AND THE WINNER IS…

Written By Mike Greenblatt

April May Webb by Shakiru Bola Okoya

April May Webb of Connecticut is the winner of the 13th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark on November 24. Known as The Sassy Awards for Vaughan’s longtime nickname, Webb bested the 220 entrants from 21 countries, whittled down to five for the sing-off hosted by WBGO’s Sheila Anderson. The Judges were bassist Christian McBride, singers Madeleine Peyroux and Lisa Fischer, drummer Terri Lynne Carrington and pianist Bill Charlap. Webb will perform at Lincoln Center in New York City this spring. She’s a composer, educator and has appeared off-Broadway. Originally from Kansas City, she is the first Black woman to graduate from the William Paterson University Jazz Education program. Sarah Vaughan [1924-1990] is one of America’s most cherished voices. As a Newark teen, she won the vocal competition at The Apollo Theater in Harlem in 1942 and skyrocketed to become a legend.

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Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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