(upbeat jazz piano music) -
Announcer
This presentation of the American Pianists is made possible through the of REI Real Estate Services, supporting the American and the arts community. More at reirealestate.com. Additional support comes advancing the role of art (big band music) (audience applauds and cheers) Well, good evening everyone, and welcome to the American American Pianists Awards in presented by REI Real Estate Now, we are live here at in downtown Indianapolis, I'm Dee Dee Bridgewater, and I (audience applauding) Thank you so much. I'm so happy to be here. Now this isn't my first time. I was the guest singer Ooh! Eons ago, but this time Kurt who gets to do the singing, and I get to do all the talking! (audience laughing) But it's always good to be in and a part of this terrific of the American Pianists Every four years, America's compete for APA's Cole The award is valued at well over Mm-hm! And, and, and, it includes which is the largest in It's an invitation also to on the Mack Avenue label as well as career assistance for two years through the B public relations through and being named Artist at the University of (audience applauds and cheers) Pretty cool. Okay, tonight we are fortunate the one and only, Kurt with each of the finalists. Kurt is one of the preminent, Preeminent, what was preminent? (audience laughing) I'm a little ahead of myself. I do apologize. Preeminent jazz singers of the I'm getting us off to a really He is called the standout by the "New York Times". He is a Grammy Award winner Please welcome my dear (audience applauds and cheers) (kisses smacking) Well, Kurt. I gotta say that outfit of is pretty preminent as well. (audience laughing) It's a new word. Oh, it's working. I am the disco ball of the I just want you to... (audience applauding and cheers) -
Kurt
It's definitely What is that, darling? -
Kurt
I said it's good. Is it good? I'm a fan! (Dee Dee moans lightly) I gotta text message that very sparkly, and my that sent it was, "Oh, I got (audience laughing) I mean, yeah, you know what I'm But it's all about you It is all about you. I got a text that said, come as a middle-aged white man. (audience laughing and cheering) That's okay. You middle-aged white bald, black woman are going Is that okay with you, Kurt? We're already doing it, my -
Dee Dee
Is that we're doing? That's it, this is what it All right, everybody are you (audience cheering) Okay, here we go, here we go, The first finalist grew He studied in New York and and he continues to live in Keelan Dimick is 27. Please welcome jazz pianist (audience applauds and cheering) (gentle and lively jazz piano) Pack up my care and woe Here I go swinging low Where someone waits for me Sugar's sweet and so is she No one here can ever try Oh, what hard luck Make my bed and light the Try to arrive late tonight Blackbird, fare thee bye It's bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, Fare thee well Fare thee well I tell I'll pack up my cares and woes And spread my wings a spell Sick of city lights that Blackbird, blackbird, (Scats) Here can love I can see pretty clear Everybody gotta story to hear Make up my bed tonight Light the place all right I'm coming home tonight They flying high through Blackbird bye, bye Said here life isn't clean Pretty cold and really pretty So I'm gonna quit the scene To where someone waits for me Sugar's sweet and so is she So pretty blackbird Bye bye Ain't nobody here who I can see pretty clear Everybody here gotta story So I better make my bed up Lighten up my light Blackbird, I'm coming home Pack up my flight and (audience applauding) (audience applauding) Ain't nobody here to love No what hard luck stories Make my bed and light my light And I'll arrive back tonight So blackbird fare thee well And bye bye So blackbird Talking 'bout bye bye Packing up my care and woes Talking 'bout here I go Hey, doo-doo blackbird Bye bye Bye bye (audience applauds and cheers) -
Dee Dee
Ladies and Keelan Dimick! That was Keelan Dimick with and "Bye Bye Blackbird". Dave Meder, our next originally from Tampa, and Julliard, lived in when he accepted a position of Jazz Piano at the Dave is a pianist, composer, and and at the tender age of 28 (audience laughing) Please welcome Dave Meder! (audience applauding) Well, the beautiful that was "Bye Bye Blackbird", and we have an Alec Wilder that is I feel bespoke for the (gentle jazz piano music) Deep is the midnight sea Warm is the fragrant night Sweet are your lips to me As soft as the moon and sand When shall we meet again When the night has left us Will the spell remain The waves invade the shore And though we may kiss no more Night is at our command Moon and sand And the magic of love (audience applauds) Warm is the fragrant night Sweet are your lips to me As soft as the moon and sand Oh, when shall we meet again When the night has left us Will the spell remain The waves invade the shore Though we may kiss no more Night is at our command Moon and sand And the magic of love Moon and sand And the magic of love (audience applauding) Dave Meder! Wow. What a beautiful song. Let's talk about our next He's originally from Columbus, but he now lives in Atlanta. Kenny Banks, Jr. is the son of who are both musicians, Please welcome jazz (audience applauding and cheers) (sighs) Yeah, yeah, (audience laughing) Y'all saw them? (gentle upbeat jazz piano music) Yessir. Georgia Georgia All day through Just an old sweet song Keeps Georgia on my mind Georgia A song of you Comes as sweet and clear As moonlight through the pines Other arms reach out to me Other eyes smile tenderly Still in peaceful dreams I see The road Leading back to you (audience applauding) (people laughing) (people cheering on) (audience laughing) Yessir. (Kenny singing faintly) (audience applauds and cheers) Other arms reach out to me Other eyes smile tenderly Still in peaceful dreams I see The road leading back to you Georgia No peace I find Just an old sweet song Keeps Georgia on my mind And just an old sweet song Keeps Georgia on my mind (audience applauding and Kenny Banks, Jr.! Hello, I'm Joel Harrison, and artistic director of the Thank you for being a part The American Pianists Awards We are so proud to be and so inspired by the who have been a part of our work since our founding in 1979. Tonight we add one more bringing the total to 47. Our process is unique in the Participation is by nomination and winners must be American between the ages of 18 and 30. Those chosen as finalists are in this country. The five jazz pianists are at the top of their game, have already won $20,000 each and very shortly, we will hear the 2019 winner of the and the Cole Porter the $100,000 prize, the largest On behalf of the board of the our fabulous guest artists, Kurt Elling and Dee Dee the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz and most especially, the we are hearing, thank you for for this exciting evening. So we had a great first did we not? (audience applauding) So now we come back for more. This time with the Now the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz is a 17-piece orchestra led by its conductor, Brent (audience applauding) And Mark Buselli who is in the trumpet section. Hey! They have played a role in the so I wanna say thank you to and the members of this Thank you, lady and gentlemen. Ooh (audience laughing) How are you all feeling? (audience cheers) Okay, our fourth finalist, he's originally from and studied in New Billy Test is 30, and this year he's living in Cologne, Germany where he is pianist with the WDR Please welcome Billy Test! (audience applauds and cheers) (gentle jazz music) (more intense, upbeat jazz (audience applauding and (audience applauding and Billy Test! Our last finalist of the Ooh is Emmet Cohen. (audience applauding and Okay, so those of you that went, you know that he's originally He studied there and in New and he continues to live in his performing and touring Emmet is 28 years old. Emmet Cohen! (people lightly laughing) (bright jazz music) (audience applauding) (audience applauding) (audience applauding and (men laughing) Emmet Cohen! Emmet Cohen! Wow. This is just thrilling. What outstanding performances. Congratulations to all of the and this has been (audience applauding) Wow. Well the performances are all and now the jury must to tabulate the scores. (audience applauding) Okay, here we go. Here's the envelope. It's sealed. The winner of the 2019 and the Cole Porter (audience applauding and (upbeat jazz music) -
Announcer
This presentation of the American Pianists is made possible through the of REI Real Estate Services, supporting the American and the arts community. More at reirealestate.com. Additional support comes advancing the world of (people cheering) (light jazz piano music) -
Emmet
Well, I guess we're and it's important to have as just like it's important as a if you wanna culture about the world, to travel to experience different to experience different foods, to have different mentors. The more influences you have, the less like anyone in You want as many teachers and as many points of view as I have gained different from Christian McBride and from and from Jimmy Cobb and from and from Benny Golson. I definitely try to spend as and as many minutes and around the oldest possible jazz who have been closest to the Really just spending time has been my way of soaking all and learning from them, but and preach in my own original Emmet is great. He's very real, so coming in, it was wonderful to watch If a kid didn't wanna like, for take out their instrument and He was like, "Well, I just "to work with you, but "take your saxophone out of its and just really leveled with the in a way that let them know than just them, but at the same how cool music is and inspiring One nugget is to just keep Practice every day. Don't give up practice for He also told me to 'cause you have to know So I'll keep practicing them. Emmet is very kind and He likes to talk with everybody and discuss multiple just the culture and and where he came from as well. My biggest takeaway is that you when you play music, you should behind it and by learning you're able to play better. (uptempo jazz and ragtime piano (audience applauding and
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