Top Five Finalists of NJ PAC’s Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition

Written By Mike Greenblatt
Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition

The top five finalists for the 13th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition—known as The Sassy Awards—have been announced by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Over 220 entrants from 21 countries submitted songs and now only five remain. The sing-off—hosted by WBGO’s Sheila Anderson—for the $5,000 prize is scheduled for November 24 as part of the James Moody Jazz Festival. Past winners include Cyrille Aimee, Jazzmeia Horn, Laurin Talese, Samara Joy, Gabrielle Cavassa and Tyreek McDole, who all have gone on to solid careers. The five are Amira B (New York City), Georgia Heers (New York City), Angelique Nicolas (France), Syndee Winters (New York City) and April May Webb (West Hartford, Connecticut). Judges include Montclair bassist-composer-educator Christian McBride, singer-songwriter Madeleine Peyroux, drummer-producer Terri Lyne Carrington, pianist Bill Charlap (Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University in Wayne) and singer Lisa Fischer.

For more information, visit SarahVaughanCompetition.com

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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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