Takumi Kakimoto Wins the Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize and Manny Albam Commission at the BMI Jazz Composers Summer Showcase

BMI’s 35th Annual Jazz Composers Workshop Summer Showcase, held at The Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater in New York City on June 5th, featured the best new big band and jazz orchestra compositions created in the workshop during the 2023-2024 season. The evening was hosted by Musical Director Andy Farber and Assistant Musical Director Alan Ferber and judged by a panel of esteemed jazz musicians and composers; David Berger, Don Braden and John Fedchock.

The BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra performed eight works, including: “Bar Talk” by Michael Dudley, “Passacaglia” by Mike Malone, “If I Were a Wind of Spring” by Migiwa Miyajima, “Moon” by Naoya Ogura, “Silent Screams” by Meg Okura, “New York Moment” by David Sneider and “Year of the Globe” by John Sturino. After an evening of incredible performances, Takumi Kakimoto’s “Two-Faced Dance” was chosen as the winning piece by the judges. In addition to receiving the prestigious Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize, the BMI Foundation also awarded Kakimoto the $3,000 Manny Albam commission—named in memory of the workshop’s late founder and longtime music director—to compose a new piece that will premiere at next year’s showcase.

The evening concluded with 2023 Charlie Parker Prize recipient Joseph Herbst debuting his commissioned composition, “Epilogue: Dreams Reborn.”

For more information on this renowned workshop and its history, click here.