Finalists of the American Pianists Awards

American Pianists Affiliation

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American Pianists Affiliation

Finalists of the American Pianists Awards

American Pianists Affiliation

For an American jazz pianist on the rise, there could also be no better honor than the Cole Porter Fellowship. Bestowed each 4 years by the American Pianists Affiliation, it is the prize on the finish of a rigorous competitors, and a very good increase for a creative profession. In truth, every of the final 4 Cole Porter fellows has been featured on Jazz Evening in America — together with Sullivan Fortner, who returned to serve on the competitors jury this yr.

On this episode of Jazz Evening, we’ll spend an hour on the competitors finals, listening to from Fortner and others. The principle attraction, in fact, can be the 5 extraordinary younger pianists vying for the prize. We’ll get to know every of them, and listen to highlights from their trio performances throughout the Membership Finals this previous April at The Cabaret in downtown Indianapolis.

Finalists of the American Pianists Awards in Indianapolis, Ind.

American Pianists Affiliation

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American Pianists Affiliation

Finalists of the American Pianists Awards in Indianapolis, Ind.

American Pianists Affiliation

Three of the finalists — Caelan Cardello, Esteban Castro and Isaiah J. Thompson — got here up collectively by the jazz schooling pipeline in New Jersey, through organizations like Jazz Home Youngsters (the place our host, Christian McBride, serves as inventive director). So that they relate extra as pals than opponents. The identical is true of Paul Cornish, who was born and raised in Houston, and Thomas Linger, who hails from Waynesville, N.C. As Castro aptly places it: “This actually seems like a household.”

In fact, it is also nonetheless a contest. For those who do not already know who emerged as the newest Cole Porter Fellow, we can’t spoil the outcomes till the top of the present. So you may hear and choose for your self. The sky-high high quality of the music is bound to make {that a} robust name — even because it brings glad tidings that the way forward for jazz piano is in succesful palms.

Musicians:

Rhythm part: Nick Tucker, bass; Kenny Phelps, drums

Pianists: Caelan Cardello, Esteban Castro, Paul Cornish, Thomas Linger, Isaiah J. Thompson

Set Listing:

• It is All Proper With Me (Cole Porter)
• Rakin’ and Scrapin’ (Harold Mabern)
• You Go to My Head (J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie)
• In Walked Bud (Thelonious Monk)
• A Star is Born (Paul Cornish)
• Funky Blues (Johnny Hodges)

Credit:

Nate Chinen, author; Trevor Smith, producer; Lee Mergner, area producer; Ron Scalzo, episode combine; Suraya Mohamed, undertaking supervisor; Keith Jenkins, vp of visuals and technique at NPR Music; Anya Grundmann, govt producer; Christian McBride, host.

Particular because of Lee Clifford and Don Lucoff