Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
Flea Finds His Jazz Thing
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
If you’ve ever wanted to show Ornette Coleman what you’ve got, this is your opportunity.
Coleman is one of the judges for the International Songwriting Competition, which is now accepting entries. The yearly contest awards thousands of dollars in prizes to aspiring and established songwriters, with categories ranging from jazz and blues to rock and country. The overall grand prize is $25,000 cash and $20,000 in merchandise.
The competition puts Coleman alongside a prestigious panel of judges, including jazz luminaries such as guitarist John Scofield and vocalist Cassandra Wilson, and other musicians of various genres such as Nelly Furtado and Tom Waits.
The application deadline is Oct. 15. See songwritingcompetition.com for details on how to submit an entry.
“Cerebral and academic thought is a different way to approach music,” Flea says of his continuing dive into jazz. “I’ve always relied on emotion and intuition and physicality.”
Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
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