An Exclusive by Museically Inclined Sheryl Aronson & Mikey Adam Cohen
Last November Museically Inclined attended the Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition and Tribute Gala to Quincy Jones. What an extraordinary lineup of musicians performing throughout the week-end. Here is our article.
Hollywood, The Dolby Theater…11/15/15
“One of the things that I am most grateful for in my life…is that I was born at a time where I was able to witness, and play a role in, the growth of the only true indigenous American art form. I can only hope that one day America will recognize what the rest of the world already has. That our indigenous music, jazz, is the heart and soul of all popular music, and that we cannot afford to let its’ legacy slip into obscurity.”
The sixty-year reign of Quincy Jones undulates throughout musical history like a tapestry weaving jazz’s architectural landscape. Who else could bring Bee Bop to Hip Hop? Jones’s aptitude for interpreting the syncopational climate for each decade and mentoring multitudes of musicians, punctuates his genius. But what’s most important to Mr. Quincy Delight Jones is handing down the torch to the young people in order for jazz to burn brightly in their hearts and souls.
“Play music that moves you …play just what makes you have goose bumps. There are only 12 notes. For 700 years we all have had to find rhythm, harmony and melody and to own our own ground with these 12 notes,” Mr. Jones said.
The eleven semifinalists of the Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition answered the call. On Saturday, November 14th at UCLA Schoenberg Hall these fledgling artists birthed their individual designs of jazz standards through using the instrument of their voices. The esteemed panel of judges included Patti Austin, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Freddy Cole, Al Jarreau and Luciana Souza. The band accompanying each vocalist was comprised of Reginald Thomas, piano, Rodney Whitaker, bass and Carl Allen, drums. From twelve o’clock until five pm, the contestants performed and only three would continue on to the finals held Sunday evening at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.
I sat directly behind the judges and observed each one as they listened and took copious notes on each vocalist. Sitting right in front of me was Al Jarreau. His sonorous laugh of appreciation and joy for the artist’s creativity flowed out of him, he cried out encouragement, and bopped his body to the groove. Patti Austin was animated as well. Her head bobbed in rhythm to the music and swayed to the artist’s voice as she expressed her approval for what the performer just vocalized, and from time to time she and Dee Dee Bridgewater would touch heads to share their excitement and comments. Freddy Cole and Luciana Souza sat quietly giving rapt attention to each singer.
The unique interpretations of these talented vocalists presented an array of delicious listening for illustrious appreciative ears. I asked Suzi Reynolds, Manger of Freddy Cole and Roseanna Vitro, Grammy nominated vocalist/educator/journalist what qualities contribute to winning this competition. Suzi Reynolds actually managed and produced the very first winner of the Thelonious Monk Vocal Competition back is the 1990’s, Terry Thorton.
Ms. Reynolds said, “These young artists are astute and well trained. They need to know how to tell a story and interpret a lyric. Freddie Cole is looking for the storytellers because that’s his trademark. It’s not enough to sing the right notes…one needs to tell the story and feel the emotion of the lyric.”
I learned that initially over two hundred people enter the contest from all over the world. The singer enters four songs in which one is completely acappella for eight bars, another is an improvisation with lyrics or scatting, and there’s also a blues number. The eleven semifinalists are chosen over a two-day weekend competition in New York City.
Roseanna Vitro talked about one of her ex-students who had qualified for the semifinals that afternoon. “Lucy Yeghiazaryan is an incredible improviser. She speaks five languages and also plays the violin, but today I was so proud of her singing performance. I was crying. I thought she was going to fly away because her vocals were swinging so strongly. Jimmy Heath hugged her afterwards and told Lucy how thrilling it was to see someone swing that deeply.”
Vitro talked about her qualifications for a winner. “You look for honesty that touches you, but they also have to have personality that goes a long way. I’m looking to see how they are on stage and they have to sing with conviction… to come out and take no prisoners.”
Some of my impressions of a few of the artists that took no prisoners…
Katie Thiroux deftly plucked the stand-up bass while lulling the crowd with her versatile vocals. Her rendering of Wives and Lovers palpitated with lovely vocal accents that registered a deep gripping voice and grabbed my attention with how she delivered the line…”Wives should be lovers too…” so simple yet powerful.
Danielle Wertz, the youngest member of the competition, version of a House Is Not A Home rippled with a creamy bouquet of softness then pulsed with surprising depth and intensity.
Jazzmeia Horn brought delectable colors singing Betty Carter’s song Tight. Her overall delivery bespoke raw, candid moments then she pulled back with a whispering gentleness that captured everyone’s attention.
Lucy Yeghiazaryan walloped the audience with her dynamic version of I’m Nobody Else But Me. Her tiny, athletic body enveloped a huge voice pulsing with joyous energy.
Vuyolwethu Sotashe, from South Africa, sounded like a young Al Jarreau yet with his own distinctive style that reflected his African roots of rhythm, and from Italy, Walter Ricci tickled the keys of the piano while crooning Just In Time with the precision of a Harry Connick, Jr.
The end of the day arrived and it was time for John Burk, Chief Creative Officer from Concord Music Group Records to announce the three winners who would compete on Sunday evening at the Jazz Tribute to Quincy Jones. The first name called was Veronica Swift, who attends the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, the second name called was Jazzmeia Horn, who studied at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and also works as a teaching artist with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, and the final name announced was Vuyolwethu Sotashe, who holds degrees in jazz studies from the University of Cape Town and William Paterson University.
Jeff Levenson, producer of the event with Leonard Brown, talked about the three finalists. “The three finalists were chosen because they represent a level of togetherness…it’s funny… actually it involves music but also variables beyond music …a kind of focus and clarity in their presentation and certainly charisma is a factor that the judges will consider. In each case the artist has a measure of clarity and they are in touch with who they are as artists and their presentation by and large reflected that.”
Levenson has been connected with the Thelonious Monk Institute for twenty-five years and producing this event for twenty years. He commented on why the Thelonius Monk Institute is so important to jazz music, “Once a major educational institution throws its support and its imprint behind a movement, you’re looking at a kind of mainstreaming that enables us to marry education with a business and with talent development. The Monk Institute has dedicated itself to fostering jazz awareness and jazz talent and a jazz acumen on all these various levels: educational and professional and in terms of the values that business people might have surrounding which kinds of arts to support. The Monk Institute is a vital voice maintaining and keeping our eye on the prize.”
On Sunday evening The Dolby Theater in Hollywood was the location that the big prize would be gifted to the winner of the Vocal competition. The theater vibrated with excitement in anticipation to hearing the three finalists compete. Also an All-Star Gala concert for Quincy Jones would be performed with guest artists such as George Benson, Hubert Laws, Jimmy Heath, Wayne Shorter, Arturo Sandoval, Herbie Hancock, Dave Grusin, Paul Jackson, Jr., Ben Williams, Terri Lyne Carrington, James Genus, Justin Kauflin, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Mike Cottone, Jason Goldman, and Kenya Hathaway. Guest singers included Ledisi, Patti Austin, Al Jarreau, Freddie Cole, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Lisa Henry, Gretchen Parlato, and Luciana Souza. The hosts were Jeff Goldblum, Seth McFarlane, Billy Dee Williams and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. John Beasley was the Musical Director and Reginald Thomas, Carl Allen, and Rodney Whitaker were the finalist’s accompanist band.
First, the three finalists would perform two songs for the judges and audience then the tribute concert to Quincy Jones would be presented along with the presentation of the Herbie Hancock Humanitarian award.
Mr. Herbie Hancock served as the lead host for that evening. He is the Chairman of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and also the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the promotion of Intercultural Dialogue throughout the world. The fourteen Grammy winner has dedicated himself to the promotion and continuation of jazz in many capacities. Since April 30th 2012, Hancock has been instrumental in organizing International Jazz Day around the world to bring together communities, schools, artists, academics, historians, and jazz enthusiasts to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots. He said in his greeting as written in the program book, “Tonight you will enjoy performances from some of the world’s most gifted young jazz vocalists. The finalists were selected yesterday from a group of eleven incredibly talented artists who traveled to Los Angeles to participate in the Competition.”
Performing first was Veronica Swift who looked stunning in an orange gown with elegant white gloves draping her arms. Her voice moved seamlessly rising up and with infinite control falling down as she phrased the song September In the Rain. She let go of each note like raindrops flowing over with riffs filled with plentitude of sound. She utterly silenced the audience with song number two, This Bitter Earth. Without musical accompaniment Swift began singing the lyrics with a rich tone then she let loose notes that flew off into the atmosphere with dynamics of such seasoned beauty and depth. The level of her performance drew me down into to an emotional pool of peace and tears.
Jazzmeia Horn adorned in a golden turban with an African print dress of gold with black threading, illuminated the night with a gospel, bluesy sounding melody Moanin. With a raw down home vocals she scatted fast and furious, ripping notes, popping notes, and lifted our spirits up to the heavens. With the song Detour Ahead, Horn displayed a deep, rich tone that rotated in all directions. Her flaming performance got the audience on their feet applauding.
Lastly, the young man from South Africa Vuyolwethu Sotashe charmed us all with the song If You Never Fall In Love With Me (Del Sasser). Donned in a gray silk suit with tan shoes that matched the color of Rodney’s Whitaker’s stand up bass, his delivery of the song reverberated with happiness. Then Sotashe treated the audience to his unique version of Billy Holiday’s Life Begins When You’re In Love, which he added a native wedding song to the opening and closing of the tune. With a sweet falsetto-sounding voice like an angel, this singer opened the clouds to heaven.
After the competition the concert began with young Los Angeles public school students who study with the Institute and featured Lisa Henry singing a humorous version of Quincy Jone’s Killer Joe except it was called Killer Q. The audience was also treated to Seth MacFarlane bringing his big band vocals to the song Come Fly With Me. When Dee Dee Bridgewater hit the stage to perform Honeysuckle Rose with Arturo Sandoval, we saw a veteran performer kick it up into high gear. Ledisi enchanted the evening with her explosive vocals on the soulful song Everything Must Change. The All-Star Big Band played a tribute of the wide range of songs Quincy Jones has composed and arranged like the theme songs for the television program Ironside and Sanford and Son. When Freddy Cole came onstage with Jimmy Heath to perform Let The Good Times Roll the two seasoned jazz artists got the audience up and swaying to the fun beat. Then Patti Austin and George Benson ripped up their vocal rendition of Moody’s Mood For Love by displaying an electrifying conversation of sizzling improvisation.
Herbie Hancock then presented Jones with the Herbie Hancock Humanitarian Award and the audience gave Quincy Jones a standing ovation. Jones was spry as ever wearing sneakers with his fancy dress suit. He was humble and grateful for being honored that evening. As he accepted this honor he promised to continue to be on the front lines to work and preserve and promote the music of jazz.
It was now time to present the winner of the Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition. Third place was awarded to Vuyolwethu Sotashe; second place to Veronica Swift and the winner was Jazzmeia Horn. The Thelonius Monk Institute awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships and prizes, including a major scholarship and a guaranteed recording contract with Concord Music Group to the winner.
The evening closed with a grand finale of all participants of the Gala concert singing Quincy Jones’s hit song, We Are The Word in a tribute to the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.
At the after party Gala, Jazzmeia Horn talked about winning the competition, “I want the music to reach back and grab my grandmother’s generation and then reach up to my daughter’s generation into the future.”
Terri Lyne Carrington, three time Grammy winner. Musician, Producer, Composer, also talked about the evening and what it meant to her, “Quincy Jones has always been somebody I looked up to musically along with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. They have taken traditional jazz and combined it with commercial music without lowering the standards.”
Herbie Hancock concluded the evening by telling Musecially Inclined, “It was a night where the vocalists in the finals were astounding. They showed a variety of styles in the ways they treated some of the standard tunes. Each singer displayed originality and creativity. A jazz singer is someone who in the moment can create new approaches and keep pushing the envelope. There was so much love on stage tonight and I was honored to be there with my dear friend Quincy Jones.”
A Museically Inclined Exclusive Scoop. Herbie Hancock revealed to us that he’s been working on completing a new CD which should be out at the beginning of next year and some of the suggested artists he’s teaming up with are Snoop Dog, Kendall Lamar, …
Photo Credit: Musically Inclined
