Ben Williams of Washington, D.C. wins the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition
Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz honors Blue Note Records 70th anniversary with an all-star tribute concert featuring performances by Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Wayne Shorter, Terence Blanchard, and other jazz icons
Bruce Lundvall, president of Blue Note Records, presented with the
Maria Fisher Founder’s Award by Herbie Hancock
October 11, Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater
Washington, D.C.—The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz presented its 22nd annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and all-star Gala Concert, hosted by jazz icon and 12-time GRAMMY® winner Herbie Hancock, former Second Lady of the United States Tipper Gore, and revered entertainer Billy Dee Williams, before a capacity audience at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 11.
“Tonight we celebrated as a true family,” said Thelonious S. Monk, Jr., chairman of the Institute’s Board of Trustees. “The masters and the students came together to perform for, learn from, and inspire each other, and the world of jazz is a better place for it.”
A special feature of this year’s Competition, the Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary Gala Concert brought together the biggest names in music, showcasing Blue Note recording artists past and present, including Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Wayne Shorter, Kurt Elling, Bobby McFerrin, Ron Carter, Terence Blanchard, McCoy Tyner, Earl Klugh, John Scofield, and Joe Lovano.
Institute chairman Herbie Hancock presented Bruce Lundvall, president and CEO of EMI Music’s legendary Blue Note Records jazz label, with the 2009 Maria Fisher Founder’s Award, a highly coveted award that honors individuals who have made valuable contributions to jazz and jazz education. Past recipients include Herbie Hancock, B.B. King, Stevie Wonder, George Benson, George Wein, and Clint Eastwood.
“The future of jazz is in good hands from what I’ve seen tonight,” said Lundvall. “I’m still a jazz fan at heart…” Upon seeing a packed stage of world-renowned Blue Note recording artists there to honor him, Lundvall remarked, “This is the happiest day of my life.”
Widely regarded as the most prestigious jazz competition in the world, the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition focuses on a different musical instrument each year. During last night’s finals of the 2009 International Jazz Bass Competition, three finalists, selected from a group of 15 of the world’s most outstanding young jazz bassists following the competition semifinals, performed before a judging panel including jazz greats Ron Carter, Charlie Haden, Dave Holland, Robert Hurst, Christian McBride, and John Patitucci.
Ben Williams, 24, a native of Washington, D.C., won the first place, $20,000 scholarship and a recording contract with Concord Music Group. Williams is a member of Blackout, Stefon Harris’s hip-hop-influenced band. Second place went to Joe Sanders, 25, of Milwaukee, who was awarded a $10,000 scholarship, and third place went to Matt Brewer, 26, of Oklahoma City, who received a $5,000 scholarship. All three finalists currently reside in New York. The scholarships and prizes help pay tuition for college-level jazz education studies and provide funds for private, specialized instruction.
Each finalist performed two pieces with a rhythm section featuring pianist Geoffrey Keezer and drummer Carl Allen, and were joined for their second piece by GRAMMY® winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater. Ben Williams performed Oscar Pettiford’s “Tricotism” and Juan Tizol’s “Caravan”; Joe Sanders selected George Gershwin’s “A Foggy Day” and Lionel Loueke’s “Benny’s Tune”; and Matt Brewer offered Miles Davis’ “All Blues” and an original tune.
Over the past 22 years, the competition has launched the careers of a number of major jazz stars including Joshua Redman, Jane Monheit, Marcus Roberts, Tierney Sutton, and Joey DeFrancesco. These artists and dozens of others from past competitions have forged successful careers as performing and recording artists, as well as music educators to help preserve and perpetuate America’s legacy of jazz.
The concert also featured the winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Composers Competition, sponsored by BMI. This year’s winner, Joe Johnson of Kansas City, Mo., performed his winning composition, “Shepherd’s Song,” accompanied by Joe Lovano and Nicholas Payton, along with the Keezer and Allen rhythm section. The Composers Award, which carries a prize of $10,000, is presented to a composer who best demonstrates originality, creativity, and excellence in jazz composition.
Institute president Tom Carter remarked, “The Institute is most grateful to our friends in the jazz, business, and political communities for supporting our work to preserve and perpetuate jazz. The annual competition continues to play a major role in launching the careers of some of the world’s most talented young jazz musicians. This year’s extraordinary group of 15 bass semifinalists, who ranged in age from 13 to 29, will help to ensure the future of jazz.”
President Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama served as the honorary chairs of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition and Gala Concert. This year’s Gala co-chairs included Madeleine K. Albright, Herb and Lani Alpert, Quincy Jones, Debra Lee, Bill and Carolyn Powers, and Joseph E. Robert Jr.
Proceeds from the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition and Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary Gala Concert will help fund the Institute’s public school blues and jazz education programs throughout Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Delta.
The 2009 semifinalists included David Baron, West Hartford, CT.; Matt Brewer, Oklahoma City, OK.; Shawn Conley, Nu’uanu, HI Adam Coté, Poughquag, NY; Corcoran Holt, Washington, D.C.; Daryl Johns, New York, NY; Raviv Markovitz, Lexington, MA.;
Ben Meigners, New York, NY; Linda Oh, Australia; Harish Raghavan, North Brook, IL; Jorge Roeder, Lima, Peru; Ruben Samama, The Netherlands; Joe Sanders, Milwaukee, WI; Clemens van der Feen, The Netherlands; and Ben Williams, Washington, D.C.
The Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition Semifinals were held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, October 10 – on what would have been Thelonious Monk’s 91st birthday – at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, Baird Auditorium. Thelonious S. Monk, Jr. acknowledged special guest Butch Warren, once one of the most in-demand bass players on the New York jazz scene who cut numerous sessions as a sideman for Blue Note Records, supporting the likes of Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk, Dexter Gordon, Grant Green, Donald Byrd, Jackie McLean, Joe Henderson, and many others.
United Airlines serves as the Official Airline of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and generously donated the air travel for the participants of the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition and Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary Gala Concert.
