Names of 14 semifinalists of the International Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition have been announced. The competition is annually being organized by the Thelonious Monk Jazz Institute. Each year a different instrument is being chosen for recognition, this year it is the saxophone.
At the semifinals at the Smithsonian in Washingtonon on 15 September contestants will play 15-minute sets before a panel of judges that includes Jimmy Heath, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Watson, Jane Ira Bloom and Branford Marsalis.
The Smithsonian and Thelonious Monk Jazz Institute are going to live stream the semifinals on their websites and show performances by young musicians from the USA, Australia, Austria, Israel …
The winner will receive $15.000 and a contract with Concord Records at a gala night at the Kennedy Center on 16 September.
Among former laureates of this prestigious award were vocalist Gretchen Parlato in 2004, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire in 2007 and Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan in 2006 who held a concert at the 14th Jazz Fest Sarajevo in 2010 within the festival program.