Teen Saxophonist From Livingston Earns Grand Prize In Jazz Competition

LIVINGSTON, NJ — An up-and-coming tenor saxophone player from Livingston recently earned a grand prize in the 2026 Gerry Mulligan Jazz Challenge, sponsored by The Gerry and Franca Mulligan Foundation.

Jay Thatte, 16, began playing music when he was 6-years-old. Thatte was exposed to jazz when he entered the sixth grade at Newark Academy in Livingston, and has excelled in the artform since then, AllAboutJazz.com reported.

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Now entering his junior year in high school, Thatte was one of two grand prize winners in this year's competition, turning in a sizzling solo performance video of Mulligan's "Outback of the Barn."

Read the full article here.

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