Where are they now?

[rollhead]

I was looking through the list of Monk Competition winners to see who among them is thriving. Sax players seem to be doing especially well, with the most "successful" (in terms of ink) group of hatchlings coming out of the 1991 competition 1) Joshua Redman 2) Eric Anderson, 3) Chris Potter.

What names on this lists pop out to you as being musicians still on the cusp of a breakout or notable for what they have done since being named a "winner"?

I personally like John Ellis (No. 2 on sax, 2002) and my sax teacher loves the No. 1 from that year, Seamus Blake


2005 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar Competition
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington, DC
First Place: Lage Lund, Skein, Norway
Second Place: Miles Okazaki, Washington
Third Place: David Mooney, Louisiana
Composers Competition Winner: Junko Moriya, Kanagawa, Japan

2004 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington, DC
First Place: Gretchen Parlato, California
Second Place: Kellylee Evans, Ontario, Canada
Third Place: Robin McKelle, Massachusetts
Fourth Place: Charanee Wade, New York
Composers Competition Winner: Misha Piatigorsky, Russia (currently residing in Israel)

2003 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trombone Competition
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington, DC
First Place: Andre Hayward, Texas
Second Place: David Gibson, Alabama
Third Place: Noah Bless, Massachusetts
Fourth Place: Karin Harris, Washington
Fifth Place: Marshall Gilkes, Maryland
Composers Competition Winner: Ilja Reijngoud, The Netherlands

2002 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition
Smithsonian Institution's Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC
First Place: Seamus Blake, Canada
Second Place: John Ellis, North Carolina
Third Place: Marcus Strickland, Florida
Finalists: Aaron Fletcher, Louisiana, and Jaleel Shaw, Pennsylvania
Composers Competition Winner: Jim Robitaille, Massachusetts

2000 Thelonious Monk International Afro-Latin Jazz Hand Drum Competition
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington, DC
First Place: Pedro Martinez, New Jersey
Second Place: Samuel Torres, Florida
Third Place: Camilo Ernesto Molina Gaetan, New York
Finalists: Ramses Araya, Florida, and Cristian Rivera, New York
Composers Competition Winner: Michael Weiss, New York

1999 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington, DC
First Place: Eric Lewis, New Jersey
Second Place: Orrin Evans, Philadelphia
Third Place: Jacob Sacks, New York
Fourth Place: Sam Yahel, Germany
Perez
Composers Competition Winner: James Carney, California

1998 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition
Smithsonian Institution's Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC

First Place: Teri Thornton, New York
Second Place: Jane Monheit, New York
Third Place: Roberta Gambarini, Italy
Finalists: Everett Greene, Indiana and Cynthia Scott, New York
Composers Competition Winner: Emanuel Rueffler, Germany

1997 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition
Smithsonian Institution's Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC
First Place: Darren Barrett, England
Second Place: Diego Urcola, Argentina
Third Place: Avishai Cohen, Israel
Finalists: Matt Shulman, Vermont and John Sneider, Massachusetts
Composers Competition Winner: Jack Perla, California

1996 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington, DC

First Place: Jon Gordon, New York
Second Place: Jimmy Greene, Connecticut
Third Place: John Wojciechowski, Michigan
Composers Competition Winner: Michiel Borstlap, The Netherlands

1995 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar and Bass Competitions
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington,DC

Guitar
First Place: Jesse van Ruller, The Netherlands
Second Place: Paul Pieper, Virginia
Third Place: Sheryl Bailey, Maryland

Bass
First Place: Darryl Hall, Philadelphia
Second Place: Thomas Baldwin, Maryland
Third Place: Martin Wind, Germany
Composers Competition Winner: Anthony Wilson, California

1994 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington, DC

First Place: Sara Lazarus, France
Second Place: Lisa Henry, Kansas
Third Place: Carolyn Leonhart, New York
Composers Competition Winner: Steven Grover, Maine

1993 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington, DC

First Place: Jacky Terrasson, France
Second Place: Peter Martin, New York
Third Place: Edward Simon, Venezuela


Composers Competition Winner: Pat Zimmerli, New York

1992 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Drums Competition
Lincoln Center
New York, New York

First Place: Harold Summey, Washington, DC
Second Place: Jorge Rossy, Spain
Third Place: Tony Jefferson, Florida and Alvester Garnett, Virginia

1991 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition
Smithsonian Institution's Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC

First Place: Joshua Redman, California
Second Place: Eric Alexander, New York
Third Place: Chris Potter, New York and Tim Warfield, Pennsylvania

1990 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition
Smithsonian Institution's Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC

First Place: Ryan Kisor, Iowa
Second Place: Tom Williams, Maryland
Third Place: Greg Gisbert, New York

1989 Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition
Smithsonian Institution's Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC

First Place: Bill Cunliffe, California
Second Place: Michael Weiss, New York
Third Place: Edward Hobizal, Texas
1988 Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition
Smithsonian Institution's Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC

First Place: Ted Rosenthal, New York
Second Place: Harry Appelman, Washington, DC
Third Place: Matt Cooper, Oregon and Azizza Mustafa-Zade, Azerbaijan

1987 Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition
Smithsonian Institution's Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC

First Place: Marcus Roberts, Florida
Second Place: Rob van Bavel, The Netherlands
Third Place: John Colianni, New York
Fourth Place: Joey DeFrancesco, Pennsylvania

[bluenoter]

Originally Posted by rollhead

I was looking through the list of Monk Competition winners to see who among them is thriving. Sax players seem to be doing especially well, with the most "successful" (in terms of ink) group of hatchlings coming out of the 1991 competition 1) Joshua Redman 2) Eric Anderson, 3) Chris Potter.

What names on this lists pop out to you as being musicians still on the cusp of a breakout or notable for what they have done since being named a "winner"?

I personally like John Ellis (No. 2 on sax, 2002) and my sax teacher loves the No. 1 from that year, Seamus Blake.

Here are some other names that pop out at me, BWTHDIK?

1998 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition
Second Place: Jane Monheit, New York

1997 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition
Third Place: Avishai Cohen, Israel

1993 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition
First Place: Jacky Terrasson, France

1987 Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition
Fourth Place: Joey DeFrancesco, Pennsylvania

[chuckyd4]

2002 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition
Smithsonian Institution's Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC
First Place: Seamus Blake, Canada
Third Place: Marcus Strickland, Florida
Jaleel Shaw, Pennsylvania

All three of these guys (Blake you mention) are quite active, appearing on numerous CDs in the last few years. A quick AMG search should bring up numerous results.

1999, piano
Fourth Place: Sam Yahel, Germany

Sam was very active around this time at Smalls, though usually appearing in an organ trio with Brian Blade and Peter Bernstein. Their 2 discs are excellent (one on Naxos, one on Criss Cross), and I always recommend them to people interested in progressive organ-trio stuff. I know Sam has been involved with Joshua Redman on some really unimpressive discs, which seems to have stalled his career more than helped it. I'm always waiting for some smart label suit to "discover" him and market him in a way deserving of his talent.

1998 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition
Smithsonian Institution's Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC

First Place: Teri Thornton, New York
Second Place: Jane Monheit, New York

Teri, of course, died not long after this - a real shame considering the recognition she was getting after such a difficult journey. Jane's story is probably known by everyone here, though I personally wish she was getting a lot less press, not more.

1997 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition
Smithsonian Institution's Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC
Second Place: Diego Urcola, Argentina

Diego was another of the Smalls crew of the late-'90s, most notably (to me) as a member of Jason Lindner's big band. Never struck me as particularly original, but he always seemed to have a heaping handful of talent, and I was always curious where he would go in the future. Can't say I've heard much about him since then.

1996 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington, DC

Second Place: Jimmy Greene, Connecticut

I could write almost the same exact paragraph for Jimmy, including the Lindner big band part. I have followed him more closely, though, and have always been impressed with his contribution to various groups (both Downtownish associations and things like Tom Harrell's group spring to mind). I think he is still one to watch, as I think he is still progressing, though he's already laid down some impressive stuff on record.

1995 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar and Bass Competitions
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington,DC
Third Place: Martin Wind, Germany

This one is the most personal for me. He was my bass teacher for a couple of years (around 1998-2000/1). He has gotten some exposure as a part of Bill Mays' excellent trio with Matt Wilson, but nowhere near the level he deserves. He has a wife and kids, and teaches full time at NYU (at least last time I heard), and I think engagements like that keep him from being better known. But make no mistake, the dude is a phenomenal bassist, excellent composer, and is constantly in "learning" mode, trying to improve himself, no matter how good he already is. I fully expect to hear big things from him any day now, even if I've now been saying that for almost five years.



The rest of the names I recognized down the list seemed well-enough known to me that I didn't think it was worth writing too much about them.

[rollhead]

One thing that struck me -- and correct me if I am wrong -- is that out of that "stellar" 1991 class, the third place finisher, Chris Potter, seems to me the one who today gets the most respect out of that bunch.

Joshua Redman definitely made the biggest splash -- because I remember reading about him in Time magazine as being the 1991 summa cum laude graduate of Harvard who gave up a place at Yale law school (he wanted to practice civil rights law or be a social worker) to be a jazz saxophonist and win the Monk saxophone competition.

Eric Alexander -- the 2nd place finisher -- has a nice tone, but, otherwise, doesn't do much for me

[rollhead]

Originally Posted by bluenoter

Here are some other names that pop out at me, BWTHDIK?

1998 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition
Second Place: Jane Monheit, New York

1997 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition
Third Place: Avishai Cohen, Israel

1993 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition
First Place: Jacky Terrasson, France

1987 Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition
Fourth Place: Joey DeFrancesco, Pennsylvania

Yea, a good list. I would add Marcus Roberts, too, after looking all the names over again.

[LeMo]

Originally Posted by rollhead

1994 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington, DC

First Place: Sara Lazarus, France

Sarah Lazarus has made a first record under her name the past year.

[clinthopson]

You could take the 90 and 91 winners and put together a helluva band.

[Big Apple]

1999 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington, DC
First Place: Eric Lewis, New Jersey
Second Place: Orrin Evans, Philadelphia
Third Place: Jacob Sacks, New York
Fourth Place: Sam Yahel, Germany
Perez
Composers Competition Winner: James Carney, California

Jacob Sacks is with David Binney's band. Listen to him in the very good "Bastion of Sanity" released in 2005 (Criss Cross).
He is also on "Overseas II" by Eivind Opsvink released last year too (Fresh Sound New Talent), which I've found rather disappointing

1995 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar and Bass Competitions
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington,DC
Bass
First Place: Darryl Hall, Philadelphia
Second Place: Thomas Baldwin, Maryland
Third Place: Martin Wind, Germany
Composers Competition Winner: Anthony Wilson, California

Daryl Hall is often in France, with some of the best known young musicians. He has released last year a CD with Baptiste Trotignon (p), David El Malek (tenor), and Dre Pallemaerts (d) on Naive Records. I don't dig it a lot, but this CD has got many awards in France.

1994 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington, DC

First Place: Sara Lazarus, France
Second Place: Lisa Henry, Kansas
Third Place: Carolyn Leonhart, New York
Composers Competition Winner: Steven Grover, Maine

Sara Lazarus has been in France for many years. She seems to have stopped her career to marry and have children. She has made a come back last year with a Cd on Dreyfus Jazz "Give me The Simple Life", featuring Bireli Lagrene. This CD has got the greatest french award "Les Victoires de la Musique" and many good reviews...

1993 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington, DC

First Place: Jacky Terrasson, France
Second Place: Peter Martin, New York
Third Place: Edward Simon, Venezuela

Jacky is a star Edward Simon is for me, a very good pianist, who has released last year on Criss Cross "Simplicitas" with Adam Cruz and Avishai Cohen. Though it's neither adventurous music nor memorable, I find it simply pleasant and I recommend it.

1992 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Drums Competition
Lincoln Center
New York, New York

First Place: Harold Summey, Washington, DC
Second Place: Jorge Rossy, Spain
Third Place: Tony Jefferson, Florida and Alvester Garnett, Virginia

Have I to say that this guy was for years the Mehldau's drummer ? Jeff Ballard took the place, but Rossy seems to be very active on the spanish scene in Barcelona.

1991 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition
Smithsonian Institution's Baird Auditorium
Washington, DC

First Place: Joshua Redman, California
Second Place: Eric Alexander, New York
Third Place: Chris Potter, New York and Tim Warfield, Pennsylvania

Who are these guys with Tim Warfield ?

[Surfer]

Originally Posted by rollhead

I
2000 Thelonious Monk International Afro-Latin Jazz Hand Drum Competition
Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
Washington, DC
First Place: Pedro Martinez, New Jersey

Pedro had a pretty good year with the Mets.

[grove47]

'Tis I, Steve Grover, Monk composition winner 1994. I am currently living, teaching, playing, and writing in Maine, and occasionally other places. I do what I can to stay creative, making CDs and creating projects for myself. I am working on a song cycle using Kerouac text, mostly verse. Playing wise I am in a nice trio- tenor, guitar and drums- that goes in lots of directions, in and out. We just did some recording last week. I also have some concerts coming up of my own music.

[GoodSpeak]

So, Joey De was a Thelonious Monk winner, eh?


I never knew that....thanks Blue'

Many times I have gotten to listen to the latest crop of T Monk winners at the Playboy Jazz Festival. Never been disappointed.

[bluenoter]

grove47--

Thanks for letting us know!

GoodSpeak--

Thank rollhead; all I did was copy from his list.

[GoodSpeak]

OK then....thanks, Rolly!

[Hot Ptah]

The 1994 Second Place jazz vocalist, Lisa Henry, sings in her home town of Kansas City and has released a CD on a local Kansas City label.

[LennyH]

When I saw Elvin Jones a few years back Eric Lewis (1st place in 99) was his pianist. He was impressive.

Eric is coming to Philly soon with his own quintet. Has anyone seen him play as a leader? I'm thinking about going.