This year’s winner of the world renowned Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz competition has a Tampa connection.

Jamison Ross, already an accomplished drummer, won a $25,000 scholarship and a recording contract Sunday night at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D. C.  His wife, Adrienne, a native of Tampa, was in the audience to cheer her husband on. The event was the 25th Annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition.

Ross was one of 12 drummers from around the globe who competed on Saturday to become one of 3 finalists to perform on Sunday evening. The competition was open to musicians under age 3o, and this year’s spotlight was on drummers.

The judges included an all-star panel of drummers.

One of the evening’s performers was Aretha Franklin. Herbie Hancock is Chairman of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.

Ross, a native of Jacksonville, FL, began playing drums at the age of 4 and won the Florida All-State Jazz Band Drummer Award for 4 consecutive years.

He has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea, George Clinton, P-Funk and is currently a member of the Wes Anderson Quartet and Carmen Lundy’s band.

Mr. and Mrs. Ross met in Tallahassee; Adrienne was a student at FAMU and Jamison was at FSU. They met at a church in Tallahassee.

Adrienne is a member of the Cooper family. She is the daughter of Carol Cooper-Jarrett and niece of Patricia (Pat) Cooper.
The couple lives in New Orleans.