Sunday, April 06, 2008

31st ANNUAL ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FUTURE OF JAZZ COMPETITION VII WINNERS

The City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs announced today the six winners of the Future of Jazz Competition VII. The Future of Jazz Competition was created in 2004 by Tammy Allen along with the Office of Cultural Affairs, to showcase Atlanta’s emerging jazz talents and provide them with an opportunity to perform their original compositions at the Atlanta Jazz Festival. “Jazz is a true American art form,” asserts Office of Cultural Affairs Director, Camille Russell- Love, “The Future of Jazz competition provides insight into where future generations will take this genre."

Partnering with Atlanta Party Starters and SmoothAtlanta.com, this year’s competition spanned six weeks beginning January 29th at Sambuca Jazz CafĂ© in Buckhead and ending March 4th at Star Jazz and Blues in the Castleberry Hills District. Jazz enthusiasts were able to enjoy fine dining and great ambiance while listening to live music from future jazz greats. Each night three bands battled it out for the ultimate prize; performing on stage at the 31st Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival in front of thousands upon thousands of avid jazz lovers. “There was an incredible amount of talent in this year’s competition,” says competition founder Tammy Allen, “it’s always a bummer when you have to choose a winner - they’re all good.” Six winners were selected by a panel of industry and celebrity judges and were chosen from six jazz sub-categories. Each of the winners will receive a $500 prize from the Atlanta Jazz Festival and will play in the festival’s 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. time slots each day.

The six winners of the Future of Jazz Competition are as follows:
January 29th: Contemporary Jazz Instrumental - ZON 3
February 5th: Contemporary Vocal Jazz - Heather Johnson
February 12th: Nu Jazz – Bradford
February 19th: Straight Ahead Instrumental - Mace Hibbard
February 26th: Fusion Jazz - Genetic Drift
March 4th: Straight Ahead Vocal - Kemba Cofield

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