JAZZ HANDS
14-year-old pianist wins competition to play at John Lewis Celebration
The African American Performing Arts Center hosted four young musicians in the Inaugural John Lewis Youth Jazz Piano Competition on Wednesday, the winner of which gets to play with jazz trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire at the John Lewis Celebration at the South Broadway Cultural Center tonight.
This annual event to honor Lewis, the world-famous pianist and founder of the Modern Jazz Quartet from Albuquerque, who passed away in 2001, has been taking place since 2014. Those involved with the event have since been extending its reach as part of the John Aaron Lewis Legacy Project.
“One of our criteria is to make sure that we have an educational component and that’s how we bring in the kids today,” said Christina Houston, a cousin of Lewis’ who has been involved with the event for two years.
The competition was open to all middle and high school jazz pianists in Albuquerque and surrounding areas. Around eight young people applied, said Marti Wolf, a consultant to the city of Albuquerque’s Cultural Services Department.
Four finalists ended up performing in Wednesday’s event: Ki Cooley-Winters, 16; Evan Fort, 14; Sky Hatcher, 11; and Rowan McJimsey, 12.
Although nerves were high, the young men seemed excited to be there.
“I like to perform and I’ve been playing piano for a long time,” Rowan said. “I’m more excited (than nervous).”
“I’m a little bit nervous, I guess,” Ki said. “But even if I don’t get it, it’s a good experience.”
Each finalist performed two pieces,
one of which was required to be a Lewis composition. The other was a jazz piece of their choosing.
The parents of the boys looked on with pride as their children took the stage.
“We are very proud of him for being able to do (jazz),” said Parizad Hatcher, Sky’s mother. “It was his choice, so that’s the exciting part.”
The event was judged by three local jazz artists: Jim Ahrend, Calvin Appleberry and John Rangel, who focused on the boys’ improvisational skills and creativity to determine the winner.
Evan was the winner. Evan, who played Lewis’ “Afternoon in Paris” and his own composition “7 to 2,” will have the opportunity to open for jazz trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and his quartet, the main attraction at the event tonight.
“It’s such a good experience, and it would help you so much in your career to be noticed by big-name people,” Evan said.
Going into the future, competition organizers hope the event will grow.
“Next year will be bigger and better,” said Charles W. Lowery II, the secretary of the African American Performing Arts Center Foundation. “We’ve got a lot of support from the community, and we’re ready to rock and roll.”
NEXT YEAR WILL BE BIGGER AND BETTER. WE’VE GOT A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND WE’RE READY TO ROCK AND ROLL. CHARLES W. LOWERY SECRETARY OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOUNDATION