Katzenjammer finalist in U.K. talent competition

The winner of the grand prize, chosen through a round of public voting that ends today, will receive 5,000 pounds.

The competition, run by jazz musician Jamie Cullum and the PizzaExpress Jazz Club, is open to singers, musicians and anyone else who is musically inclined.

“Whatever you’re into, from rock to pop, folk to rap, we want you to share your talent with us,” the competition’s website said.

Ten finalists from the Top 50 will be chosen to attend a master class with Cullum, while the grand prize winner will have, along with 5,000 pounds to kickstart his or her career, the honor of performing at a prestigious U.K. jazz club.

Taub said he first learned of the competition after being caught in a rain storm in London.

Trying to find shelter, he spotted a giant poster of Cullum in a store window and inquired storeowners about its purpose.

Upon discovering that the poster advertised a music competition, he decided to enter without telling anyone of his submission.

Taub was at a tattoo parlor with a friend when he received a call informing him that he was part of the competition’s Top 50, which meant that he would have to travel to the U.K. for a live audition.

Fortunately, Taub is currently studying abroad in Italy, which made attending the live audition much easier for him.

Taub said in an email that he has not taken voice lessons but has “learned tremendously” from his experiences with the Katzenjammers, “a group filled with people who sing way better than I,” he said.

Katzenjammers president Amy Vickery ’12 said in an email that she wasn’t at all surprised that Taub had done well in the competition.

“Ben may look like a Jonas Brother, but he can actually sing,” she said.

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Katzenjammers music director Diana Barnes ’13 agreed, adding that Ben’s voice stood out among others.

“There’s something very unique and suitable to jazz about Ben’s voice, a kind of smokey sound, and it sets him apart,” she said.

Taub performed Billie Holiday’s “You Don’t Know What Love is” for his submission video and Leonard Cohen’s “I’m Your Man” for his live audition.

He wrote both arrangements for the background tracks using GarageBand.

Writing such arrangements is one of Taub’s most prominent talents, according to his peers.

“One of the best parts about Ben’s musical abilities,” Barnes said, “is his ability to improvise or arrange music for himself.”

While he said he is hopeful that he will make it to the Top 10, Taub added he will be satisfied with his experience regardless of the outcome.

“Even if Top 50 is the end of the road for me, I’m happy to have gotten this far and grateful for having had the opportunity to perform live in London a few days ago,” he said.

Taub’s message to University students is to vote for him at pizzaexpress.com/the-big-audition.

The voting closes on Sept. 28 at 7 p.m.