TS Monk Jazz Competition Finals and Gala Concert

The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, was the site of the 24th Annual TS Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition and Gala Concert. The 3 finalists were Cecile McLorin Salvant from Miami, Florida, Cyrille Aimee from France, and Charenee Wade from Brooklyn, New York. Hosts for the evening were Herbie Hancock, Billy Dee Williams, TS Monk, Jr., and Phylicia Rashad.

The judges were Dianne Reeves, Al Jarreau, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Patti Austin, and Kurt Elling. (Aretha Franklin was unable to attend due to a family emergency.)

The band for the finalists was Rodney Whitaker on bass, Reggie Thomas on piano, and Carl Allen on drums.

After the finalists performed their 2 chosen songs, Vadim Neselovskyi from Odessa, Ukraine, and a graduate of Berklee College of Music, performed, with his trio, his winning composition Grust, which means "sadness" in Russian.

After an intermission, a band took the stage for the gala concert. This stellar group included George Duke on piano, James Genus on bass, Kevin Eubanks on guitar, and Terri Lyne Carrington on drums. Joining the band were Jimmy Heath on sax, Jon Irabagon on sax, Wayne Shorter on sax, Clark Terry on trumpet, Ben Williams on bass, Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Ambrose Akinmusire on trumpet, and Ledisi with vocals.

The judges each performed a song with the band, and in place of the absent Aretha Franklin, we were treated to Gladys Knight.

At the end of the concert, the winners were announced: 3rd - Cyrille Aimee, 2nd - Charenee Wade, and 1st place - Cecile McLorin Salvant.