USA: Soul-Jazz flutist Kim Scott emerges in the GRAMMY® race

Soul-Jazz flutist Kim Scott emerges in the GRAMMY® race

Music from her “Free to Be” album makes the first-round ballot in two categories

BIRMINGHAM (5 October 2019): It was a hot July for soul-jazz flutist Kim Scott, who rocketed like fireworks to the top of the Billboard chart with her first No. 1 single, which has inserted the emerging artist into the GRAMMY conversation. Scott’s solo on “Emerge” (http://bit.ly/354BX9Y) made the first-round ballot for Best Improvised Jazz Solo while the album on which the track appears, “Free to Be,” is garnering consideration in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album category.   

Scott wrote “Emerge” with keyboardist Jonathan Fritzen, a hitmaker who is featured delivering his own shimmering solo. However, it is the flautist’s fanciful flourishes that are meriting consideration from the voting members of The Recording Academy for the 62^nd GRAMMY Awards that take place on January 26, 2020.

After setting the stage to perfection with a Billboard chart-topping single that also went No. 1 on the Groove Jazz Musicchart, Innervision Records dropped “Free to Be,” Scott’s fourth album, in mid-July. She had a hand in writing five of the album’s nine songs, which offer an alluring blend of instrumental pop appeal, jazz spontaneity and funky R&B grooves. Scott’s classically trained flute melodies share the spotlight equitably on a few numbers with prominent guest soloists Fritzen, saxophonist Jazmin Ghent and Pieces of A Dream keyboardist James Lloyd. Guitarist Eric Essix, drummer/percussionist James “PJ” Spraggins and bassist Sean Michael Ray anchor the rhythm section with compelling textures and vibrant harmonies crafted by keyboardist/programmer/producer Kelvin Wooten, keyboardists West Byrd andJaden Scott, alto saxophonist Cameron Ross and instrument programmer Dimitri Turner. The disc’s second single, the bumping “Take It To The Rink,” is presently skating laps around playlists after earning Most Added honors in its debut week at radio.        

In addition to her recording career, Scott hosts the nationally syndicated “Block Party Radio Show,” which added to its growing list of stations with the recent pickup on Alabama Public Radio, an NPR affiliate. The artist infuses her energy and enthusiasm into the weekly broadcast featuring the latest  contemporary jazz, urban and Latin jazz releases.  

The Birmingham, Alabama-based Scott debuted in 2011 with “Crossing Over.” Her records have consistently produced Billboard Top 20 singles. On the concert stage, she’s performed at clubs and marquee festivals, including Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival and Seabreeze Jazz Festival. Scott is also a member of the all-female supergroup Jazz in Pink with whom she has played shows across the US. For more information, please visit http://kimscottmusic.com.

CANADA:Canadian Winners Have Now Been Announced For Unsigned Only 2019

36 Canadian Artists Named Winners In Prestigious US-Based Unsigned Only Music Competition
 
Garth Hudson (The Band), Taj Mahal, Aimee Mann, O.A.R., Sanctus Real, Bow Wow, Boney James, Ruthie Foster, and Robert Smith (The Cure) Among Judges
 
September 4, 2019 - - The Unsigned Only Music Competition is pleased to announce its 2019 winners, including a total of 36 Canadian winners. This year marks the highest number of Canadian winners since the launch of the competition in 2012. Canadian entries garnered a total of 36 wins, including five First Place wins, one Second Place wins, and 30 Honorable Mentions. The winners span many genres, from Pop/Top 40 to Folk/Singer-Songwriter to Blues to R&B/Hip-Hop, and more.
 
“Musically speaking, Canadian artists are some of the best in the world, and this is greatly reflected in the large number of Unsigned Only winners this year,” said UO founders, Candace Avery and Jim Morgan. “We are very proud to celebrate the wealth and diversity of Canada’s musical talent.“
 
Unsigned Only awards an overall Grand Prize, as well as a First Place, Second Place, and Honorable Mentions in each of the 18 categories. Winners were selected from almost 6,000 entries from more than 100 countries worldwide. Unsigned Only gives away a total of $150,000 in cash, merchandise, and services.
 
Over the years Unsigned Only has become an important source for discovering new talent. Since Unsigned Only’s inception in 2012, five Grand Prize winners have been signed to record labels. Winners this year were selected by a prestigious panel of judges comprised of celebrity artists and industry excutives, including: Garth Hudson (The Band); O.A.R., Robert Smith (The Cure); Aimee Mann, Aaron Shust, Taj Mahal; Sanctus Real, Ruthie Foster, Boney James, and many more (see complete list below).
 
The 2019 Grand Prize is awarded to South African, London-based pop artist Anna Wolf for the song “Believer.” Wolf is truly a compelling and rare artist – a hypnotic performer with passion and style, a singer with hauntingly beautiful vocals, and a songwriter with depth and vulnerability. The winning song, “Believer,” is a powerful track, inspired by Wolf’s desire to break the silence about domestic violence and serves as a personal refusal to become the victim of her circumstance. Wolf has had a celebrated career, amassing hit singles, sold-out shows, South African Music Awards nominations, and a legion of dedicated fans.  
 
The complete panel of 2019 judges includes: Aimee Mann; Garth Hudson (The Band); Taj Mahal; Sanctus Real; Bow Wow; Robert Smith (The Cure); The Secret Sisters; Boney James; Gareth Emery; O.A.R.; Janiva Magness; Fred Hersch; Francesca Battistelli; Frank Foster; Aaron Shust; Toots Hibbert (Toots and the Maytals); Ruthie Foster; Tinariwen; Craig Campbell; JD McPherson; Carter Burwell; Zbigniew Preisner; Russ Landau; Josh Jackson (Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief, Paste Magazine); Anthony DeCurtis (Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone); Mac Randall (Editor, JazzTimes); Marcos Juarez (Head of Latin Music, Pandora); David Sikorski (Senior Editor, EARMILK Media INC.); Lyndsey Parker (Managing Editor, Yahoo Music); Kevin McNeese (President, NewReleaseToday); Art Tipaldi (Editor, Blues Music Magazine); Nigel J. Farmer (Editor-In-Chief, Jazz In Europe); John Dibiase (President, Jesus Freak Hideout); David Silbaugh (Talent Buyer, Summerfest); Angel Romero (Founder / Sr. Editor, World Music Central); Brandon Chitwood (Assistant Director, EDM Joy); Enrique Santos (Chairman / Chief Creative Officer, iHeart Latino); Chad Jensen (Artist Manager, Jensen Artist Management); Brinson Strickland (President, Collective Music Nashville); Deborah Klein (JV Partner and Artist Manager, Primary Wave Entertainment); Kristyn Ciani (Talent Buyer, C3 Presents / Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Shaky Knees); Evan Stein (Owner, Experience Music Group); James Kempner (Owner, JMK Connections); Jennifer Taunton (Music Supervisor, Level Two Music); Jessica Cole (Founder / President, Lyric House); and Sheryl Louis (Artist Manager, CSM Management).
 
Unsigned Only is sponsored by Celebrity Access; Eventric; Hybrid Studios; Lurssen Mastering; Merch Cat; Musicians Institute; Musician Wellness; Pro Tour Nutrition; Radio Airplay; Shubb Capos; Symphonic Distribution; The Music Business Registry; and Vocal Eze.
 
Unsigned Only is now accepting entries for the 2020 competition. More information can be found at: https://www.unsignedonly.com.
 
To hear the winning songs, download low-res photos, and view the complete list of winners, go to: https://www.unsignedonly.com/winners
 
For high-res photos, please contact Candace Avery at press@unsignedonly.com
 
The complete list of Canadian winners includes:
 
First Place

Adrian Chalifour (Victoria, BC, Canada – “Head Down Heart Up” – AAA (Adult Album Alternative)
Carolyn Hao (Toronto, ON, Canada) – “Losing Count” – Teen
Layla Zoe (Victoria, BC, Canada) – “The Deeper They Bury Me” – Blues
Madison Olds (Kamloops, BC, Canada) – “Thank You” – AC (Adult Contemporary)
Roman Smirnov (Toronto, ON, Canada) – “Kuwaka” – Instrumental
 
Second Place
Big Little Lions (Royston, BC, Canada) – “Find Your Tribe” – Screen Shot
 
Honorable Mention
Beamer Wigley (Kelowna, BC, Canada) – “I Knew” – Teen
Brant Pethick (Ottawa, ON, Canada) – “Higher” – Christian
Dale Boyle (Montreal, QC, Canada) – “Ghosts” – Americana
Danielle Todd (Guelph, ON, Canada) – “Crazy” – Country
David Blair (Vancouver, BC, Canada) – “Why” – Vocal Performance
Denielle Bassels (Toronto, ON, Canada) “Cool Cool Water” – Jazz
DSTNY (Toronto, ON, Canada) – “Lies” – “R&B/Hip-Hop
Dylan Holton (Ottawa, ON, Canada) – “I Used To” – Country
Emma Cook (Toronto, ON, Canada) – “Say It Loud” – Folk/Singer-Songwriter
Francois Klark (Toronto, ON, Canada) – “Run” – Pop/Top 40
Goodnight, Sunrise (Toronto, ON, Canada) – “WVV” – Screen Shot
James Alphonse (Dundas, ON, Canada) – “I’ll Be Your Wall” – Pop/Top 40
Jesse Slack (Peterborough, ON, Canada) – “Lip Sync” – Country
JoJo Worthington (Waterloo, ON, Canada) – “Stabilize” – Screen Shot
Kat Beck (North Vancouver, BC, Canada) – “Hooked On Your Love” – Teen
Kyle Meagher (Ottawa, ON, Canada) – “Nowhere” – Teen
Layla Zoe (Victoria, BC, Canada) – “I'll Be Reborn Blues” – Vocal Performance
Madison Olds (Kamloops, BC, Canada) – “Moments In The Mountains” – Screen Shot
Madison Olds (Kamloops, BC, Canada) – “Thank You” – Vocal Performance
Mikalyn Hay (Guelph, ON, Canada) – “Nothing But Blood” – Teen
Mike Goudreau (Stanstead, QC, Canada) – “I'm So Glad I Have You” – Americana
No Trombones (Montreal, QC, Canada) – “Walk The Walk” – Blues
Sara Phillips (Montreal, QC, Canada) – “Here's To You” – Folk/Singer-Songwriter
Sofia Kay (Toronto, ON, Canada) – “Tea Shop” – Teen
Spencer Mackenzie (Ridgeway, ON, Canada) – “Devil Under Her Skin” – Blues
Suzi Kory (Toronto, ON, Canada) – “Pretty Little Things” – Country
Tourist Bureau (Thunder Bay, ON, Canada) – “All Will Be” – AAA (Adult Album Alternative)
Wes Mack (Calgary, AB, Canada) – “Best Hangover” – Country
West Of Here (Edmonton, AB, Canada) – “Reach For The Sky” – Christian
X. ARI (Toronto, ON, Canada) – “Stay V Go” – Pop/Top 40

USA: #jazz #guitar The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Competition

Herbie Hancock Institute International Jazz Guitar Competition  To Take Place December 2-3 in Washington, D.C. Applications Due By October 11, 2019

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The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Competition will be presented on December 2-3 in Washington, D.C. Open to musicians age 30 and under from across the globe, this year’s competition will shine a spotlight on the guitar. For over three decades, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Competition played a pivotal role in identifying and empowering the next generation of jazz musicians, educators, and influencers. Building upon this important legacy, the newly minted Hancock Institute Competition represents a changing of the guard for one of the jazz world’s most renowned institutions. The Semifinals of the 2019 Guitar Competition will be held on Monday, December 2nd, from noon to 5:00 p.m. at the Smithsonian Institution. The semifinalists will compete before an all-star panel of judges including jazz guitarists Stanley Jordan, Russell Malone, Pat Metheny, Chico Pinheiro, Lee Ritenour and John Scofield. Each semifinalist will perform for 15 minutes accompanied by a professional rhythm section. From this group, the judges will select three finalists who will perform in the final round at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday evening, December 3rd. At stake is more than $150,000 in scholarships and prizes, including a $30,000 first place scholarship and guaranteed recording contract with Concord Music Group; a $15,000 second place scholarship; and a $10,000 third place scholarship. According to Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock, whose career epitomizes the ideals of the jazz tradition and innovation, “We look forward to discovering and hearing from the next generation of young jazz guitarists, with their innovative styles and unique approach to the music. We are particularly excited to pay homage to the guitar, which has a rich and colorful history that continues to play a pivotal role in the development of jazz. I have no doubt that this year’s Competition will show that the future of this instrument, and of our music, is in good hands.” The application for the 2019 Guitar Competition can be found athancockinstitute.org. All materials must be submitted no later than Friday, October 11, 2019. Please submit any questions to Leonard Brown or by phone at +1 (202) 364-7272.

USA; Judges For ISC 2019 Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Candace Avery
International Songwriting Competition
615.251.4441
press@songwritingcompetition.com
www.songwritingcompetition.com


 

COLDPLAY, DUA LIPA, KEVIN GATES, TOM WAITS, CAM, FLEET FOXES, TANYA TUCKER AMONG JUDGES FOR 2019 INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION (ISC)

Judges Also Include Music Industry Icons Sylvia Rhone (Chairman/CEO, Epic Records), Avery Lipman (Founder/President, Republic Records), And More

July 2, 2019 – Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Fleet Foxes, Tom Waits, Cam, American Authors, Irma Thomas, Tanya Tucker, Camila, and many more high-profile recording artists have been slated to join the panel of judges for the 2019 International Songwriting Competition. Additionally, record label heavyweights from Republic, Capitol, Warner Records, Epic, Glassnote, Parlophone, Elektra, and more are also part of the judging panel that will be tasked with listening to and selecting the winners in the competition. In 2018, ISC received almost 19,000 entries from more than 140 countries worldwide.

ISC, established in 2002, is designed to nurture the musical talent of songwriters of all levels and promote excellence in the art of songwriting. It is open to both professional and amateur songwriters and artists in 23 genre categories. The competition gives away more than $150,000 in cash and merchandise split among 71 winners, with the Grand Prize comprised of $25,000 in cash plus additional prizes. Past winners have included Vance Joy, Illenium, R.LUM.R., Gotye, Bastille, The Band Perry, Kehlani, Kimbra, and Lindsey Stirling, among others.

“We are extremely honored and appreciative to have so many renowned artists and industry executives included as judges this year," said Candace Avery, the competition's Founder and Director. “The participation of these judges is what sets ISC apart from other music competitions and is what makes ISC so special.”

The list of 2019 judges includes:

Recording Artists:
Coldplay; Dua Lipa; Tom Waits; Fleet Foxes; American Authors; The Script; Nancy Wilson (Heart); Tanya Tucker; Kevin Gates; Cam; Kristian Bush (Sugarland); Sara Evans; Bastille; Keane; Gloria Trevi; Walker Hayes; Jeremih; Sidewalk Prophets; Lukas Nelson; Danilo Perez; James McNally (Afro Celt Sound System); Krewella; Kari Jobe; Rakim (Eric B. & Rakim); Camila; Peter Erskine; Matthew West; Robert Randolph (Robert Randolph & The Family Band); DJ Shadow; Nervo; Easton Corbin; Mandolin Orange; Amadou & Miriam; Kaskade; John Mayall; Ted Nash; Joe Louis Walker; Gordon Goodwin; Nicholas Gunn; Ashwin Batish; Lonnie Liston Smith; Walter Trout; Micah Tyler; Aparna Nancheris; Jimmy Pardo; John Tibbs; and more to be announced.

Industry Executives:
Avery Lipman (Founder/President, Republic Records); Sylvia Rhone (Chairman/CEO, Epic Records); Daniel Glass (President, Glassnote Records); Jo Charrington (Co-President, Capitol Music Group UK); Nick Burgess (Co-President, Parlophone Records); Mark Mitchell (Co-President, Parlophone Records); Mike Easterlin (Co-President, Elektra Music Group); John Burk (President, Concord Label Group); Ed Vetri (President, Wind-Up Records); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Kate Craig (VP of A&R, Warner Records); Nate Albert (EVP of A&R, Capitol Records); Jacob Edgar (Founder, Cumbancha); Josh Bailey (Senior VP of A&R, Word Entertainment); Gordon Kerr (CEO, Black River Entertainment); Richard Stumpf (CEO, Atlas Publishing); Kim Buie (VP of A&R, New West Records); AJ Tobey (Head of A&R, Rough Trade Publishing); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Julie Kertes (Editor/Manager, Hot Diggity Media); Carletta Higginson (Global Head of Music Publishing, YouTube); Laura Margolin (Publishing, Glassnote Records); Leib Ostrow (Founder/CEO, Music For Little People); Katherine Dines (Co-President, The Children’s Music Network); Claire S. Green (President, Parent’s Choice Foundation); Benjamin Groff (Founder, The Brill Building); Golnar Khosrowshahi (President, Reservoir Media Management); Tamara Conniff (EVP, Roc Nation); Carl Caprioglio (Founder/CEO, Oglio Entertainment); and more to be announced.

ISC is sponsored by Celebrity Access, Eventric, Lurssen Mastering, Merch Cat, Musicians Institute, PreSonus, SongU, Sweetwater, and TuneCore.

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For more information about ISC, please email Candace Avery at press@songwritingcompetition.com or call 615-251-4441.

USA: 2018 INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION (ISC) JUDGES ANNOUNCED

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Candace Avery

International Songwriting Competition

615.251.4441

press@songwritingcompetition.com

www.songwritingcompetition.com

2018 INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION (ISC) JUDGES ANNOUNCED

Judges Include: Adam Lambert, Tom Waits, The Script, Marc Anthony, Ne-Yo, Hardwell, Portugal. The Man, Kane Brown, 21 Savage, Kristian Bush (Sugarland), and More

June 18 , 2018 – The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is pleased to announce its panel of judges for the 2018 competition. Established in 2002, ISC is the world's largest songwriting competition and is open to both professional and amateur songwriters, signed and unsigned. A total of 71 winners in 23 categories share in over $150,000 in cash and prizes, including an overall Grand Prize consisting of $25,000 (US) cash, and much more.

ISC offers the opportunity for songwriters to be heard by an elite panel of recording artists and music executives. The panel is comprised of high-profile recording artists and Presidents, CEOs, and A&R executives from many top record labels and publishing companies.

Over the years, ISC has helped to propel many artists to achieve greater success, including getting record and publishing deals, licensing agreements, gigs, and much more. Past winners have included: Illenium; Vance Joy; Bastille; Gotye; Lindsey Stirling; Kimbra; The Band Perry; Kehlani; Passenger; Gin Wigmore; Missy Higgins; and many more.

“There are a lot of songwriting competitions in the world, but only ISC has judges of such prestige and influence,” said Candace Avery, Founder and Director of ISC. “Although many of our judges participate year after year, we have a lot of new judges this year, bringing fresh ears to the process. We are grateful for the perspectives and opinions they bring to the process of selecting the winners.”

The list of 2018 judges includes:

Recording Artists:

Adam Lambert; Marc Anthony; Porugal.The Man; The Script; Tom Waits; Ne-Yo; American Authors; Kane Brown; Hardwell; Nancy Wilson (Heart); Nicky Jam; 21 Savage; Rodney Crowell; Booker T. Jones; The Mavericks; Sara Evans; Bastille; Kristian Bush (Sugarland); Rakim (Eric B. & Rakim); Walker Hayes; Chris Lane; Keane; Omarion; Danilo Perez; Nervo; Jeremih; Peter Erskine; James McNally (Afro Celt Sound System); Nero; Sidewalk Prophets; Kenny Garrett; Russ; Krewella; Matt Nathanson; Amadou & Miriam; Kaskade; Sara Watkins; Ted Nash; John Mayall; Art Alexakis (Everclear); Joe Louis Walker; Nicholas Gunn; Vassy; Kim Walker-Smith (Jesus Culture); Ashwin Batish; Lonnie Liston Smith; Walter Trout; Tony Joe White; Micah Tyler; John Tibbs; Gordon Goodwin; and more to be announced.

Industry Executives:

Gregg Nadel (President, Elektra Records); Seymour Stein (Chairman/CEO, Sire Records); Jo Charrington (Co-President, Capitol Music Group UK); Daniel Glass (President, Glassnote Records); John Esposito (Chairman/CEO, Warner Music Nashville); John Burk (President, Concord Label Group); Tom “Grover” Biery (Executive VP, Recorded Music BMG); Ed Vetri (President, Wind-Up Records); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Steve Yegelwel (Sr. VP, Island Records); Mark Mitchell (Co-President, Parlophone Records); Ben Blackwell (Co-Founder, Third Man Records); Nate Albert (Executive VP of A&R, Capitol Records); Jacob Edgar (Founder, Cumbancha); Aaron Bay-Schuck (President of A&R, Interscope Records); Dan Fraser (President, Nettwerk Music Group); Mike Easterlin (President Fueled By Ramen / Roadrunner Records); Craig Balsam (Co-Owner, Razor & Tie, Washington Square, and Kidz Bop); Josh Bailey (Senior VP of A&R, Word Entertainment); Gordon Kerr (CEO, Black River Entertainment); Richard Stumpf (CEO, Atlas Publishing); Kim Buie (VP of A&R, New West Records); AJ Tobey (Head of A&R, Rough Trade Publishing); Cory Robbins (Founder / President, Robbins Entertainment); Angel Carrasco (Latin Music Consultant); Julie Kertes (Editor / Manager, Hot Diggity Media); Laura Margolin (Publishing, Glassnote Records); Leib Ostrow (Founder / CEO, Music For Little People); Katherine Dines (Co-President, The Children’s Music Network); Claire S. Green (President, Parent’s Choice Foundation); Benjamin Groff (Founder, The Brill Building); Sas Metcalfe (President, Global Creative, Kobalt Music); Golnar Khosrowshahi (President, Reservoir Media Management); Tamara Conniff (EVP, Roc Nation); Dara Frank (Head of Comedy Central Records / Viacom); Carl Caprioglio (Founder / CEO, Oglio Entertainment); Elena Epstein (Director, National Parenting Product Awards); and more to be announced.

Entering ISC can be done online or through the mail, and information can be found at https://www.songwritingcompetition.com.

ISC is sponsored by: Berklee College of Music; Celebrity Access; Eventric; Gig Salad; Lurssen Mastering; Merch Cat; Musician Wellness; Musicians Institute; PreSonus; Pro Tour Nutrition; oneRPM; SongU; Sweetwater; Tunedly; and Vocal Eze.    

ITALY: 7 Virtual Jazz Club’s Contest – 3rd Edition

7 Virtual Jazz Club’s Contest – 3^rd Edition

2018 Applications Are Open.

Special Prizes to The Winner of The Under 25 Student Category. Entry Deadline: October 15th

Milan, Italy, May 16^th, 2018

The 7 Virtual Jazz Club continues its worldwide search for emerging and under recognized creative musicians of all ages and backgrounds.

The winner will receive € 2,000 while the best student participant who is under 25 years of age will receive € 700 and a prize offered by Taklit Publishing & Production: an opportunity to meet with Taklit, present a personal project for consideration, and benefit from professional guidance for future career development. Lastly the participant who’s entry tallies he most popular votes by the web community will receive € 500.

How to enroll

To enter the contest, soloists and groups pay a small registration fee and submit a video (maximum seven minutes) of their performance. Entries will be judged by a panel of international jazz experts comprised of some of the most respected journalists, musicians and educators in the field. 

Deadline

October 15th, 2018

«I am honored to be involved with the 7 Virtual Jazz Club’s Global Competition,» says Marcela Breton (Jazz Journalist Association). «a platform for talented musicians from around the world – veterans & newcomers, women & men, young & old – performing on stage, in the studio, in coffeehouses, bookstores, and libraries, expanding the boundaries of jazz, reinvigorating its traditions, and exploring new directions and connections. The videos submitted to the contest by these diverse musicians, and made available over the web to a universal audience, are sophisticated, original, daring, and inventive; they demonstrate the global reach of jazz, and are helping to shape the future of the music in rich and unexpected ways».

Dubi Lenz (Artistic Director “The Red Sea Jazz Festival”) says: «It’s great to be a jury member on this competition - what a great opportunity to listen to musicians you won’t have otherwise a chance to listen to, play them in my radio show, considering inviting them to the Red Sea Winter Jazz Festival».

Hrayr Attarian (All about jazz) says: «…an innovative competition».

About the 7 Virtual Jazz Club

The 7 Virtual Jazz Club is a non-profit all volunteers’ association dedicated to support jazz music in all its forms. The 7 Virtual Jazz Club website hosts the first fully global online jazz competition in history. The contest welcomes musicians of all ages. Musicians may be amateurs, professionals and students under the age of 25. Our aim is to unearth hidden musical talent focusing on the new trends that have emerged in jazz and creative music.

Winners of the 2017 contest

Jury prize to Gilad Hekselman (USA)

Web community prize to Reveries (ITA)

Informations

Valerio Pappi, creator & artistic director

www.7virtualjazzclub.net

contest@7virtualjazzclub.net

info@7virtualjazzclub.net

USA; Winners of the Jazz Journalists Association's 2018 Jazz Awards

2018 JJA Jazz Awards Winners

NEW YORK CITY – Winners of the Jazz Journalists Association's 2018 Jazz Awards, the 22rdannual honors for excellence in music and music journalism conferred by the international professional organization of writers, photographers, broadcasters, videographers and new media content providers, were announced online today. Recipients of Awards in 39 categories were chosen by JJA voting members from 140 nominees, all posted (as are 22 nation-wide 2018 Jazz Heroes) at JJA Jazz Awards. Saxophonist-composer Benny Golson, honored for his Lifetime Achievement in Jazz, and writer researcher-historian Patricia Willard, the first woman to be celebrated for her Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Journalism by the JJA, lead the honorees. Other notable 2018 Jazz Awards winners include drummer Matt Wilson as Musician of the Year and for Record of the Year, Honey and Salt: Music Inspired by the Poetry of Carl Sandburg(Palmetto Records), and Fred Hersch, Pianist of the Year and author of Book of the Year About Jazz for his memoir, Good Things Happen Slowly: A Life In and Out of Jazz(Crown Archetype). Most musicians will receive their engraved statuettes in front of their audiences at U.S. performances during the summer. Awards for media-related work will be presented at the 2018 Jazz Awards party, a fundraiser for the non-profit JJA, open to the public, at the New School's Arnhold Hall, 55 W. 13thSt., from 4 to 7 pm on June 12, 2018. The Leni Stern trio, singer Polly Gibbons and others to be announced will perform. Tickets are on sale now. The 22rdannual JJA Jazz Awards again celebrates the creativity of women in jazz, with soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom, clarinetist Anat Cohen, baritone saxophonist Claire Daly, guitarist Mary Halvorson, flutist Nicole Mitchell, bassist Linda May Han Oh, cellist Tomeka Reid, vocalists Cecile McLorin Salvant and Jazzmeia Horn and orchestra-leading composer-arranger Maria Schneider among the honorees. Jazz Awards also go to trumpeter Tom Harrell, saxophonists Chris Potter and Miguel Zenon, pianist Vijay Iyer, organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, writer Nate Chinen, broadcaster Neil Tesser and photographer Michal Jackson, among others. Please visit the listand distribute the link, https://goo.gl/EwtvU2, but don't cut and paste all the winners' names. Sponsors for the 2018 JJA Jazz Awards include Jazz Foundation of America, Berklee College of Music, New School Jazz, the Joyce and George Wein Foundation, the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, Century Media Partners, the Jazz Education Network, North Coast Brewing Company, the Tucson Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, San Jose Jazz, Montreal Jazz Festivals, Resonance Records, Verve Label Group, Concord Jazz, Blue Note Records, HighNote-Savant Records, Motéma Music, Sunnyside Records, Thirsty Ear Recordings, Jazzheads, SFJazz, the Jazz Institute of Chicago, MCG Jazz, Jazz St. Louis, Jazz Bridge, Collective Eye Productions, Scott Thompson Public Relations, Braithwaite & Katz Communications, Jazz Promo Services and WDCB Radio. For further information about the 2018 Jazz Awards, Jazz Awards party at Arnhold Hall on June 12 or the Jazz Journalists Association, contact Howard Mandel, President@JazzJournalists.orgor Jim Eigo, Jim@JazzPromoServices.com.   Howard Mandel, president@jazzjournalists.org Directors: Andrew Gilbert, Robin Lloyd Carolyn McClair, Jennifer Odell, Don Palmer, Neil Tesser http://www.jjanews.orgmembers@jazzzjournalists.org wwwjjajazzawards.org. JJA c/o Village Postal 151 1st Ave. NYC 10003 212 533 4952

USA: The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) Announces 2017 Jazz Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Candace Avery

International Songwriting Competition

615.251.4441

press@songwritingcompetition.com

www.songwritingcompetition.com

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) Announces 2017 Jazz Winners

Judges Include Billy Cobham, Lonnie Liston-Smith, Danilo Perez, John Burk (President, Concord Label Group), And More

April 19, 2018 -- The International Songwriting Competition (ISC), widely recognized as the most prestigious and respected songwriting competition in the world, is pleased to announce its 2017 winners. Created in 2002, ISC received more than 16,000 entries from almost 140 countries. Total prizes include more than $175,000 in cash and merchandise, including a Grand Prize consisting of $25,000 in cash (USD) and over $35,000 in additional prizes.

The Grand Prize winners this year are Nicholas Miller (better known as Illenium), Annika Wells, Kate Morgan, and Michael Biancaniello for the EDM song “Crawl Outta Love Ft. Annika Wells."

Taking home First Place in the Jazz category is Hiroe Sekine (Kiryushi, Gumma, Japan) for the song “Nippon Barre.” Second Place is awarded to Hayley Lam (New York, NY, USA) for “The Unknown Bell II,” and Third Place goes to Mads Mathias (Copenhagen, Denmark) for “I’m All Ears.”

“The winners reflect a wide range of styles within the jazz idiom, “ says Candace Avery, ISC Founder and Director. “However, the common thread in the winners is the depth of songwriting talent displayed. They are extraordinarily accomplished, and we are proud to honor them and celebrate their artistry.”

ISC winners hail from all over the world (61% of this year’s winners come from outside the USA) and range from talented amateurs to seasoned songwriting veterans. The 23 categories include all genres of contemporary music, from Jazz to EDM to Rock to Pop to R&B/Hip-Hop and more.

For a complete list of ISC 2017 winners and to hear the winning songs, go to: http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners.

The complete panel of 2017 judges includes:

Recording Artists

Lorde; Tom Waits; Ziggy Marley; American Authors; Nancy Wilson (Heart); Martie Maguire (Dixie Chicks); Booker T. Jones; The Mavericks; Sara Evans; Bastille; Keane; Hardwell; Danilo Perez; James McNally (Afro Celt Sound System); Billy Cobham; Gerald Casale (Devo); Natalie Grant; Krewella; Matt Nathanson; Amadou & Miriam; John Tibbs; Kaskade; John Mayall; Joe Louis Walker; Nicholas Gunn; Ashwin Batish; Lonnie Liston Smith; Walter Trout; Trilok Gurtu; Tommy Chong; and Tony Joe White.

Industry Executives:

Gregg Nadel (President, Elektra Records); Seymour Stein (Chairman/CEO, Sire Records); Daniel Glass (President, Glassnote Records); John Esposito (Chairman/CEO, Warner Music Nashville); John Burk (President, Concord Label Group); Ed Vetri (President, Wind-Up Records); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Steve Yegelwel (Sr. VP, Island Records); Nate Albert (Executive VP of A&R, Capitol Records); Jacob Edgar (Founder, Cumbancha); Aaron Bay-Schuck (President of A&R, Interscope Records); Mike Easterlin (President, Fueled By Ramen/Roadrunner Records); Josh Bailey (Senior VP of A&R, Word Entertainment); Gordon Kerr (CEO, Black River Entertainment); Richard Stumpf (CEO, Atlas Publishing); Steve Greenberg (CEO, S-Curve Records); Kim Buie (VP of A&R, New West Records); AJ Tobey (Head of A&R, Rough Trade Publishing); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Angel Carrasco (Latin Music Consultant); Julie Kertes (Editor/Manager, Hot Diggity Media); Laura Margolin (Publishing, Glassnote Records); Leib Ostrow (Founder/CEO, Music For Little People); Katherine Danes (Co-President, The Children’s Music Network); Claire S. Green (President, Parent’s Choice Foundation); Benjamin Groff (Founder, The Brill Building); Sas Metcalfe (President, Global Creative, Kobalt Music); Golnar Khosrowshahi (President, Reservoir Media Management); Carianne Marshall (Partner, Songs Music Publishing); Tamara Conniff (EVP, Roc Nation); Dara Frank (Head of Comedy Central Records/Viacom); Carl Caprioglio (Founder/CEO, Oglio Entertainment); and Elena Epstein (Director, National Parenting Product Awards).

ISC is sponsored by: AKG By Harman; Berklee College of Music; Celebrity Access; D'Addario; Dark Horse Institute; Disc Makers; Eventric; Gig Salad; JBL Professional by Harman; Lurrsen Mastering; Merch Cat; Musician Wellness; Musician’s Institute; ONErpm; PreSonus; SongU.com; Sweetwater Sound; PAWW Premium Sound; and Tunedly.

Entries are now open for the 2018 competition. For more information and to enter, go to https://www.songwritingcompetition.com.

For low-res photos of all winners, go to https://songwritingcompetition.com/winners

For high-res photos, please contact Candace Avery at press@songwritingcompetition.com

Jazz Winners

First Place

“Nippon Barre” – Hiroe Sekine – (Kiryushi, Gumma, Japan)

Hiroe Sekine, an accomplished jazz pianist, vocalist, composer, and arranger, studied at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music and has performed at many venues, including the highly prestigious Jazz Concert Series at Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Her debut album, a-mé (rain), was released in 2010 and was selected one of the best 25 jazz albums of the year by the prestigious “All About Jazz”. Her most recent album, “One World One Sun,” was released by Sony Music Direct in 2017. The New York-based Aquarian Weekly magazine chose this album as the best Worldbeat CD of 2017. More recently, nationwide Japanese FM station J-WAVE adopted Hiroe’s arrangements for their station jingle for use on air.

Second Place

“The Unknown Bell II” – Hayley Lam – New York, NY, USA

Hayley Lam is an award-winning composer who specializes in both contemporary jazz and classical music. She began her studies in music at a very young age, earning her Associate Diploma, ATCL Recital Piano from the Trinity College of London when she was just eleven. She then proceeded to earn her Licentiate Diploma, LTCL Recital Piano and Associate Diploma, ATCL Recital Violin a couple of years later. With a profound interest in contemporary and jazz music, she was awarded a scholarship to further her studies at Berklee College of Music.

With her musicianship compared to as "Stravinsky meets Brookmeyer," she was selected as the Finalist at the Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra (SWOJO) Annual Jazz Composition Contest for Women Composer in 2016. She is also the Global Music Awards (GMA) bronze winner in the Composer and Jazz Big Band category. In 2017, her piano solo work won the Contemporary Piano International Composition Competition held at Athens. She was also selected as the composer showcase winner of the International Jazz Conference JEN at New Orleans. Her other accomplishments include 2018 The American Prize in Composition, 2018 KMEA Composition Competition Winner, 2018 Semi finalist of Maurice Ravel Composition Competition, and many more. 

Third Place

“I’m All Ears”– Mads Mathias – Vancouver, BC, Canada

Mads Mathias is a singer, saxophonist, and composer who was brought up partly in Tanzania and partly in Denmark in a home with 46 musical instruments that he explored from an early age. He began concentrating on playing the piano at the age of seven and saxophone from the age of 11. He played his first gigs as a saxophonist and singer at the age of 14. He later attended the Music Conservatory in Copenhagen, from which he graduated. Since then, he has toured with different bands, among them his own band, Six City Stompers. His album, Free Falling, won him a Danish Music Award for Best New Danish Jazz Artist of the Year.

Honorable Mention

 “Africa Suite” - Andy Atwill, Greg Heath (Andy Atwill) - Gisborne, GI, New Zealand

 “Algebra Of Chaos” - Martino Vercesi - Milan, MI, Italy

 “Biorhythm” - Towa Kitagawa - Yokohama, Japan

 “Harlem Hoedown” - Jason Yeager (Jason Yeager And Jason Anick) - Framingham, MA, USA

 “J-HO, From The Block” - Adam Waldmann (Kairos 4Tet) - London, England

 “Mobius” - Pete Levin - Boston, MA, USA

 “Moon Longing Sun” - EIshin Nose - Otaru, Japan

 “Probing Steps” - Thomas Winther Andersen (Winther-Storm) - Amsterdam, Netherlands

 “Sanctuary City” - Cat Toren (Cat Toren's HUMAN KIND) - Vancouver, BC, Canada

 “Schizma” - Slawek Dudar (Slawek Dudar Quartet) – Poland

 “Step Right Up!” - David Laborier – Luxembourg

 “The Great Journey” - Jonathan Saraga - New York, NY, USA

 “Waterfall” - Mamiko Watanabe - Fukuoka, Japan

  “Word Games” - Bruce Gertz (Bruce Gertz Group) - Melrose, MA, USA