BMI's Esteemed Jazz Composer Workshop To
Showcase New Works At 23rd Annual Concert
$3,000 Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize to writer of best new work - Previous
winners include bassist Rufus Reid and bandleader Darcy J. Argue
The BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, a highly regarded creative
forum for musical exploration and development, will highlight the best new jazz
compositions created during the past year at its 23nd Annual Summer Showcase Concert.
The concert is free to the public, and will be held on Friday, July 1 at Christ
and St. Stephen's Church (120 West 69th Street) at 7:30 p.m. The concert will feature
the BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece modern repertory ensemble made up of
leading New York musicians. Seating is first-come, first-served; doors open at 7:00
PM.
The evening will also feature a competition to choose the winner of the BMI Foundation's
12th annual Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize, which will be given to the writer
of the best new work composed in the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop. This year's judges
include noted jazz authority Dan Morgenstern; composer-arranger and saxophonist
Bill Kirchner; and Grammy-nominated composer-arranger and jazz trombonist Pete McGuinness.
The winning composer will receive the $3,000 Manny Albam Commission, named in memory
of the Workshop's co-founder and longtime musical director, to compose a new piece
for the following year's concert. Nathan Smith, last year's winner, will premiere
his commissioned work at this year's concert.
The BMI Jazz Composers Workshop is led by internationally renowned composer Jim
McNeely and offers a unique collaborative environment for professional jazz musicians
to compose for large jazz (big band) ensembles. McNeely has performed with and written
for Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Joe Henderson and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, among
others; a six-time Grammy Award nominee, The New York Times has called his writing
"exhilarating."
About BMI
BMI's impressive roster of jazz artists includes such legends as Charlie Parker,
Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton and Charles Mingus, as
well as today's jazz stars like Herbie Hancock, Christian McBride, Norah Jones,
Kevin Eubanks, Joshua Redman, Mark Whitfield and Bobby Watson. Broadcast Music,
Inc.® (BMI) is an American performing right organization that represents more than
475,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more
than 6.5 million works.
About the BMI Foundation, Inc.
The BMI Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1985 to support
the creation, performance, and study of music through awards, scholarships, commissions
and grants. Tax-deductible donations to the Foundation come primarily from songwriters,
composers and publishers, BMI employees and members of the public with a special
interest in music. Because both the Foundation staff and the distinguished members
of the Advisory Panel serve without compensation, over 95% of all donations and
income are used for charitable grants.
Jamil Walker/BMI
Robbin Ahrold/BMI
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