October 12, 2009 | Ben Williams Wins 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition The results of the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition are First Place -- Ben Williams, 24, originally from Washington, D.C., Second Place -- Joe Sanders, 25, originally from Milwaukee, Wis., and Third Place -- Matt Brewer, 26, originally from Oklahoma City, Okla. |
September 25, 2009 | 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition and Gala Concert Featured All-Star Tribute to Blue Note Records at Kennedy Center October 11
Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Wayne Shorter, Bobby McFerrin, Kurt Elling, Ron Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Terence Blanchard, McCoy Tyner, Terri Lyne Carrington, Earl Klugh, John Scofield, Joe Lovano, Jimmy Heath, Nicholas Payton, and many others performed Washington, D.C.—The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz 22nd annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and all-star Gala Concert took place at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 11. Ben Williams, 24, of Washington, DC received the $20,000 first place scholarship and a recording contract with Concord Records; Joe Sanders, 25, of Milwaukee received the second place, $10,000 scholarship; and Matt Brewer, 26, of Oklahoma City received the $5,000 third place scholarship. The scholarships are geared to help pay tuition for college-level jazz education studies and provide funds for private, specialized instruction. |
June 13, 2009 | Thelonious Monk Institute's "Jazz in the Classroom" Students Participate in White House Music Series The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz was honored to participate with First Lady Michelle Obama in the launching of the White House Music Series. The program shined a national spotlight on music education, highlighting the important role music plays in the creativity and innovation that make this country great. Talented music students from six cities across the nation who receive free jazz instruction through the Institute visited the White House on June 15. They participated in "Jazz Studio" educational workshops that celebrate this uniquely American art form. The students learned from and interacted with some of the world's most renowned jazz musicians, including Branford, Ellis, and Wynton Marsalis. Following the White House event, the students attended a stellar Duke Ellington Jazz Festival concert at the Kennedy Center honoring Ellis Marsalis. "The powerful force known as jazz is recognized in all corners of our planet as America's indigenous music and the voice of democracy," said Herbie Hancock, Chairman of the Institute. "The very spirit of our young people is uplifted by our music and arts education community, whose tireless support has ensured that the heart and soul of our nation will flourish." The Institute was pleased to bring more than 30 high school students from its "Jazz in the Classroom" program to participate in the Jazz Studio workshops. Students are from: Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, Chicago; Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Dallas; Eagle Rock High School, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, and Washington Preparatory High School, Los Angeles; New World School of the Arts, Miami; New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, New Orleans; and LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, New York City. Institute students also attended the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival concert honoring pianist, composer and educator Ellis Marsalis, who also serves on the Institute's advisory board, on June 15 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The White House brought together a number of organizations to participate and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz is proud to collaborate with the following: Duke Ellington Jazz Festival; Duke Ellington School of the Arts; Jazz at Lincoln Center; Levine School of Music; New Orleans Center for Creative Arts; Sitar Arts Center; WPAS Capital Jazz Project. WHITE HOUSE MEDIA ADVISORY: Monday, June 15th: First Lady Michelle Obama will introduce the White House's music series which will feature artists of all ages who will perform, educate and interact with young people. The series will begin with Jazz Studio on Monday followed by Country and Classical music events this summer and fall. On Monday, 150 students will participate in classes led by Jazz experts including Wynton, Branford and Ellis Marsalis, they will then attend a concert featuring Jazz greats, Paquito D'Rivera and child protégés Tony Madruga with his ensemble. This event will be pooled press. WHAT: The Jazz Studio workshop themes include exploration of the core elements of jazz: American History and Jazz; The Syntax of Jazz; Improvisation; The Blues Experience and Jazz; Duke Ellington and Swing. The audience will include 150 instrumental middle school and high school students from the collaborating organizations. The Jazz Studio culminates with a concert featuring Paquito D'Rivera, Artistic Director of the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival with Tony Madruga, Zach Brown, Kush Abadey and Elijah Easton. WHERE: The White House, East Room, State Dining Room, Diplomatic Reception Room WHEN: Monday, June 15, 2009; 1:30-3:30pm
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April 15, 2009 | Institute Musicians Participate in U.S. State Department Mission to India Marking 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Visit to India The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz was pleased to partner with the U.S. Department of State for a February 2009 mission to India, marking the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott Kings' historic trip to India to study Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence movement. The King's month-long journey proved to be a pivotal cornerstone of the Civil Rights movement because of lessons learned throughout the course of the trip and adopted upon Dr. King’s return to the United States. This was the first diplomatic, educational, and cultural mission under the Obama Administration. Martin Luther King III, who represented the King family, was joined by the current class of students at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance and world-renowned musicians including Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Duke, Chaka Khan, and other distinguished guests. Rep. John Lewis led a Congressional delegation that included former Congressman and United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young. Both Lewis and Young were close associates and lieutenants to Dr. King. The Institute presented several exciting jazz education programs as part of the 10-day mission highlighting Dr. King’s message of justice, equality, and peace. In addition to presenting "Living the Dream" concerts for the people of New Delhi and Mumbai, the musicians conducted a master class at the Ravi Shankar Institute for Music and Performing Arts, with Ravi Shankar participating, and led several other education programs throughout India. Numerous public programs involving government officials, civic leaders, scholars, and youth underscored the enduring importance of the Gandhi and King legacies and the wisdom of the two visionaries. The group also retraced some of the important steps taken by Dr. and Mrs. King, traveling across India to principal sites associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s work. |
April 14, 2009 | Six Talented Students Selected for Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, Class of 2011 Internationally renowned jazz artists Terence Blanchard, Gary Burton, and Jimmy Heath have selected six outstanding young jazz musicians for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, Class of 2011. This prestigious full-scholarship, graduate level college program at Loyola University New Orleans enables the world's most gifted musicians to study for two years with the greatest living jazz masters, who serve as Artists-in-Residence. Acclaimed trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard serves as the program's Artistic Director. The six students, who will begin the program in August 2009, are: Billy Buss, trumpet; Nicholas Falk, drums; Victor Gould, piano; Hogyu Hwang, bass; Godwin Louis, alto saxophone; and Matt Marantz, tenor saxophone. Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance Billy Buss - Trumpet Hogyu Hwang - Bass |
April 2, 2009 | Institute Student Michael Piolet Receives Prestigious Stamps Scholarship to University of Miami Michael Piolet, a 17-year-old drummer and member of the Monk Institute Jazz Combo at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts in Chicago, is one of just five students across America to be awarded the Stamps Scholarship at the University of Miami Frost School of Music.
The Stamps Scholarship, underwritten by Miami philanthropists Roe and Penny Stamps, is a full four-year scholarship that covers tuition, private lessons, room, and board. In addition to attending University of Miami classes, Michael will be a member of the jazz quintet comprised of the five Stamps Scholarship recipients. As part of the quintet, he will have the opportunity to tour and record, showcasing his considerable talents. |
November 24, 2008 | Terence Blanchard & Herbie Hancock Named Among America's Best Leaders US News & World Report: At a recent afternoon practice, jazz drummer Zach Harmon assumes the role of mentor for members of the jazz combo at Washington Preparatory High School. The group is off to a rocky start, and it's Harmon's job to help get them back on track. "What happened to your solo?" Harmon asks the keyboard player. "I got lost," the young player answers. Harmon turns to the drummer and the saxophonist. "I didn't hear any communication between the rhythm and the horns. Really start opening up your ears," he tells them, sounding a lot like two of his own mentors, pianist Herbie Hancock and trumpeter Terence Blanchard. Before reaching the pinnacle of musical success, Hancock and Blanchard were not much different from the young musicians at Washington Prep. Despite being earnest and talented students, they had to rely on professionals like Harmon to point the way. Today, Hancock and Blanchard are expanding opportunities for public school students interested in jazz by connecting them with professional musicians who want to give back. Their features "jazz in the classroom" programs that reach millions of students. "How else are people going to find out about the cultural history of America if they don't find out about jazz?" says Hancock, the institute's chairman. The short answer is that most schools don't make music education a priority. Despite evidence that music instruction can boost student achievement and improve graduation rates, strapped public schools have been cutting back on music programs in order to give more time to core subjects like math and reading. The current economic slowdown could accelerate that trend. There is also no shortage of skeptics who say jazz no longer resonates with young people as much as other musical forms, mainly rap and hip-hop. Despite these obstacles, Hancock and Blanchard are not discouraged. Before a recent show at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Blanchard turns to Hancock, just back from a music tour in Europe, and says, "Jazz is still a living, breathing thing. This man is still creating music." At 68, Hancock shows no signs of slowing down. Last year, he picked up his 12th Grammy Award for a tribute album to Joni Mitchell. Blanchard, 46, also has a successful career as a bandleader and a composer. He has written the scores for several successful Spike Lee films, including the 2006 documentary When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts. But he worries the entertainment media simply are not paying enough attention to jazz. "There are a lot of young musicians right now who are very talented, who have something to say, but they are not getting the light, as we say in the business," he explains. "I'm talking about young kids who play from their hearts, and they're trying to find their way, but nobody talks about them." "All-you-can-eat buffet." As the artistic director of the Monk Institute's college program, Blanchard gives gifted young musicians the attention they crave. Every two years, Blanchard helps select seven promising jazz players from all over the world who apply to participate in a two-year, tuition-free college program. One of the students in the current ensemble is Gordon Au, a 28-year-old trumpet player from California who gave up pursuing a career in genetic research. He describes the opportunity to study under Blanchard and other musicians as "a little bit of an all-you-can-eat buffet" where "I'm just trying to absorb all that I can." Blanchard is also behind one of the institute's most ambitious initiatives: a four-year commitment to help revitalize New Orleans, the city that gave birth to jazz music, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. A native of the Crescent City, Blanchard successfully lobbied for the college program to relocate from the University of Southern California to Loyola University in New Orleans. At the time, several Ivy League universities were vying to lure the institute to their campuses. "It was a personal thing for me," he says. Blanchard was a child when Hurricane Betsy battered New Orleans, and music, he says, helped him get through it. "I just keep thinking to myself that there are a lot of kids in this community right now that may not have the verbal skills to express whatever it is that they're going through. And music is one way by which they can find some creative output." Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, who supported the institute's move to New Orleans, says the initiative is producing results there. "The amount of work they've done in the first year has been tremendous," Landrieu says. "You can see the children really get excited about the possibilities." Au and other members of the college program teach jazz classes in the city's public schools. For pianist Vadim Neselovskyi, a native of Ukraine, the experience has been eye-opening. "It's a unique thing to see how musical the kids are," he says. "Even if they don't have an intellectual grasp of the music right now, I do believe it will truly have an impact when they grow up." The work is also challenging. Three years since Katrina shuttered the city's schools, many haven't yet recovered. They continue to lack staff and music equipment. Back at the Kodak Theatre, Hancock and Blanchard are preparing for the institute's annual benefit concert. U2's Bono, B.B. King, and other top blues and jazz musicians will perform with them on stage. The festivities include performances by musicians under 30 who compete for a $20,000 scholarship. This year's winner, for the first time, also received a recording contract. Blanchard jokes with Hancock about the advice he gives his players. "I always tell them to listen to him," he says, pointing to Hancock. The two of them laugh, and then Hancock adds more seriously: "I always talked to young musicians about the importance of listening and developing a sound." That's what the jazz combo at Washington Prep High School seems to be doing. After an uneven start, the students seem to be finding their way. "We are all responsible for telling a story," Harmon reminds them. "This is something Herbie is a master of. He creates melodies behind solos and tells a story."
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October 28, 2008 | The Monk Competition Finals Remember the name. Jon Irabagon. One of the smallest, most unassuming candidates in the 2008 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition ran away with the first place prize Sunday night at Kodak Hall. Although "ran away" doesn't fully encompass either Irabagon's accomplishment or the quality of his playing. Technical skill was a complete given for this competition, with every one of the original twelve semi-finalists displaying virtuostic command of their instrument. The real question facing the stellar line-up of judges - Jane Ira Bloom, Jimmy Heath, Greg Osby, David Sanchez and Wayne Shorter - was what the contestants would do with their fast fingers. And Irabagon, in the semi-finals, as well as the finals, consistently used his skillful dexterity at the service of rich, imaginative improvisational explorations. 
Jon Irabagon His version of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" was stunning, taking the song to the outer limits of re-imagination, valuing the interaction between sounds and silences, while still remaining firmly in touch with the classic melody. Like the other finalists, Irabagon also did a number with singer Dee Dee Bridgewater - "Just Friends," in their case. And here another, equally intriguing side of Irabagon's musicality emerged via the spontaneous, often witty, always swinging exchanges with the always entertaining Bridgewater. The other two finalists — Tim Green and Quamon Fowler — won 2nd and 3rd places, respectively. And the margin of difference was slim. Green had appeared to me, at the semi-finals, to be one of the most out-of-the-box inventive of all the players. But he seemed more subdued, less adventurous, at the finals, which may have impacted his final standing. He nonetheless has all the making of a significant new arrival. Fowler’s tall, imposing presence, combined with an eclectic style that reaches easily across genres and generations, virtually guarantee that he will join the many Monk finalists who have moved on to successful careers, despite their 2nd or 3rd place finishes.  Herbie Hancock, B.B. King and Bono While the Competition, itself, was the most appealing part of the evening - as it always is - for jazz fans, the program was a fund-raiser, as well. As such, it included special awards to B.B. King and businessman Paul D. Allen, as well as a gala performance reaching from sets by young Monk Institute-supported high school jazzers to a stellar line up of jazz, blues and pop artists. Appropriately, the long, highlight-filled program was titled "The Blues and Jazz: Two American Classics." And with King, Keb' Mo,' Joe Louis Walker and Robert Cray on stage, the blues was well covered in all its fundamental manifestations. Add to that the sterling jazz vocals of Bridgewater and the inimitable Cassandra Wilson, and the instrumental contributions of Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath, Terence Blanchard, George Duke, Terri Lyne Carrington, John Patitucci, Poncho Sanchez and Lee Ritenour, and the jazz perspectives were fully filled in, as well. Bono and the Edge, busily dashing around the stage, added some pop blues - as well, no doubt, as a boost in the ticket sales. And the whole shebang wound up with a cluttered, but enthusiastic all-join-in romp through ‘Let the Good Times Roll." Ultimately, however, the evening was less about all-stars, of every stripe, and more about the valuable, continuing work of the Monk Institute in supporting and sustaining the music that is America's most significant cultural achievement. That, and the arrival of Jon Irabagon. |
April 28, 2008 | Institute Concludes 2008 Peer-to-Peer Jazz Education Tours with Visit to Anchorage The Institute concludes its three-city 2008 Peer-to-Peer Jazz Education Tours with a visit to Anchorage, Alaska from April 28 - May 3. Internationally renowned saxophonist Bobby Watson, vocal sensation Lisa Henry, and six outstanding jazz musicians from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts are presenting jazz education programs at five public high schools and the University of Alaska. In addition, the group is presenting four public performances at the Organic Oasis on May 2 and 3. Through its national Peer-to-Peer Jazz Education Tour initiative, the Institute arranges for jazz combos comprised of music students from select public performing arts high schools across the nation to perform for their peers in other cities. Each weeklong tour enables the young musicians to gain invaluable performance experience playing alongside internationally acclaimed artists while they, in turn, help educate young audiences in public schools throughout the U.S. about America's indigenous art form. The 2008 series began the week of March 17 in Salt Lake City. Six exceptionally gifted high school jazz students from Chicago's Gallery 37 Center for the Arts accompanied internationally acclaimed saxophone recording artist Antonio Hart, vocalist Lisa Henry, and jazz educator Dr. J.B. Dyas. Each school visit included a concert for all students followed by a jazz workshop for each school's jazz band with the Chicago students playing alongside and sharing ideas with their Salt Lake City counterparts. The series continued the week of March 24, with seven talented jazz students from the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts visiting public schools throughout Miami. A highlight of the Miami tour was a performance by the students and professional musicians at the JAZZIZ Bistro. "As young people are so influenced by kids their own age, who better to expose them to this great American art form than those of their own generation?" said TS Monk, the Institute's Chairman of the Board of Trustees and son of legendary jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk. "The tour is truly an extraordinary opportunity for everyone concerned: students, teachers, musicians, non-musicians – everybody." In addition to playing jazz at a level that belies their years, the participating students talk with their peers about what jazz is, why it's important to America, and how a jazz ensemble represents a perfect democracy. They also talk about some of the important values jazz represents: teamwork, freedom with responsibility, unity with ethnic diversity, hard work and goal accomplishment, and the importance of finding a passion early in life and being persistent. |
April 10, 2008 | Blues And Jazz Education Tour Comes To Mississippi And Tennessee Public Schools The Thelonious Monk Institute will introduce its Blues and Jazz: Two American Classics curriculum to thousands of Memphis public school students on April 14-15. The tour, which was launched in the Mississippi public schools in 2007, will include a series of assembly programs, jazz band clinics, and vocal master classes. Memphis is the first city outside of Mississippi to host a Blues and Jazz tour as the program begins its national expansion. From April 16-18, the Institute’s musicians will make a return visit to Mississippi, visiting public schools in Indianola, Cleveland, and Ruleville and building on the success of last year’s tour. The 2008 tour will feature multiple W.C. Handy Award-winning blues guitarist Joe Louis Walker, world renowned jazz saxophonist Bobby Watson, and vocalist Lisa Henry, a winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition. The assembly programs will feature authentic live blues and jazz renditions that will enhance students’ understanding of and appreciation for these musical art forms and their rich history. Each assembly will also feature an interactive lecture component about the blues and its influence on jazz and a question-and-answer session with the students. Jazz drummer Thelonious Monk, Jr., Chairman of the Institute’s Board of Trustees and son of the legendary jazz pianist and composer, will make remarks about the historical effects of blues and jazz on one another and their respective roles as America’s greatest musical contributions to the world.
As part of the Institute’s free online Jazz in America national jazz curriculum, Blues and Jazz: Two American Classics (www.thebluesandjazz.org) teaches students about the Mississippi Delta’s leading role in the creation of the blues and the extensive influence it has had on the development of other styles of music, including jazz. Students gain insights into how the blues is incorporated into the styles of jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Miles Davis. The curriculum, designed to be taught by American history and social studies teachers, also traces the blues’ excursion from Mississippi to other cities and regions throughout the country.
Funding has been provided by Carolyn & Bill Powers, in memory of Mrs. Powers’ grandparents, Joe Rice Dockery and Keith Dockery McLean, the late owners of Dockery Farms, which is considered by many, including B.B. King, to be the birthplace of the blues. Dockery Farms is located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, between Cleveland and Ruleville.
In addition to leading a series of public school education programs, the Institute’s musicians will present a free public concert at Delta State University on Thursday, April 17. And they will participate in the April 19 unveiling and dedication of a Blues Heritage Trail sign at Dockery Farms, recognizing this historic plantation’s role in the creation and development of the blues.
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March 12, 2008 | Thelonious Monk Institute Announces 2008 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition and Historic Partnership with Concord Music Group The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz is pleased to announce that the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition finals will again take place on the West Coast on Sunday, October 26 at 5pm at the renowned Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. The Competition semi-finals will take place on the campus of UCLA at Schoenberg Hall on Saturday, October 25 from 1-5pm. This year’s Competition will feature the saxophone. Ten of the world’s most talented young saxophonists will perform in front of an esteemed panel of judges including Jimmy Heath, Wayne Shorter, 1991 Competition winner Joshua Redman, and others to be announced. The winner of the Competition will receive a $20,000 scholarship, the second place winner a $10,000 scholarship, and third place winner a $5,000 scholarship. The Competition application and guidelines are available on the Institute's Web site by clicking here. In addition, the Institute and Concord Music Group jointly announced an historic partnership that will guarantee the 2008 winner a record deal from Concord. This is the first time in the 21-year history of the Competition that the winner will walk offstage with a guaranteed recording contract and the first time Concord Music Group has ever entered into a partnership of this kind. Concord Music Group plans to release the winner’s album in mid 2009. The application for the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Composers Competition is also available on the Institute’s We bsite. Sponsored for the past 15 years by BMI, the Composers Competition awards a $10,000 grand prize to the young composer who best demonstrates originality, creativity and excellence in jazz composition. An All-Star Concert Gala to benefit the Institute’s jazz education programs will immediately follow the Saxophone Competition and will include the presentation of the 2008 Herbie Hancock Humanitarian Award. Details on the benefit concert line-up and the 2008 Herbie Hancock Humanitarian Award recipient will be announced in the coming months. |
February 10, 2008 | Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock Wins the Grammy Album of the Year! Herbie Hancock won ALBUM OF THE YEAR at the 50th Grammy Awards on February 10, 2008 for RIVER: The Joni Letters. This is the first jazz record to capture this top award since 1964 when Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto won for Getz/Gilberto. Herbie Hancock also grabbed a 2nd GRAMMY for "Best Contemporary Jazz Album." Artistic Director Terence Blanchard won the GRAMMY Award for:"Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album" for A Tale Of God's Will (A Requiem For Katrina). For more information please visit: Grammy Awards |
February 9, 2008 | THELONIOUS MONK INSTITUTE OF JAZZ ALUM LIONEL LOUEKE MAKES BLUE NOTE DEBUT WITH MARCH 25th RELEASE OF “KARIBU” FEATURING HERBIE HANCOCK & WAYNE SHORTER On March 25, guitarist Lionel Loueke makes his Blue Note Records debut with Karibu, a stunning album that takes its title from a Swahili word meaning “welcome.” It’s a fitting name, as the opening title track invites the listener into the musical world of one of the most distinctive new voices in Jazz. Featuring Loueke’s long-standing trio of bassist Massimo Biolcati and drummer Ferenc Nemeth, Karibu is also graced by rare guest appearances by two legends: pianist Herbie Hancock and saxophonist Wayne Shorter. Loueke is also featured on Hancock’s recent album, River: The Joni Letters (Verve Music Group), a tribute to Joni Mitchell which was just awarded “Album of the Year” at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. The album also features Jazz legends like Shorter and Dave Holland, as well as superb guest vocalists including Mitchell herself, Norah Jones, Tina Turner, and Corinne Bailey Rae.
Loueke is joining Hancock for several TV appearances this week on the heels of this historic win, including performances on ABC’s "The View" (aired February 19) and NBC’s "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" (to air February 22). Loueke will also be touring again this summer as a member of Hancock’s quartet and also featured as the opening act, including a June 23 performance at Carnegie Hall in New York for the JVC Jazz Festival, and an extensive run of European tour dates from late June through early August. Loueke and Hancock first met when he decided to audition for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz where the pianist was a teacher. “I flipped,” says Hancock, recalling the moment he first heard Loueke’s audition tape. “I’d never heard any guitar player play anything close to what I was hearing from him. There was no territory that was forbidden, and he was fearless!” After several years of touring and recording with trumpeter Terence Blanchard, who was also a teacher at the Monk Institute, Loueke joined Hancock and has been a part of his regular band ever since. Loueke signed with Blue Note Records in 2007, the same label which released Hancock’s own auspicious 1962 debut, Takin’ Off, as well as his other early classics including "Maiden Voyage" and "Speak Like a Child."
For more information, please visit: Blue Note Records |
October 30, 2007 | Ambrose Akinmusire Wins the 20th Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Competition (Los Angeles, CA - October 29, 2007) – The famous Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles held its first major jazz concert ever as celebrities, business leaders, and musicians converged onstage to pay tribute to one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time. Legendary music icon and 10 time GRAMMY® winner Herbie Hancock was honored with an all star tribute concert recognizing all he has contributed to jazz, the music industry and society through his illustrious career. Further, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz established the Herbie Hancock Humanitarian Award, which will be given each year to a person who has used their passion and influence for the greater good of society and mankind. Legendary producer and friend Quincy Jones presented Hancock with the inaugural award saying, "Over the course of his career Herbie Hancock has not only changed the world of music, he has used music to change the world." Read More |
October 27, 2007 | Three finalists announced in Thelonious Monk Int'l Jazz Trumpet Competition The ten semi-finalists performed Saturday at Schoenberg Hall, UCLA before the public and the judging panel of Herb Alpert, Terence Blanchard, Roy Hargrove, Hugh Masekela, Don Sickler and Clark Terry. Each semi-finalist performed 3 tunes accompanied by Geoff Keezer on piano, Reginald Veal on bass and Carl Allen on drums.
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October 10, 2007 | The semifinalists of the 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition have been announced! The semifinalists of the 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition have been announced! They are: Ambrose Akinmusire (California, USA), Maurice Brown (Illinois, USA), Jean Caze (New York, USA), Philip Dizack (New York, USA), Josh Evans (Connecticut, USA), Vitaly Golovnev (Russia), Tobias Kaemmerer (Wisconsin, USA), Nadje Noordhuis (Australia), Michael Rodriguez (Florida, USA), and Charles Porter (Florida, USA). |
October 9, 2007 | Petros Sakelliou (Greece) wins Composer's Competition The winner of the 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Composers Competition, sponsored by BMI, is Petros Sakelliou (Greece). |
August 12, 2007 | Jazz Fanfare for a New New Orleans By NATE CHINEN "It was hard coming back here, man," Terence Blanchard said one recent morning in his mother's house, in the Pontchartrain Park neighborhood here. The house was empty and uncluttered, its renovation nearly complete, a far cry from the sodden wreckage that had greeted Mr. Blanchard and his mother, Wilhelmina, when they first returned weeks after Hurricane Katrina. Back then Mr. Blanchard offered what consolation he could. "This is all stuff that can be rebuilt," he said, in a reassuring tone. Of course Mr. Blanchard -- the acclaimed jazz trumpeter and bandleader and the composer responsible for almost all of Mr. Lee's film scores, including "Levees" -- had no such choice. And judging by the assessment of some of his colleagues, "going inside" is in keeping with his temperament as a musician. "He's not afraid to reach into those dark corners that we don't know about and illuminate them," the pianist Herbie Hancock said. "And he does it with gusto. He means it. You can tell by the way it feels." Now, coming up on Katrina's second anniversary, Mr. Blanchard, 45, is ushering in two projects that reflect both his deep commitment to New Orleans and his conviction that stuff can in fact be rebuilt. The effort has significance partly because Mr. Blanchard has spent most of his career building a name elsewhere: he has also scored dozens of films by other directors, and his international stature as a top-shelf jazz artist dovetails with a reputation for accessible innovation. In some ways disaster prompted Mr. Blanchard to bring it all back home. Read more. |
November 29, 2006 | The 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition will feature the trumpet. The 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition will feature the trumpet. Competition guidelines and application materials will be posted on the 'Competition' page of this website no later than January 31, 2007. |
October 5, 2006 | The Institute introduces Jazz In America to public schools in NC The Institute will introduce its Jazz in America national jazz curriculum to thousands of public school students in North Carolina during the week of October 9-13. Throughout the week-long visit to schools in Charlotte, Durham, Raleigh, and Rocky Mount, the Institute will present a series of jazz assembly programs, jazz band clinics, and vocal master classes. The tour will also celebrate the birthday of Rocky Mount native Thelonious Monk (1917-1982). Read more. |
September 18, 2006 | The world's greatest jazz artists were on stage at The Kennedy Center The world's greatest jazz artists were on stage at The Kennedy Center last night to honor the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and its two decades of music education. The evening was the culmination of a weekend of festivities paying tribute to the Institute, the world's leading jazz education organization, and its 20th Anniversary. The weekend kicked off with President and Mrs. Bush hosting a dinner and concert at The White House, followed by a luncheon on Friday at the United States Capitol hosted by Members of Congress. Read more. |
September 17, 2006 | Pianist Tigran Hamasyan from Armenia wins the 2006 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. Pianist Tigran Hamasyan from Armenia wins the 2006 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. Second Place honors went to Gerald Clayton (born in The Netherlands, currently in California, USA) and Third Place honors went to Aaron Parks (Washington, USA). Read more. |
September 16, 2006 | 2006 Competition Semi-Finalists The three Semifinalists chosen to perform at the Finals of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition on September 17, 2006 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC are, in alphabetical order by last name, Gerald Clayton (The Netherlands), Tigran Hamasyan (Armenia), and Aaron Parks (Washington, USA). Click here to read more about the Competition. |
September 14, 2006 | The Finals of the 2006 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition and 20th Anniversary Gala Concert on September 17 are SOLD OUT. The Finals of the 2006 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition and 20th Anniversary Gala Concert on September 17 are SOLD OUT. However, tickets will be available for the Competition Semifinals on September 16 on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here for more information. |
August 21, 2006 | Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz will present the 2006 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition and 20th Anniversary Gala Concert in Washington, DC As part of its 20th Anniversary Celebration weekend, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz will present the 2006 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition and 20th Anniversary Gala Concert in Washington, DC on September 16-17, 2006. The Competition will showcase the talents of 12 of the world's most gifted, young jazz pianists. They will travel to Washington, DC from all corners of the globe to compete for scholarships and the prestige of winning this internationally acclaimed award. Read more. |
June 6, 2006 | School jazz bands will perform classic tunes by the legendary jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk Dozens of high school and middle school jazz bands will perform classic tunes by the legendary jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk at a special year-end concert presented in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 11 by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. The concert will feature jazz ensembles from five schools throughout Los Angeles County. Students of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at USC along with guest jazz saxophonist Tom Scott will join the student performers. Read more. |
May 25, 2006 | Herbie's World: Herbie Hancock and Friends As part of the JVC Jazz Festival New York, George Wein and Festival Productions will present "Herbie's World: Herbie Hancock and Friends," a special concert at Carnegie Hall to benefit the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. With Special Guest Bill Cosby, Herbie will be joined by an illustrious group of world-renowned jazz artists, including Wayne Shorter, Dave Holland, Brian Blade, Jack DeJohnette, Ron Carter, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Richie Barshay, Lionel Loueke, Matt Garrison, Lili Haydn, and Marcus Miller. 100% of funds raised will benefit the Institute's jazz education programs at three performing arts high schools across the country. Tickets for the benefit, which includes a VIP Pre-Reception, are $1,000. |
April 20, 2006 | Thelonious Monk, received a posthumous Pulitzer Prize The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz is pleased that its namesake, legendary jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, received a posthumous Pulitzer Prize "for a body of distinguished and innovative musical composition that has had a significant and enduring impact on the evolution of jazz." Read more. |
March 3, 2006 | The Institute will introduce "Peer-to-Peer" jazz education programs The Institute will introduce "Peer-to-Peer" jazz education programs in five Minneapolis public schools, March 6-10, 2006. These "informances" will be presented by six exceptionally gifted jazz students from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts along with saxophone recording artist Bobby Watson, vocalist Lisa Henry, and jazz educator J.B. Dyas. Read more. |
February 13, 2006 | In celebration of Black History Month, thousands of students participate in Jazz in America In celebration of Black History Month, thousands of public school students in New Orleans and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast participate in Jazz in America: The National Jazz Curriculum education programs as the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz visits Pascagoula, Moss Point, Biloxi, and the Big Easy during a week-long tour. The Institute will also present two free public concerts. Read more. |
November 16, 2005 | The Institute will tour Vietnam The Institute will tour Vietnam November 22-30 under a Cultural and Speakers program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State to commemorate the 10th anniversary of normalization of U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic relations. Programs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will feature jazz greats Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Nnenna Freelon, along with the students of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at USC. Read more. |
October 19, 2005 | Legendary jazz pianist Herbie Hancock kicks off a week-long jazz education program Legendary jazz pianist Herbie Hancock kicks off a week-long jazz education program in the Chicago public schools. In the Institute's first visit to Chicago, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz will introduce thousands of public school students to its Jazz in America: The National Jazz Curriculum through jazz assembly programs, jazz band clinics, vocal master classes, and teacher training workshops. Read more. |
September 19, 2005 | Guitarist Lage Lund from Skein, Norway wins the 18th Annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition Guitarist Lage Lund from Skein, Norway wins the 18th Annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. Second Place honors went to Miles Okazaki (Washington, USA) and Third Place honors went to David Mooney (Louisiana, USA). Read more. |
August 25, 2005 | Junko Moriya from Kanagawa, Japan is selected as the winner of the 2005 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Composers Competition Junko Moriya from Kanagawa, Japan is selected as the winner of the 2005 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Composers Competition, sponsored by BMI. Read more. |
August 17, 2005 | 2005 Competition Semi-Finalists The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz is pleased to announce the 10 semifinalists of the 2005 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar Competition: Kyle Asche (Nebraska, USA), Scott DuBois (Illinois, USA), Torsten Goods (Dusseldorf, Germany), Lage Lund (Skein, Norway), David Mooney (Louisiana, USA), Miles Okazaki (Washington, USA), Yotam Silberstein (Jerusalem, Israel), Chuck Stevens (New Hampshire, USA), John Storie (Oregon, USA), and Paul Vinton II (Pennsylvania, USA). Read more about the Competition. |
July 17, 2005 | The 18th annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and Gala Concert The 18th annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and Gala Concert, sponsored by General Motors, will take place on September 18-19, 2005 in Washington, DC. The Competition will feature 10 of the world's most outstanding young jazz guitarists who will be competing for over $60,000 in scholarships and prizes. The event will include a Special Tribute to legendary guitarist George Benson and will be hosted by Herbie Hancock and Billy Dee Williams. Read more. |
March 9, 2005 | Russia's top young jazz musicians study with renowned American jazz masters Russia's top young jazz musicians study with renowned American jazz masters in a two-week international student exchange program in New York City, made possible by a most prestigious grant from the Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress. Read more. |
May 2, 2005 | Kentucky public school students participate in Jazz in America Thousands of Kentucky public school students participate in Jazz in America: The National Jazz Curriculum education programs as the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz visits Louisville, Frankfort, and Lexington during a week-long tour. Read more. |
April 20, 2005 | Tribute to Kansas City Jazz The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz will present to Kansas City public school students a special "Tribute to Kansas City Jazz" performance and master class, featuring legendary jazz pianist Jay McShann and internationally renowned jazz saxophonist Bobby Watson. Read more. |
April 15, 2005 | The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz will present a groundbreaking concert The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz will present a groundbreaking concert at Washington Preparatory High School in South Central Los Angeles featuring students from their "BeBop to Hip-Hop" program performing with leading jazz and hip-hop artists. Read more. |
February 1, 2005 | In celebration of Black History Month, thousands of Mississippi public school students participate in Jazz in America In celebration of Black History Month, thousands of Mississippi public school students participate in Jazz in America: The National Jazz Curriculum education programs as the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz visits Jackson, Hattiesburg, Pascagoula, and Gulfport during a week-long tour. Read more. |
September 13, 2004 | Vocalist Gretchen Parlato wins the 17th annual competition Vocalist Gretchen Parlato wins the 17th annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, held in Washington, DC. Read more. |
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