jazztalk.net

Just came across this link on another board. Haven't had time to check it out yet, but there are several hours of the competition on video. Some pretty accomplished players in this year's competition.

https://www.facebook.com/monkinstitute/app_196506863720166

I haven't looked at the video yet, but when I went to the page I saw someone giving props to young Chilean Sax player Melissa Aldana. I happened to see Melissa perform at her CD release event at the Fat Cat a couple of years ago. I was very impressed with Melissa live and with her CD. I think she's a protege of Greg Osby (and records for his label). She's quite exotically cute too.

steve(thelil) wrote:I haven't looked at the video yet, but when I went to the page I saw someone giving props to young Chilean Sax player Melissa Aldana. I happened to see Melissa perform at her CD release event at the Fat Cat a couple of years ago. I was very impressed with Melissa live and with her CD. I think she's a protege of Greg Osby (and records for his label). She's quite exotically cute too.

Yeah, she's the real deal and apparently isn't afraid to work hard at her craft. She is now one of three finalists (final performances tonight @ 7:30):



Finalists Godwin Louis, Melissa Aldana, and Tivon Pennicott with Billy Dee Williams and Thelonious Monk, Jr.

It seems Melissa Aldana is the winner... Sounds good here:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/16/melissa-aldana-saxophonist-wins-monk-competition/

September 16, 2013, 11:16 pm

Melissa Aldana, Saxophonist, Wins Monk Competition
By BEN RATLIFF

The winner of the 2013 Thelonious Monk International Saxophone competition is Melissa Aldana. Ms. Aldana, 24, a tenor saxophonist originally from Santiago, Chile, has been a working bandleader in New York since 2009; she has released two albums on the Inner Circle label.

Ms. Aldana won in Monday night’s finals at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater in Washington, with a performance of Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Mercer’s “I Thought About You,” as well as her own “Free Fall,” with a rhythm section including the bassist Rodney Whitaker, the pianist Reginald Thomas, and the drummer Carl Allen. The competition was judged by a panel of saxophonists including Jane Ira Bloom, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wayne Shorter, and Bobby Watson.

Second and third place were won by Tivon Pennicott, 27, originally from Marietta, Ga., and Godwin Louis, 28, from Harlem, both currently New York-based as well.

The competition, which had its semifinals on Sunday, focuses on a different instrument annually; this is its 26th year. The winner was announced after the concert, and the first prize is a $25,000 scholarship with the Monk Institute, and a recording contract with Concord Music Group.

Thanks for the update, Rita!

Joel Frahm wrote a really nice entry about her playing & approach on his FB page after the win...worth tracking down.

I'm pretty confident that Joel wouldn't mind me posting his very glowing remarks here.

"Just want to congratulate the incredible Melissa Aldana for winning the Monk Saxophone Competition. I know a few of the semi-finalists as well, and also some very fine players who were not chosen to take part. Suffice it to say there are some really serious and dedicated young horn players out there. I have said this elsewhere before, but what I really love about Melissa's musicianship is not only her considerable techinical dexterity and harmonic knowledge, but her preternatural patience and insight as an improvisor. She doesn't rely upon superficial excitement to create her statements. She reminds me of her mentor Mark Turner in this way, as well as Chris Cheek, although in a stylistically different way. I am proud to know her, and I am really glad the top award went to someone I admire deeply." - Joel Frahm

Interesting perspective from Spike Wilner:

I want to give a special congratulations to Melissa Aldan, Tivon Pennicott and Godwin Louis for their success in this year's Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition. These three were the finalists. Jazz competitions are dubious things but unfortunately have become a reality of the modern era. Like their counterparts in classical music, it creates buzz and publicity for young artists and bring them to the attention of a greater public. I personally participated in two of the Monk competitions years ago (finalist in one and semi-finalist in another) - both times it was a horrible and nerve wracking experience. I prepared for months, trying to second-guess what the judges would want to hear and what the other participants would possibly play. I worked out my arrangements with a neurotic diligence. On competition day, everyone had to wait in the same room as each participant would go on one after the other. It was like awaiting your execution - unbearable tension. When it was all over with I was left with a sense of emptiness, like I had been scammed, and in a way I was. It was a circus side-show and I was one of the freaks. Jazz is Art and its impossible to really quantify - to say that one artist is better than another is impossible (unlike sports where you can accurately measure skill). But it's seductive for a young-artist to seek accolades and financial reward. At a young age it's really hard to have the insight to realize the stupidity and banality of organized competitions. The Truth is, it is the day to day application of practicing and sticking to your vision that is the real competition. If you get to play this music over your entire lifetime then you are the winner.