The 2018 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Competition will feature gifted young pianists competing for major scholarships and a recording contract with Concord Music Group. Hosted by Blair Underwood, the evening will culminate with an All-Star Gala Concert with Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock and a stellar cast of artists paying tribute to the late Aretha Franklin, with legendary vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater receiving the Institute’s Maria Fisher Founder’s Award.