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| Theo Croker Wins Marcus Belgrave National Jazz Trumpet Competition Critically-acclaimed cutting-edge trumpet player Theo Croker has won the Marcus Belgrave National Jazz Trumpet Competition in conjunction with Detroit Jazz. Held in honor of Detroit Jazz legend Marcus Belgrave, the competition recognizes and provides performance opportunities to outstanding jazz trumpeters 35 years of age or younger whose artistry reflects the commitment to tradition and search for originality that are tenants of Marcus Belgrave's virtuosity. A panel of judges, including Marcus Belgrave and Chris Collins, Detroit Jazz Festival Artistic Director, selected Theo based on artistic excellence; creativity; group interaction, originality, familiarity with the jazz vocabulary and stylistic continuity. In addition to a cash prize of $1500, Theo will perform a set with the Detroit Jazz Festival All-Star Quartet featuring Danilo Perez at this year's festival as well as with James Carter, and will also participate on a festival panel. Croker, the grandson of the legendary Doc Cheatham, has already generated a serious buzz following a string of dates both overseas and in the US this past year. "Afro Physicist, " his major label debut produced by multiple Grammy-winner/Jazz Vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, will be released on Bridgewater's imprint DDB Records with distribution by OKeh Records/Sony Masterworks in the Spring. A graduate of Oberlin college, Theo received the Presser Music Foundation Award in the Spring of 2006, and used the grant money to record his first album, The Fundamentals, in New York City with his band The Theo Croker Sextet. In March 2008, Theo and his Quartet released In The Tradition, his second CD. Croker currently divides his time between New York and Shanghai. Theo also writes, arranges, and produces hip-hop, rap, and film scores, along with contemporary classical music. A track from "Afro Physicist" – "Fundamentals" is set to be included on OKeh's Fall Music Preview CD which highlights releases from Okeh's 2013/2014 roster. write your comments about the article :: © 2013 Jazz News :: home page |