![]() He traveled to Tokyo to personally thank Ritenour as well as congratulate the top pianist, Holger Marjamaa, with a handshake. Yabui placed as a finalist in the piano division on the strength of his performance video titled "Michael Jackson's Songs Medley." In the audience to watch the final performance was Japan's top entrant, 32-year-old Yusuke Yabui from the city of Okayama in the western part of the country. Ironically, Ritenour said he "always hated" competitions "but I say to everyone, and it's written on my website as well, that the competition is within yourself to make yourself better." The 2018 edition winners came from all over the world - Jazz Guitar: Cecil Alexander (USA), Rock Guitar: Johannes Persson (Sweden), Blues Guitar: Hayden Fogle (USA), Acoustic Guitar: Eric Jayne (USA), Classical Guitar: Hedvika Svendova (Czech, France), Rhythm Guitar: Kaspar Jalily (France), Piano: Holger Marjamaa (Estonia, USA), Bass: Petar Pera Krstajic (Serbia, USA), Drums: Euan Leslie (Scotland, USA). ![]() And they get to see the sights a little bit and of course perform at the famous Blue Note." Other key backers have been musical instruments maker Yamaha Corp., and the highly regarded Berklee College of Music in Boston. "For instance, Blue Note Tokyo has been a sponsor for the last several years and part of the price for them is to bring everybody here and pay for their flights, put them up, and bring them here for three days, and then we have a rehearsal. The competition, which now has more than 60 notable expert judges, has also attracted a number of big-name sponsors. So it's wonderful to see the young talent around the world entering and all the way up in each generation." And we've had musicians entering in their 70s, 80s you know. ![]() You have to be 16 or older but it goes all the way up to 100. "This year was particularly young - the oldest is 26 and the youngest 18," he said, while stressing, "There is no age limit. The rhythm section, added in 2012, has three divisions- piano, bass and drums. The guitar competition has expanded to six style divisions - jazz, rock, blues, classical, acoustic and rhythm. The competition's websitedrew visits from people in 190 countries, Ritenour said proudly. This latest "2018 edition" saw about 800 aspiring musicians - 500 or so guitarists and around 300 rhythm section musicians - sign up to compete from more than 60 countries. Mansun frontman Paul Draper fashions a new legacy Toto's Steve Lukather on banner 2019, Japan, planned "demented guide"Ī conversation in Tokyo with former Mansun frontman Paul DraperĪ conversation in Tokyo with 80s popsters Johnny Hates Jazz ![]() And so we did that, and the winner was a classical guitarist named Shon Boublil from Canada," who appeared on the album, Ritenour said. "It was my idea to (also) invite somebody completely brand new.and I thought how cool would it be if we had a competition, a worldwide competition, to invite some new person who has never really recorded. King, John Scofield, Steve Lukather of Toto, Slash, Keb' Mo', Joe Bonnamassa and Mike Stern. Those players included such icons as George Benson, B.B. "It was my dream to feature all different styles of guitar playing with as many legendary guitar players on each of the styles, and often collaborating with one another," he said about the album. The competition grew out of Ritenour's landmark 2010 album "6 String Theory" and has been on an expansive trajectory since. "I feel it's turned out to be a wonderful legacy for me," the 67-year-old Grammy-winning musician says of the biennial competition, whose latest edition wrapped up with the spirited March 16 performance designed to showcase the nine young winners - six in guitar and three in rhythm section. Guitar master Lee Ritenour is answering questions in his Blue Note Tokyo dressing room with his Gibson Les Paul strapped on and fingers flying over the fretboard, warming up just before hosting and also playing in the finale performance of his latest global Six String Theory Competition.
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