Prizewinner 2013 Jacob Christoffersen
Jacob Christoffersen smiled as a grand piano when he was awarded the 2013 Ben Webster Prize for his pianistc skills and new dedication to jazz . A full house in the 'Gunpowder Hall' i Copenhagen and behind him the best musicians agreed and applauded him all night long. Jacob is 45 and the party concert was held on Websters 104 years birthday Photo: Søren Damving
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Chairman Henrik Wolsgaard-Iversen happily annonuces the prizewinner pianist Jan Kaspersen
Klaus Albrectsen receives the Honorary Prize for his always soulful drawings of jazz musicians
Doug Raney played like an angel at the party in Jazzhus Montmartre
March 28, 2012. A Good Time in the Montmartre
At the The Ben Webster prize-party on the march 28, the night after Websters 103 years birthday, Mr. Jan Kaspersen received the prize for 25.000 in a thankful mood and returned the honour by playing ‘All Too Soon’ – a Webster-classic – solo before his sextet entered the stage and gave other numbers related to Webster/Ellington. After that he played compositions from his brand new CD ‘Black Rabbit Suite’ which represent a new road for Kaspersens musical directions. The band consisted of Christina von Bülow, as, Jakob Dinesen, ts, Lis Wessberg, trb, and his old compatriots Peter Danstrup, b, and Ole Rømer, dr.
Kaspersens second set really caught fire and the audience responded by getting up for a dance in the final number ‘Purple Gazelle’ by Ellington.
Henrik Iversen motivated the Foundations choice this year by respecting the many years Kaspersen uncompromised has developed his music, heavenly inspired by Monk, Ellington and Mingus. He has brought the good dissonance out to the farthest places, and created a unique sound of jazz in this hemisphere.
All photos on this page Søren Damving
Jan Kaspersen Sextet
Left to right: Christina von Bülow, Peter Danstrup, Thomas Dinesen, Lis Wessberg
The Honorary Prize went to Klaus Albrectsen
The honorary prize this year went to the artist, cartoonist and jazz writer Klaus Albrectsen for his great and inspired drawings and portraits of over a 100 international Jazz musicians, who played in the Montmartre and other concert venues in Europe and New York. The chairman Henrik Iversen commented, that Albrectsens satire could be sharp, but that it seemed that he always where able to find the expression of the musicians inner soul on his drawing paper. Albrectsen will use the prize to have all his jazz-work digitalized and saved for the future at the Danish Arbejder Museeum.
Doug Raney played with Bernt Rosengren, Jesper Lundgaard and Morten Lund
The Ben Webster prize-party blessed by the resurgence of guitarist Doug Raney who after a decade of not performing in public returned to the stage backed by his mentor, bassist Jesper Lundgaard and his musical colleague for many years, Swedish tenor saxophonist Bernt Rosengreen.
Together with the amazing drummer Morten Lund they created the best bebop and ballads heard around. Raney is probably one of the finest instrumentalist to day and his short set was a highlight in the evening. His discreet smile seemed to confirm his new confidence.
Together with the amazing drummer Morten Lund they created the best bebop and ballads heard around. Raney is probably one of the finest instrumentalist to day and his short set was a highlight in the evening. His discreet smile seemed to confirm his new confidence.
