Edition Records and The Royal Academy of Music announce the launch of the “Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize”

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Dave Stapleton of Edition Records has sent us a press release detailing the launch of this prestigious new music award.

PRESS RELEASE:

Edition Records and The Royal Academy of Music are proud to announce the launch of the “Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize”.

In January 2010 a gala concert was held at the Royal Academy of Music to celebrate Kenny Wheeler’s 80th Birthday and raise funds for a prize to be established in his name. The prestigious ?Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize’ will be awarded to a young artist, chosen from all graduating jazz musicians at the Royal Academy of Music, who is able to demonstrate excellence in both performance and composition. UK based record label Edition Records are proud to collaborate with one of the world’s leading jazz departments and each year, will release the debut album of the recipient of this eminent award, showcasing the most exciting jazz talent emerging on to the UK scene.
Kenny Wheeler has been a staunch supporter of new music and an admired figure for generations of young writers and players. This prize, in the same way as the Thelonious Monk Prize in the USA, will provide a career changing opportunity for some of the UK’s finest young musicians. Each year an outstanding young performer will be selected by a panel consisting of Evan Parker, a lifelong collaborator with Wheeler, the Academy’s Head of Jazz Nick Smart, and Edition Records boss Dave Stapleton.
“I have always felt strongly about supporting the next generation of young jazz musicians and it gives me great pleasure to set up this prize in my name. My friends and colleagues at the Academy have been producing such amazing players in recent years that I am sure the winner of the prize will go on to make their mark in the jazz world, and who knows, I might even get to play with them myself!” (Kenny Wheeler, May 2011)
The first recipient of the “Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize” will be announced on the Academy’s graduation day on 30th June 2011, and the first album by this artist will be released in Spring 2012.

More information:
EDITION RECORDS - http://www.editionrecords.com
ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC ? Jazz Department - http://www.ram.ac.uk