One of the most positive statements about the way forward for jazz into the 21st century" Who are the leading up-and-coming jazz saxophonists in the world? That's what the first International Saxophone Competition at this summer's Montreux Jazz Festival aimed to find out. As the fifteen semi-finalists arrived to joust their way through the contest in the Victorian splendour of the little theatre in the lakeside Montreux Palace Hotel, the cameras followed their every move, from the elation of performance to the suspense of judging and from the elation of making it to the finals to the despair of narrowly missing success. The thoughts of the candidates are a fascinating insight into what it takes to become a world-class performer in today's competitive jazz environment, and there are comments too from all the judges, including internationally famous saxophone soloists Lee Konitz, Jean Toussaint, David Sanborn and Kirk Whalum and broadcasters Alyn Shipton, and Yvan Ischer. Capturing all the excitement of the jam session battles of old, and featuring the brilliant accompaniment of American piano star Lynne Arriale coaxing the finalists towards their finest efforts, this film is one of the most positive statements about the way forward for jazz into the 21st century.
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