What a week – Edoardo launches a CD, Osama is shot dead, AND Sydney Jazz Collective trumpeter Ken Allars has just been announced as the 2011 winner of the prestigious $10,000 James Morrison Jazz Scholarship.
In front of a crowd of 2800 people seated in the main marquee, Ken faced tough competition with many fantastic performances from some of the best young jazz musicians in Australia. However, with his superb musicality & taste demonstrated on standout renditions of “Lonely Woman” & “Blues Connotation” – Ken rose to the challenge and was awarded 1st prize.
He’s keen to use the scholarship prize money to pursue further jazz studies & learn a new language in Berlin – but in the meantime you can still hear Ken live on a bunch of local gigs around Sydney, and on the upcoming tour with the JazzGroove Mothership Orchestra.
Ken Allars performing with Sydney Jazz Collective outdoor acoustic quartet