Jazz Festival

Oh. Each October the jazz world focuses its attention on Jacksonville Florida where as part of the Florida National Jazz Festival five outstanding musicians vie for the title of best undiscovered jazz pianist in America. They play for cash awards and the winner performs before thousands at the festival. The judges are chosen from the top names in jazz musician author educator and network jazz commentator Dr. Billy Taylor jazz artist composer and producer. Writer composer musician Amy Duncan. And jazz writer lecturer and editor IRA getline. They gathered under Jacksonville's Florida national pavilion along with thousands of fans to discover the winner of the great American Jazz Piano Competition. Production for this program has been made possible in part by a grant from the Corporation for Public

Broadcasting and a southern educational Communications Association. Competitor Ted Rosenthal from New York City is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music at home with both a classic Sanjay as he leads his own trio performs in Broadway orchestras and has toured as music director of the Four Freshmen and winner of other major competitions. Rosenthal plays at numerous jazz festivals and is heard on many recordings. You're.

Right. But. With. The. Movie. What I'm probably do is probably just play straight through twice. On the day of the

competition. The five finalists have an opportunity to rehearse with the festival rhythm section and what a rhythm section it is. Bass man Victor Gaskin and drummer Bobby Thomas both are established jazz artists who among many other projects travel extensively as two thirds of the Billy Taylor trio. Thanks

composer and arranger Shelley Burton has a master's degree in classical piano from the University of Houston. So he's a college professor of music. He finds time to write jingles as well as tour the world performing at jazz festivals. You.

Heard. Me. The thing. With. The thing.

But.

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Thanks. Finalist Matt Cooper is an Oregon native now living in Cincinnati. He has music

degrees from the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music as well as from the University of Oregon. Cooper was selected Ohio's outstanding collegiate jazz student. He teaches at Central State University and is an active performer. There. You are.

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Michael Bowers classical training from the University of Miami School of Music. He works with his own group throughout south Florida and has recorded numerous albums Gerber's other projects include music for dance and videos. Breaking.

News. A native of Metz France Christian Jayco attended the Paris Conservatory of Music.

He was named top collegiate instrumental soloist in the 1986 downbeat student Music Awards. Jacob has won numerous other jazz awards and currently teaches at his American alma mater Boston's Berklee College of Music. Thank you Jake I. Want a competitor. Or. Yes.

Get a cup of. Coffee trying to. Get to the casket. OK something. Of a shocker. Oh boy. Wow OK we're going to have the ladies and gentlemen of the jury depart. They're going to spend probably about a half an hour or so in the building making the decision that means so much to one of these five young men. I thought that he related part of one of the things inform you if you think something can be annoying though even though he was why did you spank you. OK. Everything Steve did with me with more so it was here come the other day. People get annoyed when people keep turning Balaji and you know that they've got to have a second. But I'm here and there they can just play a technicality.

One thing that gives the cross to an audience very easily done with you if you don't have a network is blasting where you know your technique. Yeah you may get an audience in one sense that you can play faster if you play louder than Jake but if you don't get a bill you know so you lose that aspect of the audience in its first year. Technique was concerned he knew how to use it. He didn't just give away if he would he would use this technique you can probably place for a certain look at everything. I get the feeling you get you exactly where you missed your review and how do you keep in mind each one we thought had something very special. I've been asked about competitions for a long time and I've always said it's like judging apples and oranges is very different difficult especially in jazz because everybody is an individual and so how do you compare individuals each one has strengths that the other doesn't have. We did our best. And number three in our choice was Matt Cooper.

Congratulations. He's got the money. Eh. Number two was Michael Gerber. Will congratulate you. I am. And number one is a gentleman who comes from France and who really speaks the language of jazz without accent. I mean he's a formidable pianist. He is classically trained but he learned not only the European language but the American language as well as can be expected from anyone he's very creative he's very individual individualistic and he

has his own thing going as I'm sure you will agree when you hear the winner of The Piano Competition the sixth piano competition here in Jacksonville. Mr. Christian Jacobs a big hand for Christian take on the old. Do you.

Know who. Yes.

Thank. You. Thank you. Thank. You. Production of this program has been made possible in part by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Southern educational Communications Association. If you're interested in entering or attending the great American Jazz Piano Competition write jazz piano 100 Festival Park Avenue Jacksonville Florida 3 2 2 0 2 0. 1.