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

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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.

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.

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 (1^st 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 (1^st 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.