Emerging Artist Showcase

The Hartford Jazz Society announces the 2018 Emerging Artist Showcase

In an effort to increase exposure to up and coming jazz musicians, the Hartford Jazz Society will present its second Emerging Jazz Artists Showcase. The winner will receive a cash prize and an opportunity to perform at the Hartford Jazz Society 57th Annual Jazz Cruise.

The Hartford Jazz Society will accept submissions from a maximum sixteen entries. The Emerging Jazz Artists Showcase is open to musicians that have never been signed to a recording contract and have not released any widely distributed recordings as a leader. You must be 18 years of age to qualify. Prior winners are not eligible. The Hartford Jazz Society reserves the right not to accept any submissions that it determines not to meet minimum standards for the competition.

Fill out the form below with your name, a brief bio and a web link to a video performance up to 10 minutes in length (YouTube embed link preferred). Applications must be received no later than June 16.

During the months of June and July the Hartford Jazz Society will feature up to four videos on its website each week, and invite the jazz audience to vote on its favorite solo artist each week. Four finalists will be selected and invited to perform one song as a soloist during the intermissions at the 2018 Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz Series to be held July 9 through August 13, 2018. The finalists will also be featured on the Hartford Jazz Society website during the months of July and August, and the jazz audience again invited to vote on its favorite solo artist.

On August 13, the Hartford Jazz Society will announce the winner of the Emerging Jazz Artist Showcase. That artist will be invited to perform as a soloist for a fifteen minute feature on the 57th Annual Hartford Jazz Society Jazz Cruise to be held on Saturday, September 15th. The winner will also receive a $250 stipend and two tickets to the HJS Jazz River Cruise.

If you have any questions, email Ken Laster –  jazz.beyond@gmail.com