The New Century Quintet has won the inaugural DCJazzPrix, a national competition created to recognize and support rising jazz-band talent. The competition, held on June 18, was hosted by the DC Jazz Festival in Washington D.C.
Based in New York City, the New Century Quintet is co-led by pianist Takeshi Ohbayashi and drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. and features saxophonist Braxton Cook, trumpeter and vocalist Benny Benack III and bassist Yasushi Nakamura.
In addition to a $15,000 prize, the band has earned a year-long association with the DC Jazz Festival for professional development, business support and a mainstage 2017 DC Jazz Festival engagement.
For more information, go to http://www.dcjazzfest.org/