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The Tribeca Performing Arts Center Presents: Jazz in Progress/Monk in Motion – the Next Face of Jazz

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The Tribeca Performing Arts Center Borough of Manhattan Community College Presents: Jazz In Progress/Monk In Motion – The Next Face Of Jazz

Presenting, In Concert, The Top Three Finalists In The 2008 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition:


Jon Irabagon – December 1
Tim Green – December 8
Quamon Fowler – December 15


(Fall/Winter, 2008) The Tribeca Performing Arts Center, in partnership with the Thelonious Monk Institute, proudly presents Jazz In Progress/Monk In Motion: The Next Face Of Jazz, featuring in concert the top three finalists, Jon Irabagon (1st place), Tim Green (2nd place) and Quamon Fowler (3rd place), of the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, now celebrating its 22nd anniversary. This year the competition featured twelve of the most outstanding young saxophonists from across the globe competing for more than $50,000 in scholarships and prizes in front of an esteemed panel of judges including Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Heath, Greg Osby, Jane Ira Bloom, and David Sanchez.

The three events of the Jazz In Progress-Monk In Motion Series will feature each finalist leading their ensemble in concert, demonstrating the virtuosity and high level of musicality possessed by these jazz saxophonists, and marking the significant arrival of three promising new artists, poised to make their mark on the international jazz scene.

Jazz In Progress-Monk In Motion Concert Schedule:


Monday, December 1 at 7:00 PM – Jon Irabagon
Monday, December 8 at 7:00 PM – Tim Green
Monday, December 15 at 7:00 PM – Quamon Fowler


Jazz in Progress is a partnership between Tribeca Performing Arts Center and the Thelonious Monk Institude that presents the top three winners from the renowned Annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition.

Tickets are $25 General Admission, $15 Students & Seniors. To order tickets and for additional information click here or call the box office at 212.220.1460. The Tribeca Performing Arts Center is located at 199 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007.

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Monday, December 1 at 7:00 PM – Jon Irabagon


Winner of the 2008 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, Jon Irabagon picked up the alto saxophone in 4th grade and piano shortly thereafter, but didn't become serious about music until high school. At this time Irabagon began playing gigs in suburban Chicago, where he grew up, and quickly found himself playing different kinds of music. He went on to attend DePaul University in the heart of the city to continue his music education, obtaining a Music Business degree with a minor in Journalism in 2000.

During these formative years, Irabagon performed with notable jazz musicians John Abercrombie and Tom Harrell, pop superstars Richard Marx and the Pointer Sisters, and up-and-coming crooner Michael Buble. He also appeared on many albums as a sideman during this time.

In the fall of 2001, Jon Irabagon moved to New York City to attend the Manhattan School of Music and study with one of his idols, Dick Oatts. After receiving his Master's Degree there in 2003, Jon was invited to play lead alto for the recently-formed jazz program at the Juilliard school, and received an Artist Diploma there in 2005. The saxophonist has been recognized in DownBeat's Student Music Awards for both performance (2004) and composition (2006), and was a participant in the 2003 Henry Mancini Institute in Los Angeles, the 2006 Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program in Washington, D.C., as well as the Steans Institute for Jazz in 2008. Since his relocation to New York, Jon has performed and/or recorded with Billy Joel, Wynton Marsalis, Davie Liebman, Wycliffe Gordon, Rufus Reid, Deborah Gibson, Lou Reed, Ron Sexsmith, Tommy Igoe and others. He has also performed modern classical works of Dmitri Tymoczko and Remigijus Merkelys, has worked with the Pascal Rioult Dance Company, and has toured with Chicago the Musical. As a leader, Irabagon recently formed Outright!, a quintet dedicated to honoring the jazz tradition by using many different styles joined through group and free improvisation.

Outright!'s first album was recorded in spring 2007 and has just been released on the Innova label. As a sideman, Jon works in several forward-thinking groups, including Matt Grason's Motel Project (featuring Washingon, D.C.'s most daring freestyle beat poets), the free improvising RIDD Quartet (Clean Feed Records), the Jostein Gulbrandsen Quartet (Fresh Sound New Talent), Jon Lundbom's Big Five Chord, and Moppa Elliott's terrorist bebop band Mostly Other People Do the Killing (Hot Cup). The latter has been garnering rave reviews and interviews in JazzTimes, Downbeat, and Playboy. Jon also is an active teacher and clinician. He currently teaches private lessons and ensembles at Lagond Music School in Elmsford, NY, as well as for the Middle School Jazz Academy at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

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Monday, December 8 at 7:00 PM – Tim Green


Alto saxophonist Tim Green, a native of Baltimore, Maryland is on the fast track to becoming a well-known saxophonist, composer and arranger. Inspired by a family of musicians to get involved with music at the young age of 10, he went on to be selected as one of 25 members (out of 500 that applied) to participate in the All Star Grammy High School band. Green received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in 2004, where he studied with world-renowned instructors such as Dick Oatts, Gary Dail, Bob Mintzer and Steve Slagle. In May 2007, the saxophonist graduated from the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz at the University of Southern California with a masters degree. As a student at the Monk Institute he studied, performed and toured with jazz greats such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Terrence Blanchard. Green has also had the opportunity to perform with artists such as Roy Hargrove, Jon Faddis, Hubert Laws, Kenny Burrell, Patrice Rushen, Gary Thomas, Queen Latifah, The Mingus Big Band, Gary Bartz, and Wynton Marsalis. On the NYC scene during his college days he enjoyed some success, appearing at a variety of clubs in the city as well as around the nation. Green has been leading his own band that features all original music influenced by jazz and gospel music. In the summer of 2003 he was invited to be a part of the Jazz Aspen Snowmass summer program, where he studied with Christian McBride, Lewis Nash, Benny Green, Wallace Roney and Russell Malone.

After having the opportunity to play and or record with world-renowned gospel artists Isreal Houghton, Fred Hammond, Mary Mary, Men Of Standard, Joe Pace and Youthful Praise, gospel music has grown to be one of Green’s strongest influences. This led him to release his debut album entitled “Divine Inspiration” on G Major Records in August, 2005.

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Monday, December 15 at 7:00 PM – Quamon Fowler


A new voice in the long tradition of Texas tenors, Quamon Fowler has grown accustomed to hard work and multi-tasking as a traveling performer, composer, educator and ministry leader. Fowler has performed with jazz giants such as James Moody, Curtis Fuller, Branford and Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove and many others. He has performed around the globe with stops in Dubai, Canada, Brazil and Germany. His energetic playing and thoughtful compositions have brought him acclaim through ASCAP’s Young Jazz Composers Award (three time winner in 2003, 2005 & 2007), The Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program and the HASA Jazz Saxophone Competition. He now adds a third place finish in the prestigious Monk Competition.

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The Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition is the most prestigious jazz competition in the world. Each year the institute attracts the brightest young jazz talent in the world to compete for a series of scholarships.

Since 1987, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz has presented the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, the most prestigious jazz competition in the world. Each year, more than $60,000 in scholarships and prizes are awarded to talented young musicians and composers. The scholarships help pay tuition for college-level jazz education studies and provide funds for private, specialized instruction. The competition focuses on a different instrument every year and features an outstanding all-star judging panel. Branford Marsalis, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry, Dave Brubeck, Marian McPartland, and Diana Krall have all served as judges at past competitions.

The Institute has presented competitions for piano, bass, drums, hand drums, saxophone, trumpet, guitar, vocals and trombone. In September 2006, the competition once again showcased piano, in celebration of the Institute's 20th Anniversary, with the semifinals taking place at the Smithsonian Institution's Baird Auditorium and the finals at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater.

Located on the campus of the Borough of Manhattan Community College (a CUNY school), the mission of Tribeca Performing Arts Center is to provide a professional season of culturally diverse arts programs of high quality for the Metropolitan New York area, the residential communities of Lower Manhattan and the college community in which it is located.

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