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New Voices and the American Song Book

Kennedy Center
Washington, D.C.
October, 2010
One of the premier jazz events of the year, the annual Thelonious Monk competition rarely fails to deliver. Each year the jazz elite gather to celebrate the legacy of Thelonious Monk and to recognize up-and-coming talents of the jazz world via a competition that rotates among instruments. When hosted by the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., an aura of political weight is inevitably added to the evening as Congressmenand this year, President Barak Obama together with Michelle Obamaaffix their names to the list of honoree hosts and sponsors. The music is always top quality and the finalists often destined for recording contracts and popular recognition. Recent years, however, have left the competition a touch weighed-down by its own sense of import, the speeches gilded with pomp and the pace of the event stiff, like an ill-fitted suit. This may explain why the just-completed 2010 competition stood out as one of the most enjoyable competitions in recent years, due in no small part to the unaffected charm and unquestionable talent of this year's winner, vocalist

Cecile McLorin Salvant
vocalsb.1989
Salvant's genuineness, however, was not the only factor at play in making the 2010 Monk Vocal Competition sweep along like a breath of fresh air. From opening number to closing speech, the evening was characterized by an almost familial quality as veteran performers, contestants, and hosts alike radiated a sense of loose fun and shared camaraderie. Hostess Phylicia Rashad certainly helped set the tone with her pitch-perfect mix of down-to-earth humor and good nature, as did the welcome segment of the night which focused admirably on the music and less on speechifying. In short, everything from the hosts to the line-up of supporting musicians, to the event's gently unfolding pace combined to create an inviting atmosphere that let the audience sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
Following a sprightly version of "Better Than Anything" by Ledisi,

George Duke
piano1946 - 2013

Terri Lyne Carrington
drumsb.1965

James Genus
bassb.1966

Jon Irabagon
saxophone
Ambrose Akinmusire
trumpetb.1982
The Finalists
The eventual third place winner, Cyrille Aimee, a native of Fontainebleau, France, opened with an unabashedly seductive rendition of "I Wish You love." Delivered in her native tongue, Aimee successfully imbued the tune with flirtatious allure, including a portion of French-tinged and understated scat. Aimee then turned to a less successful version of "Summertime," the risky R&B-influenced arrangement of which failed to convince.
Choosing a dramatically different approach, second-prize winner Charnenee Wade began with a powerful, modern take of

Duke Ellington
piano1899 - 1974

Taking first place, Cecile McLorin Salvant chose two contrasting selections: a humorously quaint take on "If this Isn't Love" followed by a subtle but powerful rendition of Bessie Smith's "I Wonder Where our Love has Gone." Salvant convinced rather than overwhelmed the audience with her subtle vocals and unexpected phrasing, the combined effect of which produced an unusual emotional clarity that moved the audience to shouts of appreciation and in the end earned her first prize.
Describing Salvant's performance, competition judge

Kurt Elling
vocalsb.1967
As definitive as her performance was, Salvant's poise and unaffected sincerity was equally appealing. Reacting to the win as she signed autographs and shook hands with a string of appreciative audience members, Salvant expressed genuine surprise. "I don't understand what is happening to me! I have to remind myself where I am, what I am doing.... I have never experienced this...the first time I played with a band, a jazz band, was 3 years ago. Just seeing an audience respond the way they responded and come out here and have people even know who I am is overwhelming. Completely unexpected and surreal."
Asked about her choice of a

Bessie Smith
vocals1894 - 1937
Composers Award
Appropriately, the Monk competition also bestows an annual composer's award in order to recognize the important contribution of writers to jazz. Sponsored by BMI, the award this year went to pianist Vadim Neselovskyi. Born in Odessa, Ukraine, Neselovskyi began his musical studies at a young age at the Odessa Conservatory before moving to Dortmund, Germany where he gained experience in jazz performance. After attending the Berklee College of Music, he joined Gary Burton's band. He is also an alumnus of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance.
Garnering the $10,000 prize for his composition "Grust," which means "sadness' in Russian, Neselovskyi impressed with both the depth of his composition and a heartrending performance that stood out as an unquestionable highlight of the night. Playing with his trio, whom he met during his studies at Berklee, Neselovskyi was also greatly aided by his vocalist Amanda Basinsinger, whose ethereal, wordless singing sounded at times like the plaintive cries of a solitary wolf and seemed to distill into sonic form the pathos of human isolation.
, Nesolovsky explained the origins of the tune, "Many pieces actually I don't remember about the moment that I started a composition. But with this piece I really remember the moment. I was feeling low, as everyone sometimes does, and I sat at the piano and the melody came. From that point on, of course, the hell begins. Because I needed to work for three years just to find the perfect flow...to develop that idea that just came, this feeling of loneliness."
In keeping with the familial quality of the evening, Neselovskyi went on to emphasize the personal import of the night's victory and his reunion with trio-mates Amanda Baisinger and Oleg Osenkov. "We played constantly in Boston for no money. And because we played all those gigs I was hired by Gary Burton at a certain point...and I stopped playing with them. So now, this is a very special moment for me to reunite with musicians that are so dear to me, playing in the spotlight, to receive this prize. I hope this is a reunion that lasts and we get more chances together."
The American Song Book
The competition performances completed, the event then transitioned to its second phase, a celebration of the American song book consisting of performances by a veritable who's who of today's jazz singers, culminating in a surprise performance by Gladys Knight. (Graciously substituting for Aretha Franklin who was unable to attend due to a family emergency.)
One after the other, the esteemed line-up treated the audience to a panoply of styles and song selections. From

Al Jarreau
vocals1940 - 2017

Clark Terry
trumpet1920 - 2015
Both honoring the history of jazz vocals and shining a spotlight on its next generation, the 2010 Monk Competition struck just the right balance between seriousness and entertainment, humor and sincerity. While an impressive roster of jazz's greatest names were present, the evening appropriately belonged to the young performers only just now embarking on their careers. Not only were their performances made the centerpiece, but the older hands seemed more than willing to embrace their roles as teachers and supporters. Beyond the quality of the music, perhaps this sense of continuity and generosity is what lent the entire affair its undeniable appeal.
Photo Credit
Three Finalists: Steve Mundinger
Tags
Thelonious Monk Instititue
Live Reviews
Franz A. Matzner
United States
District Of Columbia
Washington
Cecile McLorin Salvant
George Duke
Terri Lyne Carrington
James Genus
Jon Irabagon
ambrose akinmusire
duke ellington
Kurt Elling
Bessie Smith
Al Jarreau
Clark Terry
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