Matt Receives Young Jazz Composer award at ASCAP's "Jazz Wall" event

June 22, 2005

Matt recently submitted one of his original compositions, “The Wild Rose”, to ASCAP’s Young Jazz Composer competition for 2005.  For those of you who don’t know, ASCAP is the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.  It is one of the two largest music societies for musicians and publishers.  The other is BMI.

ASCAP does a lot to encourage young musicians in different genres to compose and perform.  The organization has many competitions each year in every conceivable genre of music, including Jazz, Pop, Latin, R&B, Hip-Hop, Rap, and Classical, to name a few.  The particular competition entered by Matt is for jazz composers age 12-30.  The composer must write a song and submit a recording of the tune.  The tune submitted by Matt had actually been written by him at age 10, but at that time he was not old enough to participate in the competition. 

Matt was notified in December that he was one of the winners of the competition and he received an award check.  He was also invited to NY (Manhattan) to receive an award at The Jazz Wall Event.  This is an annual jazz celebration of the great legends of jazz and the celebration of the young up-and-coming jazz musicians.  The reception, award announcements and induction takes place at the ASCAP New York City offices.  There is a room there (their lunchroom, interesting enough) with a huge wall mural/photograph of legendary jazz musicians.  Overlaid on the mural are the names of legendary jazz musicians, both living and deceased… people such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Thelonius Monk, Quincy Jones, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, the list goes on and on.  These legends have been inducted over the years to have their names inscribed on the ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame.

It was a great experience for both Matt and me.  We had the opportunity to meet and talk with some legends in the jazz world and befriend some fellow up-and-comers…

The first part of the evening honored the Young Jazz Composers.  I think it is very fitting that young jazz composers and musicians are honored at the same event as jazz legends. It is an inspirational and learning experience for jazz youth.

As you could guess, Matt was the only 12-year-old at the event.  There were a few 16-18 year olds there, but most of the award winners were in their twenties.  It was kind of strange seeing Matt in the midst of older and more seasoned jazz musicians, but it made the receipt of his award even more impressive.

Seven music greats were added to the ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame for the 2005, which was hosted by ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman.  There were four posthumous honorees: trumpeter Thad Jones, trombonist Jack Teagarden, violinist Joe Venuti and pianist/composer Mary Lou Williams.  For each honoree, ASCAP showed a video clip of that honoree in performance as well as “in person”, and there was a speech about the honoree.  Seeing the video clips was GREAT!  The films showed why each person deserved to be honored on the wall.  I kept sneaking glances at Matt while the videos were on and he was completely absorbed.  The event was highlighted by the induction of three ASCAP Jazz Living Legends: composer/arranger Neal Hefti, vocalist/pianist Shirley Horn, and guitarist John “Bucky” Pizzarelli.  Neal and Shirley were unable to attend the event; however, Bucky Pizzarelli not only attended, he and his son, Tom, performed a FANTASTIC guitar duet.  I mean it was fantastic!  Matt was entranced and enthralled.

Participating in the event as presenters were Dr. Billy Taylor, James McBride, and Rufus Reid.  In addition, pianist/composer, Matthew Shipp, was presented with a newly-established ASCAP Foundation Jazz “Vanguard Award.”

At the end of the event, Matt was drawn to the piano on the performing stage, as he had been told that it had belonged to the great Harold Arlen.  His eyes were sparkling, and he asked someone at ASCAP if he might play the piano.  He was told, “By all means”!  So he plopped down and played “‘Round Midnight” by Thelonius Monk.  Of course, “Over the Rainbow” might have been more appropriate, but Matt loves playing “‘Round Midnight”, so that’s what he played.  He drew a big crowd of legends and fellow honorees and ASCAP folks.  But for him, it was all about playing the VERY piano on which Harold Arlen composed his many, many fantastic songs.  He still smiles about it when he talks about it.  You can see a beautiful gold plaque on the side of the piano giving information about Harold Arlen and stating that the piano belonged to him.

We would like to thank ASCAP and the judges and everyone who made it possible for Matt to be honored in such a fantastic way… for allowing him the experience of paying tribute to his mentors while meeting some of the jazz musicians who will be his friends when he is older and “playing the circuit”.  These other musicians and composers will be the people he will see at festivals and jazz events for the rest of his life.  This was a wonderful way to meet them and get to know them a little bit.  Hopefully, Matt will continue to make more friendships as he continues to be involved in such events.  We’ve found jazz musicians (at least the older generation) to be some of the nicest, most caring individuals out there.  It’s kind of like a big family.  My hope is that these young individuals we met for the first time will continue this tradition…that they will allow their common love of jazz to transcend differences in age, place of birth, etc. and let them form lifetime bonds.  There was a young man who was 16 (sitting next to Matt) who already showed his colors and befriended Matt right off the bat.  I truly hope he and Matt make the journey to the top together and will hang out together 20 years from now talking and laughing about jazz experiences.