The standout male jazz vocalist of our time -- The New York Times

The Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition is the most prestigious jazz competition in the world.

This year's 25th Anniversary Competition will feature the piano and will be judged by an illustrious panel including Herbie Hancock, Ellis Marsalis, Jason Moran, and Danilo Perez.

As part of this year's Competition, the Institute will present a 25th Anniversary All-Star Gala Benefit Concert to celebrate its enormous impact on jazz over the past quarter century. This concert will honor the Aretha Franklin for her longtime support of the Institute, and features past Competition winners, internationally renowned artists, and young aspiring jazz musicians, including participants in the Institute's public school and college programs.

Music director John Beasley has arranged a special Aretha Franklin medley to be performed by Kurt Elling, Dianne Reeves, Chaka Khan, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Aretha will sing some tunes. Chaka Khan will perform her legendary version of A Night in Tunisia, and there will be an electrifying duet with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter.

There will also be a medley of seven Monk songs performed by previous Monk Institute winners, including Joshua Redman, Gretchen Parlato, Jacky Terrasson, Joey De Francesco, Gerald Clayton, Ben Williams, Shamus Blake, and Jane Monheit.

The rest of the program features Terrence Blanchard, Ron Carter and an incredible house rhythm section with John Pattituci, Christian McBride, Kevin Eubanks, Terri Lyne Carrington and John Beasley.

A stellar cast for this gala anniversary celebration! 

What Is The Beautiful?  

The Claudia Quintet +1 with special guests:

Kurt Elling and Theo Bleckmann

"Soon it will/Be showtime again," recites Kurt Elling at the outset of The Claudia Quintet's sixth CD, What Is The Beautiful?  "Somebody will paint beautiful faces all over the sky."
 
That sentiment, penned by poet/visual artist Kenneth Patchen, captures something of the anticipation of the release of a new Claudia album. 

Bandleader/percussionist John Hollenbeck's evocative, richly luminescent compositions definitely possess the suggestive power to encourage listeners to look heavenward, searching for those faces in the sky.

Most of the material on What Is The Beautiful? was commissioned by the University of Rochester for its 100th birthday celebration of Patchen in 2011. Not particularly conversant with the poet's work, Hollenbeck began a crash course and found himself immediately drawn to the breadth of Patchen's themes.  

Hollenbeck immediately thought of singer Kurt Elling to give voice to these poems -- wholly unaware that Elling is something of a Patchen aficionado. "Kurt is a scholar with this stuff," Hollenbeck says. "He knew Patchen and knew exactly what to do. He's amazing."
 
On his own recordings, Patchen recites his work in a gruff monotone; Elling, on the other hand, inhabits these poems as an actor would a role. On "Showtime," he welcomes listeners with the bold enunciation of a television emcee; he lurches through "Opening the Window" with an intoxicated stagger; and he recounts the menacing absurdities of the surreal "Job" with dueling voices: his own and a blue-collar Chicago accent, transforming the piece into a duet of narrator and character.

What Is The Beautiful? will be released on Cuneiform Records on October 11.  Available now from Wayside Music.

There's also a new book, Kenneth Patchen: A Centennial Selection, from Kelly's Cove Press.

Nothing Can Harm You, Not While I'm Around

She wrote in part: 

It was the first Saturday night after life changed forever Sept. 11. People waiting patiently to enter the theater were unusually quiet as security guards checked and double-checked IDs, even for those who didn't intend to drink. A queer pall of uneasiness hung in the air.

 

Many of the smartly dressed folks waiting to hear Chicago jazz vocalist Kurt Elling sing selections from his new album, "Flirting with Twilight," had had to force themselves out of the house that night, had to take a deep breath, say a few prayers, and put on something festive, even though that was the last thing they were feeling.

 

Once inside, the nightclub glowed warmly with candlelight, a few concertgoers milled by the bar ordering cocktails, while others found seats set up club-style in the intimate venue. But still, that nasty pall was present.

 

Elling took the stage with his five-piece band and played the National Anthem.

 

Everyone stood. Everyone sang. Some people cried.

 

Then there was grace.

 

"I came to sing for you tonight because someone wants us to suffer," Elling told the hushed crowd. "Someone wants us to fail--as a nation, a culture, as a people. We fold? They win. We stay home in fear or depression? They win. Culture must continue. Joy must come out. Life is stronger than death."

 

Then Elling, 33, a Grammy-nominated jazzman and all-around hip cat, quoted from the Hebrew Scriptures. The book of Job: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him."

 

"We are not encircled by darkness. We're surrounded by a circle of light whose center is everywhere, and whose circumference is nowhere. We have beheld this glory; it is full of grace. If we were to ask such a God of grace, what do you think God would say?" Elling asked.

 

His band answered, playing the first few notes of "Not While I'm Around," a Stephen Sondheim tune from the musical "Sweeney Todd."

 

Strange choice? Listen to the words:

 

"Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around. No one's gonna hurt you, no sir, not while I'm around. Demons are prowling everywhere, nowadays. I'll send 'em howling, I don't care. I've got ways.

 

"No one's gonna hurt you, no one's gonna dare. Others can desert you, not to worry--whistle, I'll be there. Demons will charm you with a smile, for a while. But in time, nothing can harm you, not while I'm around."

Grace indeed.