JAMISON ROSS WINS 2012 THELONIOUS MONK INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DRUMS
COMPETITION
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Herbie Hancock (left) announces Jamison Ross (right) as the winner of the
2012 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Drums Competition. Justin Brown (middle
left) and Colin Stranahan (middle right) were named second and third place
winners, respectively.
The 25th annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and "Women, Music and Diplomacy" All-Star Gala Concert came to
a close with roaring applause and cheers as Tipper Gore joined first place
winner Jamison Ross on drums in a rousing finale featuring Thelonious Monk's
classic composition "In Walked Bud."
Presented by the Thelonious Monk Institute of
Jazz in partnership with Cadillac, this year's Presenting Sponsor, the stellar
event featured the finals of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Drums
Competition with performances by first place winner Jamison Ross, 24, from
Jacksonville, Florida; Justin Brown, 28, of Richmond, California; and Colin
Stranahan, 26, of Denver, Colorado. Brown and Stranahan were named second and
third place winners, respectively. At stake was more than $100,000 in
scholarships and prizes, including a $25,000 first place scholarship and
guaranteed recording contract with Concord Music Group. This year's competition
judges included a distinguished panel of drummers: Carl Allen, Brian Blade,
Terri Lyne Carrington, Jimmy Cobb, Peter Erskine, and Ben Riley.
"The heartbeat of the bandstand, the drums
have been an inspiration to every culture from the genesis of mankind," said
Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock.
The evening also featured a star-studded
"Women, Music and Diplomacy" Gala honoring former U.S. Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright with the Institute's 2012 Maria Fisher Founder's Award. In
accepting the award Secretary Albright said, "Jazz is America's most distinctive
form of art, and this Institute is a world treasure. By sending its Ambassadors
abroad, the Institute helps to spread the gospel of Jazz to every corner of the
globe." In the spirit of the evening, Secretary Albright took her place behind
the drums and performed a moving rendition of "Nessun Dorma" with Chris Botti
and George Duke.
UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova
delivered remarks about the successes of the newly established International
Jazz Day, celebrated annually on April 30th, and also addressed the role of jazz
as a diplomatic force in uniting people around the world. She announced that the
2013 International Jazz Day will be hosted by Istanbul, Turkey.
The Gala highlighted the contributions of
women in jazz over the past century. Under the musical direction of George Duke, special musical segments featured a
multi-generational group of all-stars performing in tribute to artists including
Lena Horne, Anita O'Day, Ella Fitzgerald and Mary Lou Williams. The cast
included Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Heath, Lee Ritneour, Mark O'Connor, Joe Louis
Walker, Patti Austin, Nnenna Freelon, Geri Allen, Jane Ira Bloom, Randy Brecker,
James Carter, Vinnie Colaiuta, Claire Daly, Akua Dixon, Roberta Gambarini, James
Genus, Ingrid Jensen, Linda Oh, Gretchen Parlato and Ada Rovatti.
A show-stopping version of "My Funny
Valentine" was performed by Aretha Franklin, who could only top that with an
electrifying "Respect" in honor of Madeleine Albright. The evening's hosts
included Tipper Gore, Herbie Hancock, Helen Mirren, Thelonious Monk, Jr. and
Billy Dee Williams.
Through the competition and its numerous
educational programs, the Thelonious Monk Institute is committed to identifying
and training the world's leading young jazz musicians who will preserve the
traditions of jazz while expanding the music in new directions.
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