse group of all-stars including Musical Director John Beasley, Theo Croker, Deborah Joy Winans, James Genus, Jimmy Heath and Ledisi. They were joined onstage by past Competition winners and finalists Ambrose Akinmusire, Melissa Aldana, Kris Bowers, Roberta Gambarini, Jazzmeia Horn, Linda Oh and Jamison Ross, all of whom have become leading names on the international jazz scene.

First place winner Tom Oren (24), commanded the audience’s attention with his performance of “Just One Of Those Things” and “Just As Though You Were Here.” Second place winner Isaiah Thompson (21), of West Orange, New Jersey, performed “A Prayer/Good Intentions” and “The Other Originals” (both originals) and third place winner Maxime Sanchez (31), of Toulouse, France, performed “The Mothers of The Veil” and “Gone With The Wind.” They were among the 13 outstanding young pianists from around the world who competed a day earlier in the Competition Semifinals at the National Museum of Natural History’s Baird Auditorium. Bassist Rodney Whitaker and drummer Carl Allen accompanied each competitor.

2018 Competition Finalists (from left) Maxime Sanchez, Isaiah Thompson and Tom Oren with Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, December 3, 2018.
2018 Competition Finalists (from left) Maxime Sanchez, Isaiah Thompson and Tom Oren with Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, December 3, 2018. Photo Credit: Steve Mundinger/Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz

The Gala began by shining a spotlight on emerging musicians. The Institute’s National Peer-to-Peer High School All-Star Jazz Sextet performed Stevie Wonder’s hit “Higher Ground” with dynamic vocalist Lisa Henry, a past Competition winner. Among the nation’s most accomplished young jazz musicians, these students train with Institute teaching artists at public performing arts high schools across the country.

The evening also showcased the Thelonious Monk Institute Ensemble performing Herbie Hancock’s “Riot.” These seven gifted musicians from around the world receive full scholarships to attend the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, the Institute’s master’s degree program at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music in Los Angeles. These students, who represent the next generation of jazz artists, study for two years with Distinguished Professors Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, and receive instruction from many other world-renowned jazz musicians, composers and educators.

Highlights of the Gala Concert included a soulful medley of Aretha Franklin tunes sung by Ledisi, Roberta Gambarini, Jazzmeia Horn and Lisa Henry in tribute to the Queen of Soul, a longtime Institute supporter.

Jazz master Jimmy Heath, now more than 90 years young, led a performance of his composition “Without Song.” And acclaimed vocalist Deborah Joy Winans and saxophone star Melissa Aldana gave a passionate rendition of “If You Believe” from Dee Dee Bridgewater’s Tony Award-winning performance in “The Wiz.”

After accepting the Maria Fisher Founder’s Award from Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater joined Hancock and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire in a mesmerizing performance of Mongo Santamaria’s “Afro Blue.”

Institute Advisory Board member Dee Dee Bridgewater accepts the 2018 Maria Fisher Founder's Award with (from left) Herbie Hancock, Blair Underwood, Ledisi, Deborah Joy Winans and Jazzmeia Horn.
Institute Advisory Board member Dee Dee Bridgewater accepts the 2018 Maria Fisher Founder’s Award with (from left) Herbie Hancock, Blair Underwood, Ledisi, Deborah Joy Winans and Jazzmeia Horn. Photo Credit: Steve Mundinger/Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz

Proceeds from the All-Star Gala Concert will support the Institute’s public school education programs in Washington D.C., Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Newark, San Francisco and the Mississippi Delta. Through its Competition and wide-ranging education programs, the Institute identifies and trains the world’s most promising young jazz musicians. All of the Institute’s education programs are provided free of charge, with a special emphasis on serving economically disadvantaged public school students and their teachers and parents.

Finalists Announced for 2018 Piano Competition

Posted on by Will Ramsey

The Semifinals round of the 2018 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition concluded Saturday evening with the selection of Tom Oren (Tel Aviv, Israel), Maxime Sanchez (Toulouse, France) and Isaiah Thompson (West Orange, New Jersey) as Finalists. The three talented pianists will participate in the Competition Finals on December 3 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. At stake will be a guaranteed recording contract with Concord Records along with major scholarships.

The Semifinals pool included thirteen talented young pianists hailing from Estonia, France, Hungary, Israel, Russia, Spain and the United States. Each competitor had the opportunity to perform for 15 minutes before an all-star judging panel. The Finalists chose a variety of compositions ranging from originals to selections from the Great American Songbook:

  • Tom Oren: “Lester Left Town” (Wayne Shorter), “Lush Life” (Billy Strayhorn), “52nd Street Theme” (Thelonious Monk)
  • Maxime Sanchez: “Blue Dog” (Original), “You Are Too Beautiful” (Rogers & Hart), “317 East 32nd Street Theme” (Lennie Tristano)
  • Isaiah Thompson: “Manteca” (Dizzy Gillespie/Chano Pozo), “The IT Department” (Original), “Chelsea Bridge” (Billy Strayhorn)

The Competition Finals will take place on Monday in the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theatre before an illustrious panel of judges including Monty Alexander, Joanne Brackeen, Cyrus Chestnut, Herbie Hancock, Jason Moran, Danilo Pérez and Renee Rosnes. The evening’s program will consist of performances from Oren, Sanchez and Thompson beginning at 7:30 p.m. followed by an All-Star Gala Concert featuring a tribute to late music icon and Institute supporter Aretha Franklin. The evening will conclude with the presentation of the Maria Fisher Founder’s Award to Institute Advisory Board member Dee Dee Bridgewater, followed by the announcement of the first, second and third place awards.

The Institute congratulates all of the 2018 Competitors on their incredible performances and musicianship, and thanks them for their participation.

Click here to purchase tickets to the Competition Finals at the Kennedy Center.

Click here to learn more about the 2018 Competition.

Actor Blair Underwood to Host 2018 Competition Finals & Gala, December 3rd

Posted on by Will Ramsey

The Institute is pleased to announce that award-winning actor, director and producer Blair Underwood will host the upcoming Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition and All-Star Gala Concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on December 3rd, 2018. One of the most recognizable faces in television and film, Underwood is renowned for his work on hit series including LA Law, Quantico and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Underwood will emcee the All-Star Gala Concert portion of the evening, introducing the tribute to music icon Aretha Franklin as well as the presentation of the Institute’s Maria Fisher Founder’s Award to legendary vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater.

The evening’s first half includes the Competition Finals, featuring three gifted young pianists performing before distinguished judges Monty Alexander, Joanne Brackeen, Cyrus Chestnut, Herbie Hancock, Jason Moran, Danilo Pérez and Renee Rosnes. The three finalists will be selected the previous afternoon, December 2nd, following the semifinals round at the Smithsonian Institution’s Baird Auditorium. At stake is more than $100,000 in scholarships and prizes, including a guaranteed recording contract with Concord Records.

After the thrilling Competition Finals, an all-star cast including Ambrose Akinmusire, Melissa Aldana, Kris Bowers, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath, Jazzmeia Horn, Ledisi, Jamison Ross, Kendrick Scott, Deborah Joy Winans, musical director John Beasley and more will deliver a series of unforgettable musical performances in honor of Aretha Franklin and Dee Dee Bridgewater.

For more information on the Competition Finals and All-Star Gala Concert, check out the official Facebook event or purchase tickets at the Kennedy Center website.

The Competition Semifinals are free and open to the public. Visit the Smithsonian Institution website for more details.