0:00:03 > 0:00:06Two years ago, jazz became a welcome addition
0:00:06 > 0:00:08to the BBC Young Musician family.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12It was an amazing night in Cardiff,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15some really exciting new talent on show.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19And at the end of a thrilling final,
0:00:19 > 0:00:2317-year-old saxophonist Alexander Bone
0:00:23 > 0:00:26was named as the first ever winner of the Jazz Award.
0:00:28 > 0:00:29APPLAUSE
0:00:34 > 0:00:36Tonight, we're expecting another dazzling display
0:00:36 > 0:00:39of jazz musicianship as five more of the UK's finest
0:00:39 > 0:00:41step into the spotlight.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45Welcome to the final of the BBC Young Musician Jazz Award.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Every year, the musicians are getting so great so young,
0:00:52 > 0:00:54it's wonderful and scary. HE LAUGHS
0:00:56 > 0:01:00Such enthusiasm, passion and high technical skill.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02It's just very, very exciting.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Young Musician's always been a really big inspiration
0:01:07 > 0:01:10and to have a jazz one is so important.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16I'm just looking forward to seeing them taking some risks, having fun.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18I just want to see a good performance.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22The young musicians who are taking part in this competition
0:01:22 > 0:01:26have come to show their musical standard, which is extremely high.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30It's lovely to have the opportunity for people to see
0:01:30 > 0:01:33what brilliant music these young musicians can make.
0:02:10 > 0:02:11BAND PLAYS
0:02:17 > 0:02:19The experience of playing in the final
0:02:19 > 0:02:21was one of the best experiences of my life, to be honest.
0:02:24 > 0:02:25The atmosphere of the night,
0:02:25 > 0:02:29and then playing with a band as amazing as Gwilym's trio
0:02:29 > 0:02:31was just really magical.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36APPLAUSE Yes, it was quite a night.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38And we'll be hearing Alexander later,
0:02:38 > 0:02:39he'll be back to play for us
0:02:39 > 0:02:41while the judges are making their decision.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Now, before we begin this year's jazz final,
0:02:44 > 0:02:46I want to welcome a man of many talents -
0:02:46 > 0:02:50jazz singer, songwriter and pianist Joe Stilgoe,
0:02:50 > 0:02:53who'll be keeping me company this evening. Welcome, Joe.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55Thank you, Josie. It's fantastic to be here in Cardiff.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58In fact, I remember the final two years ago
0:02:58 > 0:03:01and being completely bowled over by the quality of musicianship.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03So, I'm really excited to be here this time
0:03:03 > 0:03:06and I'm looking forward to hearing some great jazz performances
0:03:06 > 0:03:09and probably feeling completely inadequate at the same time.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11Yes, they are very special and very young.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14Now, all of tonight's finalists have already come through
0:03:14 > 0:03:19two tough audition rounds to reach this stage in the competition.
0:03:20 > 0:03:21The Jazz Award
0:03:21 > 0:03:25is for instrumentalists and singers aged 21 and under.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Last November, some of the most promising jazz performers
0:03:28 > 0:03:31submitted DVDs to the competition.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35# Where someone's waiting to be kissed... #
0:03:35 > 0:03:38And from these, just 20 were selected
0:03:38 > 0:03:40for the second-round live auditions.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43The judges were treated to two days of jazz performance,
0:03:43 > 0:03:47featuring a wide range of styles and instruments.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51At the end of these live auditions,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54five performers were selected for this final.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56They are -
0:03:56 > 0:03:59saxophonist and recorder player Tom Ridout.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02'I'm really excited.'
0:04:02 > 0:04:05I like to surprise people, give them things they're not expecting.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Elliott Samson - the first of two pianists.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16'I'm really pleased. I'm just amazed that I've got this far.'
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Incredible. Yeah, really cool.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Adding some family rivalry to this final,
0:04:23 > 0:04:27trumpet player Alexandra Ridout, Tom's younger sister.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32It's just incredible. And playing with amazing musicians
0:04:32 > 0:04:35and everything's going on, it's so exciting.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Our second pianist - Noah Stoneman.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41'I think it's going to be really inspiring,
0:04:41 > 0:04:43'especially playing jazz live.'
0:04:45 > 0:04:48I don't think there's another feeling that can compare to it.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50And completing the line-up -
0:04:50 > 0:04:54saxophonist Tom Smith, who made it to the final two years ago.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58'Really exciting to do all the rehearsals,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01'exciting to hear what everybody else is playing.'
0:05:01 > 0:05:03It feels like it's going to be amazing.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05BAND PLAYS
0:05:07 > 0:05:09It's an exciting line-up,
0:05:09 > 0:05:13and a big night ahead for all five of them.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19All of our finalists tonight will have to play
0:05:19 > 0:05:22at least one of their own compositions and arrangements,
0:05:22 > 0:05:26and they also need to demonstrate their improvisational skills.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28Yep. On stage with them, we are delighted to welcome back
0:05:28 > 0:05:32one of the finest jazz outfits in the UK - the Gwilym Simcock Trio.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34And I know the guys, they're astonishing musicians
0:05:34 > 0:05:37and also lovely gentleman. So it doesn't get much better than that.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40It really doesn't. Well, the five finalists arrived in Cardiff
0:05:40 > 0:05:42just a couple of days ago
0:05:42 > 0:05:45and they couldn't wait to meet up with Gwilym and the band.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52First, 17-year-old trumpet player Alexandra Ridout.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Hi. How are you doing? Are you all right? Hi.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01I knew they were amazing musicians, cos I've heard them play,
0:06:01 > 0:06:05but being there and being involved was just incredible.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11I upped my game a lot. And every time I play with them,
0:06:11 > 0:06:13it just brings a whole new side to my playing.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15That would be good. Shall we just try those four bars? OK.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17We'll just try it out. Yeah.
0:06:17 > 0:06:22It's amazing bouncing off them and just being inside it is just great.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28So even on the night, you might exceed your own expectations?
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Yeah, definitely.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33And being in the moment and just sitting on top of the band,
0:06:33 > 0:06:37cos you don't have to think about it, they're just there and give you so much support.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39And I'm really looking forward to the final
0:06:39 > 0:06:41just because of playing with them, really.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48Next, another member of the Ridout family,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51saxophonist and recorder player Tom Ridout, who's 21.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56'They're fantastic! It's like you walk in and you play tunes
0:06:56 > 0:07:00'that you've played before and it feels like they're brand-new
0:07:00 > 0:07:02'and you're better than you've ever been before.'
0:07:07 > 0:07:09Cos they're really happy
0:07:09 > 0:07:12to go anywhere or do whatever you ask them to do.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15'There was a lot of asking, "Do you want this or do you want that?"'
0:07:15 > 0:07:18How big do you want us to play these hits? See, I don't know.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22'The beautiful thing about jazz is we all have different opinions.'
0:07:22 > 0:07:25So if we suggest, "Maybe you should do that."
0:07:25 > 0:07:26And they think, "Well, actually, no,"
0:07:26 > 0:07:28we don't want to do that,
0:07:28 > 0:07:30because it means they've had to make an active choice.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42Following Tom, it's pianist Elliott Samson, who's also 21.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44He replaces Gwilym in the trio,
0:07:44 > 0:07:48joining drummer James Maddren and bass player Yuri Goloubev.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50All yours, maestro.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53They're such great players and they've given me loads of advice,
0:07:53 > 0:07:56and they've, you know, spoken to me like a real musician.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02'One of the things for me
0:08:02 > 0:08:06'is trying to play as a band and play with the other guys.'
0:08:07 > 0:08:09So I've just been trying to be conscious
0:08:09 > 0:08:12about hooking up with the drummer and making sure I'm listening
0:08:12 > 0:08:15to the whole band as opposed to myself, you know.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18'It's much more about playing as a unit.'
0:08:22 > 0:08:25What's it like for you taking Gwilym's seat in the trio?
0:08:25 > 0:08:29It's incredible. I mean, to be sitting in with his band...
0:08:29 > 0:08:31It was like 90% sort of in the groove,
0:08:31 > 0:08:33but it was a tiny bit... Yeah, loose.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36It's fantastic to hear someone play the same instrument as you do.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40The way that I've been trying to mentor them
0:08:40 > 0:08:42is the same as I've tried to mentor the people
0:08:42 > 0:08:45that I've actually been playing with.
0:08:47 > 0:08:48'Being the piano player in the trio,
0:08:48 > 0:08:52'he understands my point of view and perspective. So, yeah, incredible.'
0:08:54 > 0:08:58Next, it's Tom Smith, the second of two saxophonists in this final.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Now 20, he's back to make a second bid for the title,
0:09:01 > 0:09:04having reached the final in 2014.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12What have you most been looking forward to about coming back?
0:09:12 > 0:09:16The main thing has been playing my compositions.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18In my set, I'm playing two original pieces.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22'I've had so much fun rehearsing them with the band.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25'They've just had totally different ideas that I hadn't thought about.'
0:09:25 > 0:09:28That's been a really, really nice experience.
0:09:33 > 0:09:38'Most of the time, I'm trying not to think about specific ideas,
0:09:38 > 0:09:40'I'm trying to think about what it is they're playing
0:09:40 > 0:09:42'and how I can best respond to them.'
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Then G minor.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Last to meet the band, and the youngest performer in this final,
0:09:55 > 0:09:5715-year-old Noah Stoneman.
0:09:57 > 0:09:58LAUGHTER
0:09:58 > 0:10:02As well as playing piano, he's chosen to end his set on the organ.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04Play from C for me once.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Cos, obviously, as a piano player,
0:10:06 > 0:10:08he's given me loads of instrumental advice,
0:10:08 > 0:10:11my own stage presence and how to make the performance more exciting.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13I think your idea is great,
0:10:13 > 0:10:16but we might just have to scribble it out so...so we know how it goes. Yeah.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18One, two, three, four.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Oh, it was far from intimidating,
0:10:29 > 0:10:32they were really welcoming and took on all my ideas.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36'They understood everything I wanted to do.'
0:10:39 > 0:10:42So you're getting a lot of stuff you can use moving forward
0:10:42 > 0:10:44as a jazz musician way beyond the competition?
0:10:44 > 0:10:46Yeah, of course. I mean, all this advice that I'm getting
0:10:46 > 0:10:49is not just for this week, it's for life.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57So, it must be really amazing as an experience for these young finalists
0:10:57 > 0:11:00to work with musicians of the calibre of Gwilym and his band.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Yeah. Well, in a way, that's a prize in itself,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05not only the competition, but just to work with them,
0:11:05 > 0:11:08almost to do a little gig with this incredible world-class trio.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11And, of course, rehearsals are one thing,
0:11:11 > 0:11:14but putting on a great performance in front of a packed house
0:11:14 > 0:11:16and with all the pressure of a big competition
0:11:16 > 0:11:19like BBC Young Musician Jazz Award is something else.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23And sitting right in front of them - some of the biggest names in jazz.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29On the panel tonight -
0:11:29 > 0:11:33saxophonist, composer and band leader Tim Garland.
0:11:33 > 0:11:34It's going to be a given
0:11:34 > 0:11:37that they're going to be very good at their instrument technically,
0:11:37 > 0:11:40so what I'll be looking for is something beyond the notes,
0:11:40 > 0:11:42a deeper kind of narrative,
0:11:42 > 0:11:44almost like a storytelling quality, I guess.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48Pianist, composer and winner of the piano category
0:11:48 > 0:11:51at the 2015 British Jazz Awards - Zoe Rahman.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54Self-expression, I think, is quite important,
0:11:54 > 0:11:56that's a big aspect of what jazz is,
0:11:56 > 0:11:58and how they rise to the occasion.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02One of the most innovative trumpeters on the jazz scene -
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Byron Wallen.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07The music is also about cherishing the tradition,
0:12:07 > 0:12:08so I'll be looking for that,
0:12:08 > 0:12:11who's really digging into, you know, the heritage of the music.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15Composer, producer and jazz singer Gwyneth Herbert.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20I'm going to be looking for how far they are willing to take risks,
0:12:20 > 0:12:24and a flair that's not just about showmanship
0:12:24 > 0:12:27but that's also about an ability to communicate.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29And chair of the jury -
0:12:29 > 0:12:33legendary composer, band leader and pianist Julian Joseph.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36I want to see, are they imaginative,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39are their improvisations interesting,
0:12:39 > 0:12:40are they communicating?
0:12:40 > 0:12:42So these are all the elements,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45but I think for somebody to really stand out,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48all the elements are going to be transcended into music.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52That really is quite a line-up. APPLAUSE
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Joe, we're about to hear the first of our finalists,
0:12:55 > 0:12:57and they're going to treat us to some great music tonight.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Yeah, it's going to be amazing. I can't wait to hear their take
0:13:00 > 0:13:03on music by the likes of Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter,
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Herbie Hancock. Some of my heroes. SHE LAUGHS
0:13:06 > 0:13:09And also, we're going to hear some of their own compositions,
0:13:09 > 0:13:10which should be really intriguing.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12Everyone's raring to go.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16And to kick off the final, it's our eldest competitor tonight,
0:13:16 > 0:13:1921-year-old saxophonist Tom Ridout.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32Saxophonist Tom Ridout comes from a jazz-loving family.
0:13:32 > 0:13:37'My dad's a guitarist and my mum used to play sax.'
0:13:37 > 0:13:41I just grew up in a household where every waking hour,
0:13:41 > 0:13:44music's been somewhere within something that I've done.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48'It wasn't really a matter of coming to music,
0:13:48 > 0:13:52'it was more a matter of that's what I wanted to dedicate my life to.'
0:13:54 > 0:13:59Tom is now in his fourth and final year at the Royal Academy of Music.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01'He's quite eclectic, his influence.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04'A quite independent thinker.'
0:14:04 > 0:14:06He seems not to worry too much what other people think.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Maybe he does, deep down, but...
0:14:08 > 0:14:10So his playing reflects that.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12OK, let's just stop...
0:14:12 > 0:14:13MARTIN: And the other thing about
0:14:13 > 0:14:15him is his interest in playing the recorder.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17That was the first instrument he played,
0:14:17 > 0:14:19so he's one of the few people who's
0:14:19 > 0:14:21incorporating recorder into jazz.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26'I started playing the recorder at home,
0:14:26 > 0:14:28'my parents taught it to me'
0:14:28 > 0:14:29before I even went to school.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32So it wasn't the "go to school, learn recorder" thing,
0:14:32 > 0:14:33it was "learn recorder, go to school,
0:14:33 > 0:14:36"wonder why no-one else could play the recorder."
0:14:36 > 0:14:39At the Academy, Tom has been developing new techniques
0:14:39 > 0:14:42with recorder virtuoso Pamela Thorby.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Right up the top.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46With the recorder now, the technology's moved on so much
0:14:46 > 0:14:48further than it used to.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50So you can really enhance any
0:14:50 > 0:14:51tone that you want to make on it.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54HE PLAYS EFFECTED RECORDER
0:14:54 > 0:14:57You can play with pedals, you can put other effects on it,
0:14:57 > 0:15:00and in a way the recorder is the perfect canvas for that.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Musically, I play different saxophones for different sounds.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06It's another palette of sounds to use.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09It's not something people expect,
0:15:09 > 0:15:13but then jazz isn't supposed to be something that people expect.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15HOST: Very warm welcome to the stage,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17our first musician, Tom Ridout.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:15:21 > 0:15:23'My first tune is a tune I wrote called No Excuses,
0:15:23 > 0:15:25'which I'm going to play on soprano sax.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29'I really like writing,'
0:15:29 > 0:15:31so I feel that if I'm playing my own pieces,
0:15:31 > 0:15:34I'm putting myself forwards as who I am as a player
0:15:34 > 0:15:38more than necessarily if I'm just playing pieces by other people.
0:18:48 > 0:18:49APPLAUSE
0:19:39 > 0:19:41SCATTERED APPLAUSE
0:20:59 > 0:21:01APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:21:06 > 0:21:09I'm going to move on now and play a tune
0:21:09 > 0:21:11by Wayne Shorter called Infant Eyes.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15APPLAUSE
0:24:15 > 0:24:19Tom continues on tenor sax with his own take on the jazz standard
0:24:19 > 0:24:22Stella By Starlight, written by Victor Young.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Thank you very much.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17My last tune tonight is another tune that I wrote.
0:27:17 > 0:27:18Erm...
0:27:18 > 0:27:20it's called Chain,
0:27:20 > 0:27:23and I'm going to play recorder on it.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25That's all. LAUGHTER
0:27:25 > 0:27:28'It's not something that hardly any people play in jazz.'
0:27:28 > 0:27:30You have to improvise differently on the recorder
0:27:30 > 0:27:33because of all the technical challenges of playing chromatically.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37But it gives me a really nice, different way to have my own sound.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:30:30 > 0:30:32Ladies and gentlemen...
0:30:32 > 0:30:34Tom Ridout.
0:30:34 > 0:30:35CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:30:40 > 0:30:42HE EXHALES
0:30:46 > 0:30:48I was very impressed by Tom.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51I felt he was very much in the moment.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54I enjoyed his sound, and his sense of humour.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56I thought Tom's performance was a strong performance.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58Got good, solid tone.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00Plays rhythmically correct.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03And there's a sort of instrumental confidence
0:31:03 > 0:31:05that...that I appreciated there.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08'I think it went all right. Well, as good as I could have hoped.
0:31:08 > 0:31:09'There were bits that we did go wrong,'
0:31:09 > 0:31:10but it felt great.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13And if it feels great, that's... That's the bottom line.
0:31:15 > 0:31:18Fantastic start to the competition from Tom Ridout there.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20We both were eager to hear him on the recorder.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22Did you know recorder could do that? No.
0:31:22 > 0:31:23Amazing sound, wasn't it? Yeah.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27Using that pedal, with all his bag of tricks. Yeah.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29It was... It was an amazing performance.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32My favourite was him playing the tenor saxophone.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34I feel that's when his true musicianship came through.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37Absolutely. People were dancing in the seats.
0:31:37 > 0:31:38Great start. Yeah.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40Next, we've got Elliott Sansom,
0:31:40 > 0:31:42who takes Gwilym's seat at the piano.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45He's the first of two pianists in this final.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56A fourth-year student at the Birmingham Conservatoire,
0:31:56 > 0:31:59music has always played a major part
0:31:59 > 0:32:00in Elliott Sansom's life.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03'From a young age, there was always a piano in the house.'
0:32:03 > 0:32:06We used to always get at the piano from about four years old,
0:32:06 > 0:32:07and try to improvise and play by ear.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12'I think I knew that I always loved jazz.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14'And then I started the main course here,
0:32:14 > 0:32:17'and got to study with John Taylor and John Turville.'
0:32:21 > 0:32:24You know, the one-to-one lessons are amazing.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29John Turville, one of the UK's leading jazz pianists,
0:32:29 > 0:32:31has been teaching Elliott for the past four years.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35You're gradually bringing the left into...
0:32:35 > 0:32:37Sort of bringing the two into play.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39He's like a sponge, really. His ears are incredible.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41He sort of absorbs
0:32:41 > 0:32:42everything he hears.
0:32:46 > 0:32:47His technique is great.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49There's a kind of fluidity
0:32:49 > 0:32:51and openness in his playing.
0:32:54 > 0:32:55He's developing his own voice now.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58One point, he can be quite exploratory, quite deep,
0:32:58 > 0:33:01and the next thing could be very playful.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04He has this huge range of emotions that he can convey
0:33:04 > 0:33:05in a very short space of time.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07But in a very relaxed way,
0:33:07 > 0:33:08in a very effortless way.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14Elliott's already planning for his post-Conservatoire future.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17For the past couple of years, he's been building a new
0:33:17 > 0:33:19recording studio in Birmingham with his brother Ollie.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22'We've got a live room that we're in now, and we've got a control room,'
0:33:22 > 0:33:24and waiting room area, and things like that.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27So we can run this as a professional recording studio -
0:33:27 > 0:33:28that's the plan.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31ELLIOTT: 'As musicians, it's really important,
0:33:31 > 0:33:33'and a great thing to have a space to work in, you know,
0:33:33 > 0:33:37'and record our own music, and compose.'
0:33:37 > 0:33:39Yeah, we've always wanted to build a proper recording space
0:33:39 > 0:33:41that we could use. And here it is, sort of.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43It's getting there.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:33:45 > 0:33:48'The first piece I'm going to be playing is a piece
0:33:48 > 0:33:50written by myself called Prelude,
0:33:50 > 0:33:53which was inspired by Paris, when I studied over there.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57And I hear your grandmother brought your socks -
0:33:57 > 0:33:59your lucky socks. Yeah, she did, she did.
0:33:59 > 0:34:01So I'm going to be wearing them.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54APPLAUSE
0:39:05 > 0:39:07APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:39:14 > 0:39:16I'm now going to move on to play a piece by
0:39:16 > 0:39:19one of my favourite guitarists, Ralph Towner.
0:39:19 > 0:39:20This is Tramonto. Thank you.
0:43:29 > 0:43:31APPLAUSE
0:43:35 > 0:43:37Thank you very much.
0:43:37 > 0:43:40We're going to finish with Solar, written by Miles Davis. Thanks.
0:47:08 > 0:47:09CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:47:37 > 0:47:39APPLAUSE
0:47:59 > 0:48:01CHEERING AND WHISTLING
0:48:03 > 0:48:06Ladies and gentlemen, Elliott Sansom!
0:48:14 > 0:48:15Cheers!
0:48:17 > 0:48:18That was amazing!
0:48:22 > 0:48:26Elliott has a very classical sound, and he was very generous with
0:48:26 > 0:48:28the rest of the band, giving them plenty of space.
0:48:28 > 0:48:31I'd love to have heard him do more solo piano.
0:48:31 > 0:48:35I thought he had a fantastic dialogue with the rest
0:48:35 > 0:48:39of the band and he really felt like a natural band leader to me.
0:48:39 > 0:48:42Oh, amazing. James and Yuri have just helped me so much.
0:48:42 > 0:48:45It's been so nice to play with them and get the chance to do that.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49Elliott is really putting himself out there.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52He's getting a lot of live experience. That paid off tonight.
0:48:52 > 0:48:54Yeah, you can tell, it was very accomplished playing.
0:48:54 > 0:48:56Very accomplished hat wearing as well!
0:48:56 > 0:48:57Yes! His playing was phenomenal,
0:48:57 > 0:48:59the way he played with the musicians on stage as well.
0:48:59 > 0:49:03You were looking forward to the Miles Davis. Did he pull it off? Absolutely.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06It's a tricky tune, but, yeah, he was great. Fantastic stuff.
0:49:06 > 0:49:08So two of our jazz finalists
0:49:08 > 0:49:10have already staked their claim to the title.
0:49:10 > 0:49:13Still to come, the youngest performer playing tonight,
0:49:13 > 0:49:1515-year-old Noah Stoneman,
0:49:15 > 0:49:17and 20-year-old saxophonist Tom Smith.
0:49:17 > 0:49:20But first we're going to hear 17-year-old trumpet player
0:49:20 > 0:49:21Alexandra Ridout.
0:49:21 > 0:49:23She's the only girl to reach this final
0:49:23 > 0:49:26and is the younger sister of Tom, who opened the show.
0:49:34 > 0:49:37Trumpeter Alexandra Ridout is in her first year
0:49:37 > 0:49:39at the Purcell School of Music.
0:49:39 > 0:49:43Purcell, the musical life is very busy. There's loads going on.
0:49:43 > 0:49:45It's amazing.
0:49:45 > 0:49:48And because everyone wants to do music,
0:49:48 > 0:49:51you can always be around musicians and there's always
0:49:51 > 0:49:54tons of ensembles and music going on at such a high standard.
0:50:00 > 0:50:02With jazz, I really love the connection you have
0:50:02 > 0:50:05with other players, which you really can't get
0:50:05 > 0:50:07as much in classical music.
0:50:07 > 0:50:09Because it's improvised, it's in the nature of the music.
0:50:09 > 0:50:12Being able to do that is really cool.
0:50:13 > 0:50:14Ready to record?
0:50:14 > 0:50:17Alexandra enjoys a broad musical education at Purcell,
0:50:17 > 0:50:21including lessons from one of the UK's leading jazz trumpeters,
0:50:21 > 0:50:22Steve Waterman.
0:50:22 > 0:50:23The first time I heard her play,
0:50:23 > 0:50:25I was knocked out with what she could do.
0:50:25 > 0:50:29She already had quite a lot of maturity not only in her playing,
0:50:29 > 0:50:32but also in her improvisation.
0:50:32 > 0:50:34SHE IMPROVISES
0:50:42 > 0:50:45Even weekends at home are no escape from music.
0:50:49 > 0:50:53In my family we have a lot of, like, jams, just at home.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57I'm just really lucky to have musician parents that know
0:50:57 > 0:50:59what they're doing.
0:51:01 > 0:51:04Well, Alex playing the trumpet, she in fact asked one day,
0:51:04 > 0:51:06"Mum, can girls play the trumpet?"
0:51:06 > 0:51:08HE CHUCKLES
0:51:08 > 0:51:10"Er, yes, of course."
0:51:12 > 0:51:16She wasn't so keen on jazz because that was our music, and it wasn't
0:51:16 > 0:51:20until she did a National Youth Jazz Collective course one summer,
0:51:20 > 0:51:23she came back and said, "Actually, I really like jazz."
0:51:27 > 0:51:30It's a passion she shares with her older brother Tom,
0:51:30 > 0:51:32who opened this final.
0:51:34 > 0:51:37Having my brother in the final is kind of weird,
0:51:37 > 0:51:39but it's also really cool.
0:51:39 > 0:51:42I mean, it would have been weird if one of us didn't get through.
0:51:42 > 0:51:44I mean, it wouldn't have been weird,
0:51:44 > 0:51:46but it would have been... a bit awkward.
0:51:49 > 0:51:51It's hard to be up against my sister,
0:51:51 > 0:51:55but I suppose there's nothing I can do about that now.
0:51:55 > 0:51:57No, there's not been any rivalry yet.
0:51:57 > 0:52:00He's really supportive of me getting through as well,
0:52:00 > 0:52:01so it's really nice.
0:52:02 > 0:52:05Please welcome to the stage Alexandra Ridout!
0:52:05 > 0:52:08CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:52:08 > 0:52:10I'm not fussed about winning at all.
0:52:10 > 0:52:12I mean, it would be cool,
0:52:12 > 0:52:15but I'm not, like, thinking about that at all.
0:52:15 > 0:52:19The best opportunity of my life, really. I'm so excited.
0:52:22 > 0:52:24SHE STARTS TO PLAY
0:55:33 > 0:55:37APPLAUSE
0:56:19 > 0:56:23CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:56:26 > 0:56:28Thank you.
0:56:28 > 0:56:31That was a piece called Yesterdays by Jerome Kern
0:56:31 > 0:56:33and I'm going to continue
0:56:33 > 0:56:37with an original composition of mine called Buttons.
0:56:37 > 0:56:40At the time I wrote it, my friend's cat died, my best friend,
0:56:40 > 0:56:43and it was called Buttons and it had three legs
0:56:43 > 0:56:46and my tune's in three, so I thought it would fit.
0:56:46 > 0:56:47It's kind of a tribute to her cat.
0:58:21 > 0:58:23APPLAUSE
1:00:02 > 1:00:04CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:00:10 > 1:00:12My third piece is by Herbie.
1:00:12 > 1:00:15It's called Sonrisa and it's off his solo album The Piano
1:00:15 > 1:00:19and I'm doing that duet with Gwilym, so that'll be really nice.
1:04:23 > 1:04:27CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:04:29 > 1:04:33My final tune is Golden Lady by Stevie Wonder. I hope you enjoy.
1:04:33 > 1:04:36CHEERING
1:07:16 > 1:07:18APPLAUSE
1:08:34 > 1:08:36CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:08:38 > 1:08:41Ladies and gentlemen, Alexandra Ridout!
1:08:41 > 1:08:42CHEERING
1:08:53 > 1:08:57The first phrase she played, a really sweet, soulful sound.
1:08:57 > 1:09:00I think that was the first thing that struck all of us.
1:09:00 > 1:09:03It was really great, the way that she reacted with the band.
1:09:03 > 1:09:05I felt that she was really enjoying it
1:09:05 > 1:09:08and it felt like a breath of fresh air, really.
1:09:08 > 1:09:11It was amazing when I got the response after my first tune, even.
1:09:11 > 1:09:14I was like... It kept me going, so it was really good, yeah.
1:09:16 > 1:09:19Alexandra's set went down a treat in this hall.
1:09:19 > 1:09:22I was really feeling synergy between her and the band.
1:09:22 > 1:09:24Yeah, me too. I love the way she ended with Stevie Wonder -
1:09:24 > 1:09:25really raised the spirit.
1:09:25 > 1:09:28A mastery of the instrument, and her stage presence was great.
1:09:28 > 1:09:29She was terrific.
1:09:29 > 1:09:32And her Herbie Hancock totally changed the atmosphere
1:09:32 > 1:09:34in here, didn't it? Yeah, absolutely.
1:09:34 > 1:09:37She really chose her pieces well and played brilliantly.
1:09:37 > 1:09:39So, three down, two to go.
1:09:39 > 1:09:43And, remember, you can watch all of tonight's complete performances
1:09:43 > 1:09:45on our website, as well as an extended interview
1:09:45 > 1:09:48with the chair of the jury, Julian Joseph.
1:09:48 > 1:09:50Next up, the second of our pianists in this final,
1:09:50 > 1:09:52and the youngest competitor this evening -
1:09:52 > 1:09:5415-year-old Noah Stoneman.
1:10:01 > 1:10:03JAUNTY PIANO MUSIC
1:10:04 > 1:10:06Both of my parents are musicians.
1:10:06 > 1:10:09About around age six, we got a grand piano.
1:10:09 > 1:10:13I think I eventually got some piano lessons in school.
1:10:13 > 1:10:15Then, from there, I realised how much
1:10:15 > 1:10:18I would rather do jazz than classical.
1:10:20 > 1:10:22Rich and I are not great jazzers, are we?
1:10:22 > 1:10:24No, we've never played jazz
1:10:24 > 1:10:27and we have no idea where it comes from or how he does it.
1:10:27 > 1:10:28It is all a mystery.
1:10:31 > 1:10:34I think the piano is a very unique instrument to play solo.
1:10:36 > 1:10:39You are kind of the band and the soloist at the same time,
1:10:39 > 1:10:42so it can be quite overwhelming at times, with so much to do.
1:10:42 > 1:10:45But it's a great freedom, playing solo piano.
1:10:49 > 1:10:50For the past five years,
1:10:50 > 1:10:53Noah has been a member of numerous musical ensembles
1:10:53 > 1:10:55organised by the Haringey Music Service.
1:10:59 > 1:11:01Well, he's very, very laidback.
1:11:01 > 1:11:03He doesn't seem to be flustered by anything.
1:11:03 > 1:11:06He is actually totally focused on getting the most
1:11:06 > 1:11:09out of the musical experiences we can give him,
1:11:09 > 1:11:11which is fantastic for us, of course,
1:11:11 > 1:11:14because we just keep throwing stuff at him.
1:11:17 > 1:11:21And at the weekend, Noah attends the Royal Academy Junior Jazz.
1:11:21 > 1:11:23Intro.
1:11:27 > 1:11:29That is, like, my favourite part of the week.
1:11:29 > 1:11:33It's just playing music that I love, loads of great people
1:11:33 > 1:11:34and great musicians.
1:11:36 > 1:11:39He's one of those guys that has got all the skills in place,
1:11:39 > 1:11:41plus that natural, unknown factor
1:11:41 > 1:11:44where he loves to stretch out
1:11:44 > 1:11:46and go to these uncharted territories in his solos.
1:11:46 > 1:11:50I love that. He is always exploring new things.
1:11:50 > 1:11:52Just playing music with your friends,
1:11:52 > 1:11:55I can't think of anything better in my life currently.
1:12:00 > 1:12:04Our fourth musician - Noah Stoneman!
1:12:04 > 1:12:06CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:12:09 > 1:12:13'The first piece I'm playing is Elsa by Earl Zindars.'
1:12:13 > 1:12:16Even though he wrote it, it was made famous by Bill Evans,
1:12:16 > 1:12:18who is one of my all-time musical heroes.
1:17:52 > 1:17:55CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:17:57 > 1:17:58Noah's set also included
1:17:58 > 1:18:01Irving Berlin's How Deep Is The Ocean?
1:18:01 > 1:18:05Next we are going to hear his own piece, Behind The Sky.
1:18:05 > 1:18:07Presumably you have composed quite a bit.
1:18:07 > 1:18:09Why was that the one that was best going to showcase you?
1:18:09 > 1:18:10Yeah, I had a few tunes.
1:18:10 > 1:18:14This was a slightly more modern-sounding piece, I guess.
1:18:14 > 1:18:17James and Yuri are fantastic contemporary players.
1:18:17 > 1:18:20They gave me loads of great ideas on how to give it a bit more shape,
1:18:20 > 1:18:23and hopefully that is all going to come through.
1:22:20 > 1:22:23CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:22:25 > 1:22:27I am now going to bring on the guy
1:22:27 > 1:22:29that has been the most fantastic mentor to me
1:22:29 > 1:22:31and all us finalists all week.
1:22:31 > 1:22:33We are going to play one of my favourite standards,
1:22:33 > 1:22:35called The End Of A Love Affair,
1:22:35 > 1:22:40with me on organ, and Mr Gwilym Simcock on piano.
1:22:40 > 1:22:43CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:25:06 > 1:25:08CHEERING
1:25:52 > 1:25:54APPLAUSE
1:26:52 > 1:26:54CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:27:13 > 1:27:15He was great. I mean, you could tell from the outset
1:27:15 > 1:27:17he had lovely sound on the piano. Very Bill Evans, basically,
1:27:17 > 1:27:20you could tell the influence from the start.
1:27:20 > 1:27:23Yeah, as he moved over to the organ, you know, great.
1:27:23 > 1:27:27I thought Noah played really, really well. He is sensitive.
1:27:27 > 1:27:30There is a great sense of melody going on.
1:27:30 > 1:27:34I would say that he is growing into his true musical self.
1:27:34 > 1:27:36You completely forget it's a competition, you know,
1:27:36 > 1:27:38there is no pressure or anything.
1:27:38 > 1:27:40It is a bit nerve-racking with the whole audience and stuff,
1:27:40 > 1:27:43but really fun. Really kind of exhilarating.
1:27:45 > 1:27:47Yeah, he's really talented, isn't he?
1:27:47 > 1:27:50I can't believe he's 15. I'm going to check his passport.
1:27:50 > 1:27:51Yeah, I think we should.
1:27:51 > 1:27:55I'm scared. I'm scared about him. He's too good.
1:27:55 > 1:27:57Yeah, it reminded me of Bill Evans, one of his great influences.
1:27:57 > 1:27:59Also Keith Jarrett. So many...
1:27:59 > 1:28:02And Michel Petrucciani, the great French pianist.
1:28:02 > 1:28:04So many brilliant jazz musicians.
1:28:04 > 1:28:08That last piece was completely different to the rest of the set.
1:28:08 > 1:28:12It really, I think, got the crowd bopping away. Absolutely.
1:28:12 > 1:28:14They loved him.
1:28:14 > 1:28:17So, we come to our last performer in this BBC Young Musician Jazz Final.
1:28:17 > 1:28:19If you were watching the show two years ago,
1:28:19 > 1:28:20you may well recognise him.
1:28:20 > 1:28:22It is 20-year-old Tom Smith.
1:28:30 > 1:28:32Saxophonist Tom Smith
1:28:32 > 1:28:35is in his second year at the Royal Academy of Music.
1:28:35 > 1:28:38I have decided to try for it again.
1:28:38 > 1:28:40It was such a fun experience.
1:28:40 > 1:28:41You get a chance to play with Gwilym,
1:28:41 > 1:28:44you get a chance to hang out with all these other competitors,
1:28:44 > 1:28:46get to hear all this amazing music.
1:28:50 > 1:28:51It was an amazing night.
1:28:51 > 1:28:54Everyone in the audience was so hyped up, energetic,
1:28:54 > 1:28:56in such a good mood.
1:28:56 > 1:28:59It was one of the best crowds to ever get to play to, really.
1:29:02 > 1:29:05Two years on and Tom has thrown himself into college life.
1:29:07 > 1:29:08He's got a fantastic sound
1:29:08 > 1:29:11and that's something that's developed
1:29:11 > 1:29:14over the last year and a half particularly, you know.
1:29:14 > 1:29:16It's just this personal sound.
1:29:19 > 1:29:23We'd been working on his composition and arranging with him.
1:29:23 > 1:29:25He's got a hell of a lot together already.
1:29:25 > 1:29:27He's running his own septet now.
1:29:27 > 1:29:29That's the bit that's rare, I think,
1:29:29 > 1:29:33to actually have something to say as well as something to say it with.
1:29:38 > 1:29:41Tom formed the septet in order to play his own arrangements
1:29:41 > 1:29:43and original compositions.
1:29:47 > 1:29:49It's lovely to hear other people playing your music.
1:29:49 > 1:29:53Firstly, because everything always sounds totally different
1:29:53 > 1:29:56to how you expect it to, but almost always it sounds
1:29:56 > 1:29:59about five times better than how you think it will.
1:30:00 > 1:30:02By being around different musicians,
1:30:02 > 1:30:04you get different ideas of different music.
1:30:04 > 1:30:06There's nothing more important in jazz
1:30:06 > 1:30:08than to be playing all the time.
1:30:12 > 1:30:15So, please, a wonderful round of applause for Mr Tom Smith!
1:30:15 > 1:30:18CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:30:20 > 1:30:22The fact that you get to play with the Gwilym Simcock Trio,
1:30:22 > 1:30:27you get to have a 15-minute set recorded and broadcast on TV,
1:30:27 > 1:30:29the competition part of it, it's cool that it's there,
1:30:29 > 1:30:32but, really, it's not the most important thing.
1:34:13 > 1:34:14CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:34:16 > 1:34:20In the middle of my set I'm doing two compositions back-to-back.
1:34:20 > 1:34:24The first is called Blackout. It's quite a brooding, intensive piece.
1:34:24 > 1:34:27I'm intrigued to see what people make of it.
1:37:43 > 1:37:46CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:37:46 > 1:37:49The third piece I'm playing is another composition, called Atlas.
1:37:49 > 1:37:53It's a ballad and it's meant to be quite an open sound.
1:37:53 > 1:37:57It's meant to be quite expansive and atmospheric.
1:40:38 > 1:40:40APPLAUSE
1:40:40 > 1:40:43Thank you so much. Just amazing to play here, actually.
1:40:43 > 1:40:45It's so, like... It's so enthusiastic.
1:40:45 > 1:40:47It's such a nice vibe in the room. It's lovely.
1:40:47 > 1:40:51And we're going to finish with a piece called Fantasy In D
1:40:51 > 1:40:52and it's by Cedar Walton.
1:43:52 > 1:43:55APPLAUSE
1:44:27 > 1:44:29APPLAUSE
1:45:35 > 1:45:39CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:45:39 > 1:45:40Tom Smith!
1:45:51 > 1:45:53Even though he's using a fairly, sort of,
1:45:53 > 1:45:56standard vocabulary in the way that he plays,
1:45:56 > 1:46:00within that, I felt that he wanted to kind of push the boundaries
1:46:00 > 1:46:02and take a few risks.
1:46:02 > 1:46:06I was incredibly impressed by his compositions
1:46:06 > 1:46:09and also, just generally, a fantastic energy to his playing.
1:46:09 > 1:46:11It was just a fantastic crowd, I think,
1:46:11 > 1:46:15and the trio were just on fire. Amazing.
1:46:15 > 1:46:18Tom, he's quite a showman, isn't he? He's quite the showman.
1:46:18 > 1:46:22Yeah, diminutive in stature, but the sound he makes is huge,
1:46:22 > 1:46:24very expressive player.
1:46:24 > 1:46:26I loved the way he switched between the tenor and the alto
1:46:26 > 1:46:30and his style on both instruments was very different,
1:46:30 > 1:46:34so he showed his range and his incredible skill on all four pieces.
1:46:34 > 1:46:36He's huge fun to watch too.
1:46:36 > 1:46:37Yeah, he's great fun to watch,
1:46:37 > 1:46:39and the way he interacts with the band...
1:46:39 > 1:46:41Yeah, I was really impressed with him.
1:46:41 > 1:46:44OK, so now we've heard all our finalists, what are your thoughts?
1:46:44 > 1:46:47They were all really accomplished and to play with a new band,
1:46:47 > 1:46:50to do all of these things as if they've been doing it
1:46:50 > 1:46:53all their lives, but they're still only young musicians.
1:46:53 > 1:46:55I'm so pleased for all of them because it means
1:46:55 > 1:47:00so much to them to get to perform in the hall here and for you at home.
1:47:00 > 1:47:02The jury have left the hall to make their decision
1:47:02 > 1:47:06and while we're waiting for that, we have a special treat.
1:47:06 > 1:47:08Alexander Bone was the first-ever winner
1:47:08 > 1:47:12of this BBC Young Musician Jazz Award and I was lucky enough
1:47:12 > 1:47:14to be here two years ago for that winning performance.
1:47:14 > 1:47:19He's been a busy chap since then and he's back to play for us tonight.
1:47:19 > 1:47:22Before we hear him, let's find out what he's been up to
1:47:22 > 1:47:23since winning the title.
1:47:33 > 1:47:34I can't believe that I won it still.
1:47:34 > 1:47:37Like, it just feels weird to say that.
1:47:38 > 1:47:42It has just opened me up to so many new things within music that
1:47:42 > 1:47:44I wouldn't have been able to do.
1:47:44 > 1:47:48Alex is now in his second year at the Royal Academy of Music but
1:47:48 > 1:47:52he's already worked with some of the biggest names in the music world.
1:47:54 > 1:47:56I got to do some work with Nile Rodgers.
1:47:56 > 1:47:58Nile Rodgers is, well, he's a legend.
1:47:58 > 1:48:01You know, people like Dave Holland and Liane Carroll as well -
1:48:01 > 1:48:04really credible jazz artists that I look up to and love.
1:48:08 > 1:48:10Being able to work in the same room with them
1:48:10 > 1:48:12and do gigs or whatever, it's just really incredible.
1:48:22 > 1:48:26One of Alex's most memorable gigs was playing to a bumper crowd
1:48:26 > 1:48:28at the Proms In The Park concert in Swansea.
1:48:28 > 1:48:31For me to play with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales,
1:48:31 > 1:48:34that was just the most amazing experience.
1:48:34 > 1:48:37Like, the amount of power and almost natural energy you get
1:48:37 > 1:48:41from that many musicians backing you is really something else.
1:48:43 > 1:48:47When it comes to the future, I'm still very open-minded.
1:48:47 > 1:48:50There's so many different fields within music that I love
1:48:50 > 1:48:53and I'm just keeping all my doors open and seeing what happens.
1:48:56 > 1:49:01And here is Alexander with his own composition, aptly titled Cardiff.
1:49:55 > 1:49:57APPLAUSE
1:52:02 > 1:52:05CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:52:13 > 1:52:16So good to have Alexander back with us tonight.
1:52:16 > 1:52:18He's quite a talent, isn't he? He really is,
1:52:18 > 1:52:21and we've also heard five more incredible young performers tonight.
1:52:21 > 1:52:24They're all gathered backstage waiting for the result,
1:52:24 > 1:52:26but before one is named winner
1:52:26 > 1:52:29of the 2016 BBC Young Musician Jazz Award,
1:52:29 > 1:52:32let's find out what the jury thought of their performances.
1:52:39 > 1:52:41Tom had a particular poise about him.
1:52:41 > 1:52:43I particularly liked the soprano saxophone -
1:52:43 > 1:52:46very individual sound - and, of course, the recorder.
1:52:49 > 1:52:52I was really impressed with Tom's performance.
1:52:54 > 1:52:58I loved the touch of the loop pedal in the recorder passages
1:52:58 > 1:53:01and a wonderful dialogue with the rest of the musicians.
1:53:06 > 1:53:10Elliott has a great point of view on the music.
1:53:12 > 1:53:16There are a few things that he's working on that are
1:53:16 > 1:53:19in the process of development and you can see and hear that,
1:53:19 > 1:53:22and that's what's really exciting about him as a pianist.
1:53:24 > 1:53:27His compositions were one of my favourites of the night.
1:53:28 > 1:53:32I just felt that, improvising-wise, he needed to allow things
1:53:32 > 1:53:33to develop a bit more...
1:53:34 > 1:53:36..but I was really knocked out with him.
1:53:42 > 1:53:44Alexandra, she was just a joy to listen to.
1:53:44 > 1:53:47I thought she had complete command of her instrument.
1:53:47 > 1:53:50She had a real innate musicality and musicianship.
1:53:52 > 1:53:56Alexandra was fantastic, just a real breath of fresh air.
1:53:56 > 1:53:58A real connection with the audience,
1:53:58 > 1:54:00but really with her material as well.
1:54:00 > 1:54:02It's really quite remarkable.
1:54:12 > 1:54:15I really loved Noah's phrasing and his sound.
1:54:15 > 1:54:18You could really hear that he's got the real Bill Evans influence.
1:54:18 > 1:54:22If he carries on doing what he does, he'll be a very strong musician.
1:54:25 > 1:54:29It's great to hear someone so young with a sensibility about him
1:54:29 > 1:54:30on the piano.
1:54:30 > 1:54:33To me, if he can get more authority
1:54:33 > 1:54:36and give the impression that he's leading the band a little bit more,
1:54:36 > 1:54:39I really look forward to hearing him in future years.
1:54:46 > 1:54:50Tom Smith, his original compositions were some of the best
1:54:50 > 1:54:51we heard tonight.
1:54:54 > 1:54:56He executed them with a sense of discipline
1:54:56 > 1:54:59and control that I was really impressed with.
1:55:01 > 1:55:05I really liked his composition Blackout and overall, yeah,
1:55:05 > 1:55:08he had a really nice kind of variety of sound.
1:55:08 > 1:55:12He played both tenor and alto and he changed the sound
1:55:12 > 1:55:16depending on the piece, which I thought was quite interesting.
1:55:16 > 1:55:18CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:55:19 > 1:55:23Now, we have five very nervous people waiting backstage
1:55:23 > 1:55:25so I'm not going to delay things any longer.
1:55:25 > 1:55:28Please welcome to the stage our jury tonight -
1:55:28 > 1:55:30Tim Garland, Zoe Rahman,
1:55:30 > 1:55:33Byron Wallen, Gwyneth Herbert and,
1:55:33 > 1:55:39to announce the winner of the 2016 BBC Young Musician Jazz Award,
1:55:39 > 1:55:40Julian Joseph.
1:55:45 > 1:55:49Ladies and gentlemen, it gives us great pleasure to be here.
1:55:49 > 1:55:54It's phenomenal to be part of a competition celebrating
1:55:54 > 1:55:56this great music.
1:55:56 > 1:56:00It shows us that the level and the interest
1:56:00 > 1:56:05and the enthusiasm for superb music-making,
1:56:05 > 1:56:11whatever style, but particularly in jazz, is well and truly alive.
1:56:11 > 1:56:15We didn't by any means find this an easy decision.
1:56:15 > 1:56:20It was just about - what is it that makes a jazz musician?
1:56:20 > 1:56:23And we found that our winner today just made us feel
1:56:23 > 1:56:28so wonderful about the music and it was just really enchanting.
1:56:28 > 1:56:32So I'm going to look at my paper so I don't make any mistakes.
1:56:35 > 1:56:41The winner of the BBC Young Musician 2016 Jazz Award is...
1:56:41 > 1:56:43Alexandra Ridout.
1:56:43 > 1:56:45CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:57:19 > 1:57:22I don't think anyone's going to stop clapping tonight!
1:57:22 > 1:57:25You were fantastic. How are you feeling?
1:57:25 > 1:57:29Oh, that was...cool. Erm...
1:57:29 > 1:57:34Cool is an understatement. Yeah, thank you so much, everyone.
1:57:34 > 1:57:37Gwilym's trio, it was amazing to play with them.
1:57:37 > 1:57:40That was, like, the highlight, really. I had so much fun.
1:57:40 > 1:57:43Well deserved. Another round of applause.
1:57:46 > 1:57:47And, ladies and gentlemen,
1:57:47 > 1:57:50we mustn't forget our other wonderful finalists.
1:57:50 > 1:57:52Please welcome Tom Ridout...
1:57:53 > 1:57:55..Elliott Sansom...
1:57:55 > 1:57:57Noah Stoneman and Tom Smith.
1:57:57 > 1:58:00APPLAUSE
1:58:05 > 1:58:09What a fantastic night of jazz.
1:58:09 > 1:58:11Congratulations once again to Alexandra,
1:58:11 > 1:58:16the winner of the BBC Young Musician Jazz Award 2016.
1:58:16 > 1:58:19From all of us here in Cardiff, goodnight.
1:58:20 > 1:58:23CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:58:30 > 1:58:33We just enjoyed listening to her as a musician
1:58:33 > 1:58:35and that really came across.
1:58:35 > 1:58:38She brought a real sense of swing that really perked me up.
1:58:39 > 1:58:43Just from the first note that she played,
1:58:43 > 1:58:46she had such a connection to her voice.
1:58:46 > 1:58:49And, really, I think that that's what jazz should be able to do.