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| SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: DC Jazz Festival Announces 2020 DCJazzPrix™ Finalists The DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) today announced the five bands selected by our panel of expert judges as the 2020 DCJazzPrix Finalists, all of whom will perform virtually on Sunday, September 27th at the DCJazzPrix Finals at Union Stage, 740 Water Street SW, as part of The 16th Annual JazzFest. They are: Camilla George: London-based saxophonist-composer, dubbed "The Golden Girl of Jazz" by the Evening Standard, she began playing at age 11. Ms. George achieved her Masters in Jazz at Trinity College of Music. Since then she has worked with the acclaimed London young artist ensemble Tomorrow's Warriors, and the New Civilisation Orchestra. In 2009 she joined Jazz Jamaica, and in 2014 she joined saxophonist Courtney Pine's all-female ensemble Venus. Her debut recording was "Isang" on Ubuntu Records. DreamRoot: Based in Durham, NC this cooperative band includes Ittai Korman on bass, Theous Jones on drums, Serena Wiley on saxophone, Joe MacPhail on keyboards, and Lynn J. Grisett, Jr. on trumpet. DreamRoot specializes in their brand of political jazz and neo-soul. They incorporate African and European elements in their music. Their debut release is "Phases" (2020), from which they have released two singles: "Stay" and "Stridin'". EJB Quartet: DC-based saxophonist-composer-bandleader, and bassist Elijah Jamal Balbed leads The EJB Quartet. EJB, who attended Howard University, and University of the District of Columbia to study music, is an award-winning artist, cited by Washingtonian Magazine, and the Washington City Paper. In addition to his jazz experience, EJB joined go-go pioneer Chuck Brown's band in 2011. Since Brown's passing, EJB has continued to perform with the Chuck Brown Band, as well as develop his popular jazz-meets-go-go band the JoGo Project. Reis-Demuth-Wiltgen: A cooperative trio, consisting of pianist Michel Reis, bassist Marc Demuth, and drummer Paul Wiltgen, three of Luxembourg's most promising jazz musicians. They formed their trio in 1998 as high school students. Since then they've separately studied at top conservatories, including Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and the Koninklijk Conservatory in The Hague. In 2018 they toured Europe with guest saxophonist, the acclaimed Joshua Redman. Their third album release is 2018's "Once in a Blue Moon". Mike Casey: A Connecticut native, the saxophonist-composer who prefers the challenge of his saxophone-bass-drums trio, began playing his instrument in 5th grade. He later attended the Greater Hartford Academy for the Performing Arts in high school, earning a scholarship to the Jackie McLean Institute at the Hartt School of Music/University of Hartford. He was eventually selected for the prestigious Betty Carter Jazz Ahead young artist intensive at the Kennedy Center. Casey has gone on to perform at prestigious venues, including Lincoln Center, Minton's, Winter Jazzfest, and the Exit Zero Jazz Festival. Each band will receive benefits inherently associated with a major jazz festival performance opportunity, and will compete at the DCJazzPrix Finals at the 16th Annual DC JazzFest at Union Stage at The Wharf. DC JazzFest audience response will be a vital factor in the Jury's determination of the winner. Aside from gaining significant exposure, the winner will also be awarded a $15, 000 cash prize and benefit from a yearlong association with the DC Jazz Festival to assist in their professional development, and business support, as well as a compensated main stage DC Jazz Festival 2021 performance, and a NYC showcase performance opportunity at Tribeca Performing Arts Center. "The interaction of musicians in a band context is at the core of jazz. It is exciting to help 'discover' and promote the careers of emerging jazz bands committed, " said DC Jazz Festival Executive Director Sunny Sumter. "DCJazzPrix is unique in that it recognizes bands over soloists. It allows jazz artists to concentrate on band development on multiple fronts, increase performance opportunities, and sustain their collective output." The DCJazzPrix prize is made possible by the generous support of Conrad Kenley and the Galena-Yorktown Foundation. For more information about the 2020 DC Jazz Fest, including performance updates, please stay connected to the DC Jazz festival at dcjazzfest.org. About DC Jazz Festival: About the DC Jazz Festival: The DC Jazz Festival presents world-renowned and emerging artists in celebration of jazz; unifies diverse communities; advances jazz and music education with exciting and adventurous musical experiences for backgrounds; shines the spotlight on DC-based musicians; and highlights DC as a premier cultural destination. Our signature programs are the annual DC JazzFest, now in its 15th year with 150 performances in 40 venues including our tribute concerts in partnership with The Kennedy Center; Jazz in the 'Hoods with citywide partnerships in 20+ neighborhoods; DC JazzFest at The Wharf, our marquee weekend with free outdoor stages and The Anthem; the year-round DCJF Education in partnership with DC public and charter schools, and arts centers; the Charles Fishman Artist Embassy Series honoring our founder; and DCJazzPrix, an international band competition. The DC Jazz Festival won the 2018 DC Mayor's Arts Award for Excellence on Creative Industries. In 2015, The New York Times named DC JazzFest one of "50 Essential Summer Festivals." write your comments about the article :: © 2020 Jazz News :: home page |