New York, NY, October 20, 2008: The ASCAP Foundation will present the third edition of
JaZzcap at The Cutting Room (19 W.24 Street, between Broadway and 6 th Ave.) in Manhattan on Monday, October 27, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. The series is designed to showcase the work of young jazz creators whose vision and daring inspire the future.
Noted bassist and songwriter
Jay Leonhart will host the event, featuring three recipients of the 2008 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards: alto saxophonist/composer
Patrick Cornelius, pianist/composer
Roy Assaf, and trombonist/composer/arranger
Omar Thomas & The Sound/Silence Small Ensemble. The cover charge is $10. Space is limited. For further information, please contact
jazz@ascap.com.
This program is made possible by a grant to The ASCAP Foundation from the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation. The ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composers are in their third year of sponsorship by
Gibson Foundation, the philanthropic arm of musical giant
Gibson Guitar Corp.
The Gibson Foundation supports The ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards in fulfillment of its commitment to educational excellence through music and the arts.
Bios of the featured composer/performers are included below.
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| Patrick Cornelius |
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Patrick Cornelius
New York-based alto saxophonist Patrick Cornelius is the son of a US Air Force officer and was raised in such diverse locales as Germany, Georgia, Texas, and Great Britain. Patrick began studying the piano at the age of 5, moving to the saxophone as a teen. He started performing around San Antonio during high school, later attending Berklee College of Music as an undergraduate and Manhattan School of Music for graduate work. Patrick's performing experience includes established venues such as The London Jazz Festival, The Monterey Jazz Festival, Jazz at the Lincoln Center, Ronie Scott's and The Kennedy Center, as well as popular New York jazz clubs, including The Jazz Gallery, Fat Cat, Cachaca, and Smalls. Patrick has been recognized by The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, and was also honored with the Billboard Endowed Award. Cornelius has garnered ASCAP Young Jazz Composer awards in 2005, 2006, and 2007. His solo recording debut is titled
Lucid Dream . Patrick's 2008 performance schedule includes a 37-date tour of the UK and Europe with his band The TransAtlantic Collective.
www.patrickcornelius.com
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| Roy Assaf |
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The Roy Assaf Quartet
Recently, pianist Roy Assaf was invited to play with The Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band and share the stage with such jazz legends as Jimmy Heath, James Moody, Slide Hampton, Roy Hargrove, Antonio Hart and many more, on a nine nation European tour. They also performed in Canada, Puerto Rico, and at the famed Blue Note in New York City. In the past two years, Assaf has also performed with George Garzone, Claudio Roditi, Steve Davis, T.S. Monk, John Lee, Dave Samuels and Giovanni Hidalgo, ampng others. His honors include the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute Award, the 30th Downbeat Student Music Award, the America-Israel Cultural Foundation Prize, first place in the International Red Sea Jazz Festival's Jazz Groups Competition, second place in the Charlie Palmieri Memorial piano Competition, and The 2008 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award. Assaf is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has studied with Danilo Perez, Joe Lovano, and Joanne Brackeen. In September 2006 Roy entered a Masters program at Manhattan School of Music where he studies individually with Kenny Barron and Jason Moran.
www.royassaf.com
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| Omar Thomas |
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Omar Thomas
Trombonist/composer/arranger Omar Thomas grew up in Newark, Delaware, where he began to study music at eight. While studying at Virginia's James Madison University, Omar wrote his first Big Band composition, which led to his being invited to participate in the first annual Jazz Composers Symposium in 2006. Thomas completed his Bachelors in Music in 2005 and has just received his Masters in Jazz Composition from the New England Conservatory of Music. Among his teachers in arranging and composition are Maria Schneider, Frank Carlberg, Dr. Charles Dotas and Dr. Ken Schaphorst. Thomas's musical pursuits also include writing and arranging for marching band.
www.myspace.com/omarthomasmusic
About The ASCAP Foundation
Founded in 1975, The ASCAP Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to supporting American music creators and encouraging their development through music education and talent development programs. Included in these are songwriting workshops, grants, scholarships, awards, recognition and community outreach programs, and public service projects for senior composers and lyricists. The ASCAP Foundation is supported by contributions from ASCAP members and from music lovers throughout the United States.
www.ascapfoundation.org
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