Caruso Jazz Trumpet Competition Names Winners	October 25, 2001

Amir El Saffar Mikko Pettinen Amir El Saffar and Mikko Pettinen took first- and second-place honors at the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition, held Oct. 19-20 at the University of Nevada, Reno. The Caruso competition takes place every other year and is sponsored by Herb and Lani Alpert and the Herb Alpert Foundation, with additional funding by the International Trumpet Guild. El Saffar took top honors in the contest, which is open to trumpeters under 30 not currently under artist management. The International Trumpet Guild presented him with a $10,000 check which he took home to New York City. El Saffar studied at DePaul University, where he was principal trumpet and featured soloist in both the DePaul Symphony and Wind Ensemble and the DePaul Jazz Ensemble I. He was named Outstanding Soloist (college division) by Downbeat magazine, and took first place in the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Competition. Second-place Pettinen received a $5,000 check. He studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where he focused on both classical and jazz trumpet. Since 1998, he has toured internationally as a member of the "Umo Jazz Orchestra," a Finnish big band, with whom he has recorded five albums. The former president of the International Trumpet Guild, Jim Olcott, remained on hand to soak up the music. "This is a great way to promote the best there is," he said. "It will give [the contestants] the impetus to inspire the next generation of trumpeters." The four finalists, El Saffar, Pettinen, Matt Shulman, and Nathan Botts, performed half-hour sets, which included an original song by local bass virtuoso Hans Halt entitled Last Light which the contestants learned only one day before the performance. Trumpeters Tim Hagans, Ingrid Jensen, and Brian Lynch judged the competition. The finalists received rhythm accompaniment from drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, as well as pianist Randy Porter and bassist Halt. Shulman, a New Yorker who displayed his experimental interests in electronic effects and multi-phonics, began his set with an up-tempo Thelonius Monk composition. Pettinen's set included a Herbie Hancock number and finished with his take on People Make the World Go Round, a song originally recorded by soul vocalists The Stylistics. Nathan Botts Matt Shulman El Saffar played an energetic set that clearly pleased the judges. Botts, a well-received student from Brigham Young University, gave his interpretation of John Coltrane's Moment's Notice, as well as performing an exciting original composition. Olcott was enthusiastic about the competition and the trumpeters involved. "It's incredibly exciting," he said. "All four are great players with careers ahead of them. This brings really good players together. That's part of the brotherhood of trumpeting." A packed house greeted the competition's contestants and supporting musicians at the event's culminating concert, the Jazz Summit held in the University of Nevada, Reno's Nightingale Concert Hall later that evening. The contest's distinguished judge panel contributed performances to the gala along with the university's top student jazz orchestra, Jazz Lab I. The Jazz Summit gave competition winners El Saffar and Pettinen a chance to demonstrate their big band chops. They each performed alongside judges Hagans, Jensen and Lynch on several numbers, including Thad Jones's composition Lowdown. Lynch gave an inspired rendition of a piece entitled Tribute to the Blues. Hagans performed a composition from his bandleader debut album "No Words." Jensen combined two Keith Jarrett compositions to create a meditative set for the crowd in memory of the September 11th tragedies. The Reno audience received each performance warmly. "It's so cool to be back in Reno," Jensen said. "The vibe is great." The Jazz Summit concluded with a trumpet tour de force Take the Bebop Train, in which El Saffar and Pettinen performed alongside the competition's judges. Olcott gave high praise to the University of Nevada for its part in the competition. The university is nationally known for its annual Reno Jazz Festival, a premier event for student musicians. "[The University of Nevada] is a great place," Olcott said. "It sets a new standard for the competition." For more information about the University of Nevada, Reno's jazz programs or the Reno Jazz Festival, call C.J. Walters at (775) 784-4046. Source: Peter Schelden

What's New | News & Events | Resources | Join ITG Contact ITG | About  ITG | How To Use This Site | Site Search © Copyright 1999-2001 - International Trumpet Guild™ - all rights reserved