Jazz and the Queen – Celebrating the Soul of American Music

Frank Fitzpatrick 09/13/2011

I am blessed to attend and participate in countless inspiring musical concerts and events through my life’s work. By far, however, one of my favorites each year is the Thelonious Monk Institute’s Annual Jazz Competition and Gala. Last night, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Monk Institute in the nation’s capitol, in the prestigious Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, with another once-in-a-lifetime musical extravaganza.

In addition to the final round of the competition for best young jazz pianist (won by 22 year old Kris Bowers), the first half of the show included stunning performances by ensembles made up of former students of the Monk Institute’s programs (including Joshua Redman, Ambrose Akinmusire, Jane Monheit, Joey DeFrancesco, Gerald Clayton, Terri Lyne Carrinton, Andre Hayward and Gretchen Parlato), a house-rocking number fronted by a group of students from the Los Angeles high school program–Hip Hop and Bebop (led by DJ Spark and Doug E Fresh) and an intimate duet by institute’s chairman Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter.

Following that the stage was graced by a who’s who list of musical icons, pop stars and jazz legends, delivering with jaw-dropping performances. Notable performers included Wayne Shorter, Kevin Eubanks, Kurt Elling, Thelonious Monk Jr, Kevin Eubanks, Jimmy Heath, Ellis Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Diane Reeves, Ron Carter, John Patitucci, Terrence Blanchard, John Beasley, Chaka Khan, Chirsian McBride, Jennifer Hudson and Herbie Hancock.

The evening, hosted by Billy Dee Williams and Herbie, also included special musical tributes to Dizzy Gilespie and Thelonious Monk himself. I don’t know anywhere else, except in a week long festival, where you might be able to hear performances by so many musical greats, and certainly not on the same musical numbers together.

As if the program described wasn’t enough to inspire and thrill any audience, the evening culminated in a musical tribute honoring the Queen of Soul herself – Aretha Franklin who, following a medley of her work by the superstars listed above, brought the house down with a song by one of her own favorite jazz artists – Jame’s Moody – with a magical rendition of “Moody’s Mood for Love”. Aretha was in great form and herself humbled by the other amazing artists and friends there to pay tribute to her and the great American treasure called Jazz. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell bestowed the Queen of Soul with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz’s Founder’s Award.

Unlike other galas and award shows that bring together collections of superstars, the Monk event had a very unique quality that rang true in the music and energy of all present. All of the artists were there to support the music education for the next generation and preserve a musical form that has been an essential part of their own lives, music diet and artistic development. All stepped onto the stage with the greatest respect for each other and the music, like a loving family reunited, leaving their egos and their need to be the center of attention behind.

They honored instead the musical teachers who paved the path before them and the next generation of young players who they emphasize that we must continue to mentor to carry the tradition forward. The love and music that spontaneously flowed out of that deeper intention, along with the unmatchable talent and the sense of community working in literal harmony, was immediately apparent and highly contagious. The resulting experience transported both me, and the sold-out house at the Kennedy Center, through time, beyond genre and across a sea of emotions ranging from thrill, to awe, to laughter and even to tears.

You didn’t need to be a jazz-lover to appreciate the vision that each of these artists shared: the importance of supporting one of America’s greatest national treasures – Jazz – and the necessity of providing opportunities and music education programs for young people here and around the globe. It is only by investing in music and arts programs for the next generation that we will preserve and enjoy these kinds of experiences and connections in the years ahead. That realization and commitment is also one of the keys for creating and maintaining a true global community on the planet – through the universal language of the soul: Music.