Judges

Catherine Mayer

Germany

Jazz producer, director of agency "Just Jazz International". Her company Just Jazz International has grown into one of the finest concert agencies and artist management companies based in Europe, booking tours for Take 6, Bob James, The Manhattan Transfer, Till Bronner, Patti Austin, Ivan Lins and many more internationally acclaimed artists.

Georgina Javor

USA

Georgina Javor is the Vice President of Concerts & Touring at Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) where she oversees the strategy, budget and implementation of concert programming at Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City and the national and international touring operations of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Previously, she was the Assistant Director of Programming at JALC, managing and curating the programming at Dizzy’s Club and working on mainstage, festival and special event programming.

Giuseppe Mormile

Italy

Founder and artistic director of of the Venezia Jazz Festival, one of the most important festivals on the international scene, which takes place in the heart of the city of Venice. In 1981 he created the Summer Jazz Workshop.
He is an expert of jazz and contemporary music and is considered one of the most well known Italian promoters.

Jamison Ross

USA

Jamison Ross jazz drummer and vocalist the winner of the 2012 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and Grammy nominee.
He is a graduate of Florida State University, where he received a Bachelor’s of Music in Jazz Studies. Jamison currently resides in New Orleans, Louisiana where he received his Masters of Music in Jazz Studies.

Jeff Levenson

USA

Jeff Levenson is a music executive who currently serves as writer-producer, educator and consultant. His affiliations, past and present, include posts at Half Note, Sony, Warner Bros, Downbeat, Billboard and the Blue Note jazz club in New York. He currently produces the annual Thelonious Monk Competition in Washington DC, and has authored and/or produced events for the NEA, the US State Department, the White House, the New School for Social Research and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.

Māris Briežkalns

Latvia

Drummer, producer. Latvian Radio jazz producer, artistic director of "Rigas Ritmi Festival" and International Jazz Artist contest "Riga Jazz Stage". 

 

Önder Focan

Turkey

Founder and artistic director of  "Nardis Jazz Club" in Istanbul. Jazz guitarist, arranger and composer.

Paul Pace

United Kingdom

Music bookings coordinator at "Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club" in London. He also possesses extensive experience in specialist record retail (9 years at Ray’s Jazz), is an avid collector and unwavering champion of the music. In 2008 he received the All-Party Parliamentary Award for Services to Jazz.

 

Raimonds Pauls

Latvia

Raimonds Pauls is the most famous composer and piano player not only in Latvia, but also far beyond its borders. His music has been performed in countless countries and in the most prestigious concert halls, and all of this was possible thanks to his unique flair of melody. 

Toivo Unt

Estonia

Musician, producer, educator. Founder and artistic director of "Jazz Time" festival. One of Estonia`s most prominent doublebass player. Artist of Estonian National Opera Symphony Orchestra. Member of Baltic Jazz Trio.