One word: Jazz!
by senior contributor Brendan Kownacki
Photo credit: Steve Mundinger
What on earth could bring Madeleine Albright, Aretha Franklin and Helen Mirren to the same stage Sunday night in DC? It all comes down to one word: JAZZ.
While the Emmys droned on and Madonna rocked the Verizon center, a packed house at The Kennedy Center reveled at the chance to tap their feet and sway to the beat for The Annual Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz competition. This year, the spotlight instrument was none other than the drums……the heartbeat of any song. T.S. Monk and Herbie Hancock who emceed the evening described how ancient man may have heard his own heartbeat and was inspired to start tapping a stick on the ground which evolved to modern drumming. Either way, we all know the drums set the rhythm for tunes that are seared into our brains and our souls.
Herbie Hancock with Drum Competition Finalists
The evening kicked off with the annual competition where Florida drummer Jamison Ross ran off with a recording contract and $25,000 scholarship to continue his pursuit of jazz drumming. Ross showed a level of cool that would make Ringo sweat as he saddled up behind the cymbals……but he wasn’t the only one who blew down the house before the night was over.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who was being honored by the Monk Institute for her use of jazz in diplomacy, also caused a stir when she took her turn. Albright jammed with horn player Chris Botti after a stunning introduction by Aretha Franklin, Helen Mirren and a parade of other musicians who showcased the power that all music, especially jazz can have over people’s emotions.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright with Chris Botti
Mirren (who readily admits that she knows a thing or two about queens) said that there is only one true queen…the “Queen of Soul” giving cue for Aretha to sooth us with a rendition of “Funny Valentine” and then shake the house demanding R-E-S-P-E-C-T….a song that Secretary Albright once lip synced on tape for a project.
We laughed and cried, had trips down memory lane with each song…and of course made new memories…because how are you ever going to forget the night that Madeleine Albright and Tipper Gore played the drums with Herbie Hancock and Thelonious Monk?
