On this episode of The Art of the Story, we meet the finalists of the 2025 DCJazzPrix.
One of the highlights of the DC Jazz Festival is the The 2025 DCJazzPrix™ on Saturday, August 30 at Union Stage. It's the tenth year of recognizing and supporting top emerging jazz ensembles.
This year's DCJazzPrix finalists include:
- Friendship (New York, NY) - Led by Canadian pianist Jenny Xu, with bassist Ben Friedman and drummer Kofi Shepsu
- José Luiz Martins (São Paulo, Brazil) - Led by pianist-keyboardist José Luiz Martins, featuring flautist-vocalist Alex Hamburger, bassist Romeir Mendez, and drummer Dana Hawkins
- Dave Meder New American Hymnal Quartet (Denton, TX) - Led by pianist Dave Meder, with trumpeter Philip Dizack, bassist Marty Jaffe, and drummer Michael Piolet
- The Smoogies (Delray Beach, FL) - Featuring keyboardist-vocalist Vaughn Henry, bassist Dion Kerr, and the double drums of David Chiverton and Harvel Nakundi
Each finalist will perform live during the DCJazzPrix Finals at Union Stage on Saturday, August 30, 2025, as part of the 2025 DC JazzFest. The winning band will receive a $15,000 grand prize, a mainstage performance at DC JazzFest 2026, and begin a yearlong association with the DC Jazz Festival including customized business development and career technical assistance.
You can SEE Doug Doyle's interview with the finalists of DCJazzPrix below.
