May 08 Wednesday
Jazz pianist and composer Helen Sung was among the first graduates of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at the New England Conservatory of Music. Her artistry and inventive compositions have earned her a Guggenheim Fellowship and won Kennedy Center’s Mary Lou Williams Jazz Piano Competition. Her artistry and inventive compositions span the full spectrum of dynamic and soulful jazz.
Shai Maestro, piano – Philip Dizack, trumpet – Jorge Roeder, double bass – Ofri Nehemya, drums
Pianist and composer Shai Maestro, known for his genre-defying performances, seamlessly melds elements of jazz, world music, and contemporary sounds. His imaginative compositions and commitment to sonic exploration have earned high praise and a growing reputation. His unique personal identity and musical fluidity show up in his joyful interplay with his close-knit quartet, who come together in one-of-a-kind, high-energy concerts.
Critical superlatives and audience ovations follow Yuja Wang wherever she performs. The Beijing-born pianist was a 2006 Gilmore Young Artist, and her jaw-dropping technique and passionate playing make her a true piano sensation. Her charismatic artistry, emotional honesty, and captivating stage presence combine for performances like no other. Ms. Wang has performed with the world’s most venerated conductors, musicians and ensembles, and in concert halls throughout the world.
May 09 Thursday
Venezuelan jazz pianist, composer, and Steinway Artist Benito Gonzalez combines a lineage of American jazz tradition with rhythms from around the world. Nominated for two GrammyⓇ Awards and winner of the 2005 Great American Jazz Piano Competition, his sound is recognizable for the powerful rhythm and Afro-Latin patterns he prioritizes across his projects. The New York-based artist grew up playing traditional folk music with his family before being inspired by pianists Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, and Keith Jarrett, whose quartet he later joined. He played with saxophonist Azar Lawrence’s band and joined saxophone legend Pharoah Sanders as his pianist/musical director in 2019.
Paul Cornish, pianoEmma Dayhuff, bass – Jonathan Pinson, drums
Winner of the 2018 American Jazz Piano Competition, Composer-pianist Paul Cornish’s style is a blend of contemporary and jazz with experimental elements. Pianist for the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance, he has performed and worked with artists including Herbie Hancock and John Legend, and on stages throughout the world. An accomplished composer and educator, he is on the faculty at the Stanford Jazz Workshop and strives to inspire freedom and collaboration in his music and community.
2002 Gilmore Artist Piotr Anderszewski is recognized internationally for the intensity and originality of his interpretations of classical works. He will also perform on May 11 with the Kalamazoo Symphony, where he will play and conduct from the keyboard. Perhaps best of all, he will have a conversation with Festival Director Pierre van der Westhuizen after the May 7 screening of his film, My Name is Warsaw, a deeply personal film about the city of his birth.
6:30 pm Concert Preview with Zaide Pixley, PhD, Lecture Hall
Doors @ 7 pmShow @ 7:30 pmAward-winning Michigan singer-songwriter Jen Sygit teams up with Northern Michigan songstress Blake Elliott for an intimate evening of stories and songs. Sygit’s soulful folk and Americana sound blends with Elliott’s retro bluesy-jazz vibe to create a beautiful evening of a dynamic collection of solo and duo tunes.Sometimes traditional, sometimes contemporary, always imbued with raw honesty, Lansing-based Independent Music Award-winning songwriter Jen Sygit wields a rare and powerful talent that seems equally comfortable performing ethereal folk tunes, crooning sultry swing numbers or soulfully belting gritty alt-country ballads. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist who isn’t afraid to test boundaries and cross genres, Jen’s eclectic musical style draws the listener in and holds them captivated. Her poignant lyrics tinged with a delicate melancholy, reveal an oft-overlooked beauty to life’s mundane struggles while offering the occasional glimpse into the plight of a modern-day troubadour.Visit jensygit.com for more!Hailing originally from southeast Michigan, singer-songwriter Blake Elliott has called Northern Michigan’s woods, water, and it’s music scene her home for over a decade. In that time she has crafted her personal recipe for a sweet sound: start with a little folk, throw in some jazz, add a touch of funk, swing it a bit, and finish off with a healthy dose of the blues. Coupled with her trademark vintage look and style, Elliott delivers an eclectic mix of original music that blends the present with the past. While her vocal stylings have been compared to that of Natalie Merchant and Norah Jones, Elliott’s unique voice weaves throughout melodies creating a sound entirely her own.Visit blakeelliottmusic.com
May 10 Friday
Winner of the 2018 American Jazz Piano Competition, Composer-pianist Paul Cornish’s style is a blend of contemporary and jazz with experimental elements. Pianist for the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance, he has performed and worked with artists including Herbie Hancock and John Legend, and on stages throughout the world. An accomplished composer and educator, he is on faculty at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, and strives to inspire freedom and collaboration in his music and community.
Kirill Gerstein brings his signature style to a varied program that includes the U.S. premiere of Matthew Aucoin’s The tracks have vanished, commissioned for him by The Gilmore. The GrammyⓇ-nominated pianist blends the traditions of Russian, American, and Central European schooling combined with a strong background in jazz. To his broad repertoire, both new and old, he brings an unwavering clarity of expression, discerning intelligence, virtuosity, and energy.
1 pm Concert preview with composer Matthew Aucoin, Olmsted Room