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Talents

Since its early days, the Festival has invited international emerging musicians to perform on its free stages. The MJAF Nights reflect our philosophy of jazz as a constantly evolving and enriching style with a variety of influences. This programme is in line with the Talent Awards by promoting groups that are representative of today’s jazz and the plural forms it takes and that we claim. Our programming committee associated to a committee composed of artists select groups on the basis of various criteria (musical mastery, quality of the pieces, originality). They are then invited to perform during the Montreux Jazz Festival. In addition to the important springboard that a performance at the MJF represents, the musicians benefit from meetings with music industry professionals in order to obtain advice and constructive feedback. We also give them a professional video of their performance, with 3 songs of their choice. In this way, all artists are supported equally and leave with a useful promotional tool to find new engagements.

MJAF NIGHTS 2022

During the MJAF Nights, we introduced the public to promising musicians who represent the different variations of rhythm’n’blues and jazz today. Ten artists shortlisted by our programming committee were submitted to the artistic committee, consisting of Terri-Lyne Carrington, Michael League and José James. Together they selected six artists who were invited to perform during the first weekend of the Festival. We presented the musical universe of Sam DotiaThe KTNALDNFKRon MinisShunaji and Summer Pearl.

In addition, we have  presented artists whose careers have continued to evolve since their first performance in Montreux and established musicians artists who highlight the wide spectrum of current jazz.

We also presented Louise Matute Large Ensemble and Inude, artists whose careers have gone from strength to strength since they first performed in Montreux, some of whom have gone on to become established musicians such as Soweto Kinch Trio and Tigran Hamasyan, highlighting the broad spectrum of jazz today.

TALENT AWARDS 2021

While the pandemic still prevented many artists from traveling in July 2021, we chose to invite less artists to participate in the Talent Awards program. Nevertheless, we kept an international representation of the emerging music scene. Therefore, 8 bands or solo artists performed during the Montreux Jazz Festival. The public could discover the musical universe of: Mimon (CF/ DE/ AU) 03.07, Klein (LU) 04.07, Meskerem Mees (BE) 08.07, Linda Vogel (CH) 09.07, Beharie (NO) 10.07, Cosma Joy (UK) 15.07, Emile Londonien (FR) 16.07 and May the Muse (DE/ US) 17.07.

The Laureate

MONTREUX JAZZ TALENT AWARDS 2021

Meskerem_Mees

Meskerem Mees

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TALENT AWARDS 2019

In 2019, the 16 bands or solo artists selected to perform during the Talent Awards were the following ones:

Madison McFerrin , Afra Kane, Gjon’s Tears, Festen, Giulia Dabalà, Notilus, Brekky Boy, Trio Mezcal, Run Logan Run, Robocobra 4tet, Baris Demirel – Baristik Mi, Gwen et Tiana, Ariwo, Atna, Arthur Hnatek, Luciano Supervielle.

The members of the Talent Awards have been evaluated by an artistic committee bringing together  Carl Craig, Chilly Gonzales, Stanley Clark et Chucho Valdès.

The laureates

montreux jazz talent awards 2019

Afra Kane
solo

Afra Kane

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Run Logan Run
band

Run Logan Run

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TALENT AWARDS 2018

In 2018, the 16 bands or artists solo selected to perform during the Talent Awards were the following ones:

MTMBO, Koqa Beatbox, Building Intrument, Julie Campiche, Islandman, Vels Trio, Noiserv, Emma-Jean Thackray, Nik West, Opal Ocean, Ork, Jalen N’Gonda, MercuryCarter, Jean-Michel Blais, Luciano Supervielle, HØJDE.

The members of the Talent Awards have been evaluated by an artistic committee bringing together Aloe Blacc, Richard Bona, Derrick Hodge and Bugge Wesseltoft.

The laureates

Montreux jazz talent awards 2018

Højde
parmigiani montreux jazz solo keys awards

Højde

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Islandman
shure montreux jazz band awards

Islandman

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MONTREUX JAZZ COMPETITIONS

For more than 15 years, three competitions have taken place during the Montreux Jazz Festival: the Solo Piano Competition, the Voice Competition and the Guitar Competition.

Established one year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, their main aim was to encourage talented artists from Eastern Europe to participate and to reveal them in Montreux.

Quickly recognized in the music world, the competitions have always aroused great interest among young musicians whose applications came from all over the world. Every year, talents from various cultural backgrounds, many of them attending top music schools, came to Montreux to take advantage of this internationally renowned springboard.

After observing a paradigm shift in the music industry, we redefined the profile of the selected musicians and the format of the competitions to better fit with the rules of the music business.

The three Montreux Jazz Festival Competitions have revealed many talents. Several of them have been invited to take part in prestigious projects :

  • Pedro Martins (Brazil), winner of the 2015 Guitar Competition. He was chosen by the president of the jury Kurt Rosenwinkel. Following their meeting, the American guitarist and composer produced his album Vox.
  • Tigran Hamasyan (Armenia), winner of the 2003 Solo Piano Competition. He is making an international career. He was chosen by the Armenian government to be the official composer and conductor of the Yerevan State Choir during a world tour commemorating the genocide (2015). The prestigious ECM label recorded this project and broadcast it (2014).
  • Leandro Pellegrino  (Brazil), winner of the 2013 Guitar Competition. He was chosen to record Dianne Reaves’ album, Beautiful Life, alongside Terri Lyne Carrington, Gregory Porter and Richard Bona. This album received a Grammy in the category “Best jazz vocal album” in 2014.
  • Piotr Orzechowski (Poland), winner of the 2011 Solo Piano Competition. He plays classical repertoire with the Polish National Radio Orchestra. He also collaborates in contemporary music with Philip Glass and Steve Reich and plays alongside jazzmen such as Randy Brecker and Avishai Cohen.
  • Isfar Sarabski (Azerbaijan), winner (1st prize ex aequo) of the 2009 Solo Piano Competition. He is a member of Dhaffer Youssef’s group. He also plays in a trio that bears his name.
  • Beka Gochiashvili (Georgia), winner (1st prize ex aequo) of 2009 Solo Piano Competition. He is part of Stanley Clarke’s band.
  • Diego Figueiredo (Brazil), winner of the 2007 Guitar Competition. He was George Benson’s favorite, president of the jury. Benson said: “Diego Figueiredo is one of the greatest guitarists I’ve seen in my whole life. The world needs to listen to his music.”
  • Alfredo Rodriguez (Cuba), Solo Piano Competition 2006, is one of the musicians whose career is managed by Quincy Jones.
Pedro Martins – 2015

2017

PARMiGIANI MONTREUX JAZZ PIANO SOLO COMPETITION

2017

SHURE MONTREUX JAZZ VOICE COMPETITION 2017

2017

SOCAR MONTREUX JAZZ ELECTRIC GUITAR COMPETITION

2016

PARMIGIANI MONTREUX JAZZ PIANO SOLO COMPETITION

2016

SHURE MONTREUX JAZZ VOICE COMPETITION

2016

SOCAR MONTREUX JAZZ ELECTRIC GUITAR COMPETITION

2015

PARMIGIANI MONTREUX JAZZ PIANO SOLO COMPETITION

2015

SHURE MONTREUX JAZZ VOICE COMPETITION

2015

SOCAR MONTREUX JAZZ ELECTRIC GUITAR COMPETITION

2014

PARMIGIANI MONTREUX JAZZ PIANO SOLO COMPETITION

2014

SHURE MONTREUX JAZZ VOICE COMPETITION

2014

SOCAR MONTREUX JAZZ ELECTRIC GUITAR COMPETITION

2013

PARMIGIANI MONTREUX JAZZ PIANO SOLO COMPETITION

2013

SHURE MONTREUX JAZZ VOICE COMPETITION

2013

SOCAR MONTREUX JAZZ ELECTRIC GUITAR COMPETITION

2012

PARMIGIANI MONTREUX JAZZ PIANO SOLO COMPETITION

2012

SHURE MONTREUX JAZZ VOICE COMPETITION

2011

PARMIGIANI MONTREUX JAZZ PIANO SOLO COMPETITION

2011

SHURE MONTREUX JAZZ VOICE COMPETITION

2010

MONTREUX JAZZ PIANO SOLO COMPETITION 2010

2010

SHURE MONTREUX JAZZ VOICE COMPETITION 2010

2009

SOLO PIANO COMPETITION

2009

GUITAR COMPETITION

2009

VOICE COMPETITION