Guitar Competition Finalists to Perform

Press release
Source: Red Cat Publicity

The Tribeca Performing Arts Center, in partnership with the Thelonious Monk Institute, proudly presents Jazz In Progress-Monk In Motion, featuring in concert, the top three finalists of the prestigious 18th annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. This year the renowned competition was devoted to jazz guitar, and the three finalists, guitarists David Mooney (New Orleans), Miles Okazaki (Seattle), and Lage Lund (Skein, Norway), were singled out from a strong field of ten musicians by the competition's world-class panel of judges (including Bill Frisell, Stanley Jordan, Earl Klugh, Russell Malone, Pat Martino and John Pizzarelli). All of the competing guitarists performed with The Competition band, comprised of saxophonist Chris Potter, drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, bassist James Genus, and pianist Bob James.

Each of the three concerts of the Jazz In Progress-Monk In Motion Series will feature one finalist leading their ensemble, demonstrating the perpetually diverse nature of jazz, and the global eclecticism intrinsic in jazz guitarists. Tickets are $10 General Admission, $5 Students & Seniors. To order tickets and for additional information click on www.tribecapac.org or call the box office at 212 220 1460. The Tribeca Performing Arts Center is located at 199 Chambers Street, #110 SC, New York, NY 10007. Press enquiries should be directed to Jason Byrne at Red Cat Publicity, tel 718 921 1330, email: Redcatpublicity@aol.com.

Jazz In Progress-Monk In Motion Concert Schedule:

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 at 7:00 PM: David Mooney - Davy Mooney, born and raised in New Orleans, began playing the guitar at the age of ten. Following jazz studies with Hank Mackie and Steve Masakowski he attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts where he was mentored by Clyde Kerr Jr. and Kent Jordan. After high school, Mooney attended the University of North Texas, where he studied guitar with Fred Hamilton and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies. While at the University of North Texas, David played in the Grammy-award nominated One O'clock Lab Band, accompanying such brilliant musicians as diverse as Terry Gibbs, Michael and Randy Brecker, Russ Ferrante, the Woody Herman band with Frank Sinatra Jr. and Byron Stripling.

After moving back to New Orleans in the summer of 2001, Mooney began teaching at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and playing with the Hot Club of New Orleans, a wonderful swinging combo inspired by Django Reinhardt and his Quintet of the Hot Club of France. He also got busy performing his own music with the David Mooney Trio and Quartet. Mooney has enjoyed appearances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival annually with trumpeter Clyde Kerr Jr.'s sextet as well as with the Hot Club of New Orleans. David Mooney has independently released two CDs of original music: his debut, 2002's "In This Balance of Time...," "Luckless Pedestrian."

He recently graduated with a Master's Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of New Orleans after spending two years participating in the Louis Armstrong Quintet and enjoying the opportunity to play with a series of great trumpet players, including Nicholas Payton, Mark Braud, Wendell Brunious, Maurice Brown, Randy Brecker, and Jeremy Pelt. Mooney continues to be active as an educator, both privately and as guitar instructor at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, while leading his various ensembles.

Wednesday, December 7, 2005 at 7:00 PM: Miles Okazaki - Miles Okazaki is a guitarist and composer living in New York City. He began studying guitar at the age of six, and is mostly a self-taught musician. Okazaki grew up in Port Townsend, Washington and lived in New Orleans and Boston before moving to New York in 1997, where he picked up work with Stanley Turrentine, Regina Carter, Chuck Israels, Lenny Pickett, and many others. His academic education during this time took place at Harvard University and Manhattan School of Music. Equally at home on classical and electric guitar and a wide range of musical influences, he has studied Brazilian music (with Nelson Faria of Rio de Janeiro), South Indian rhythmic theory (with Ganesh Kumar in New York City), and all styles of guitar (with Rodney Jones, NYC). His most recent recordings include a duet recording with drummer Dan Weiss and two CDs and a DVD with vocalist Jane Monheit. He is currently planning a recording of original music written over the last 5 years. His work as a sideman has taken him across the U.S. and around the globe, with performances in Europe, Canada, Japan and South America. Okazaki is currently working as a featured soloist and accompanist on acoustic and electric guitar in the Jane Monheit group.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005 at 7:00 PM: Lage Lund - Guitarist Lage Lund, is already looking towards a busy future; "winning the prize means a better chance at booking more jobs," said Lund. "I'm currently planning a tour of the country with my band." During his performance in the finals of the Competition, the Brooklyn, NY based guitarist turned in strong performances of Billy Strayhorn's "Isfahan" and Wayne Shorter's "Pinocchio." After the competition, panelist/judge Russell Malone explained, "Some of the players were charismatic and played well enough. Lage wasn't flashy. He was just all music and soul - that's what we all agreed upon. Great tone, great interpreter. One of the things I liked about him was that when he played these melodies he didn't embellish them - he was true to them." Lund began playing guitar at age 13, and remarkably, by the time he was 16, he was performing at local clubs in his native Skein, Norway with his own jazz trio. Lund received a full scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music, where he studied with Bill Pierce, Hal Crook, and noted jazz educator George Garzone. After graduating, Lund made the jazz migration to New York and received a grant from the Fulbright Foundation. He was later accepted into the Juilliard Jazz Studies program, making him the first guitarist in the history of the program. Lage Lund also has been the recipient of the Jimi Hendrix Award and the Max Roach Scholarship. The gifted guitarist has performed and recorded with saxophonist Jaleel Shaw and has led his own group in New York City clubs.

Located on the campus of the Borough of Manhattan Community College (a CUNY school), the mission of Tribeca Performing Arts Center is to provide a professional season of culturally diverse arts programs of high quality for the Metropolitan New York area, the residential communities of Lower Manhattan and the college community in which it is located.

Tribeca PAC maintains two theatres: a 913-seat theatre and a 262-seat theatre. The company offers an extensive 9-month long season of programming that includes jazz concerts, dance, theatre and family performances. The company also offers a year long Artist in Residence program to 8 different artists (4 choreographers and 4 theatre directors/playwrights) and presents their new, original work every Spring in the annual "Work and Show Festival". Tribeca PAC also hosts many critically acclaimed events during the season, including the Tribeca Film Festival in the Spring and Resfest in the Fall. Please contact: John Malatesta, Marketing Director, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, (212) 220-1459

The Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, which showcases a different instrument every year, is the world's most prestigious jazz competition. It has launched the careers of pianists Marcus Roberts and Jacky Terrasson, saxophonist Joshua Redman, vocalist Jane Monheit, and trumpeter Ryan Kisor, among others. This year's Competition was taped for a two-hour documentary that will air on February 26, 2006 on Black Entertainment Television and BET Jazz.

The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz (www.monkinstitute.org) was established in 1986 in memory of the renowned jazz pianist and composer. Its mission is to preserve America's legacy of jazz through performance and education. The Institute offers the world's most promising young musicians college level training by America's jazz masters and presents public school-based jazz education programs for young people around the world. Additionally, the Institute provides scholarships, performance opportunities, and worldwide recognition to gifted young musicians through its many education programs.

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