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Full List Of Winners: 13th Annual Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards

jazzman — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:39:08 +0000

Here is the full list of winners announced at the 13th Annual Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards.

Lifetime Achievement in Jazz
Lee Konitz

Musician of the Year
Sonny Rollins

Composer of the Year
Maria Schneider

Up & Coming Artist of the Year
Esperanza Spalding

Events Producer of the Year
George Wein

New Festival Productions Record
of the Year
Appearing Nightly
Carla Bley Big Band
(Watt/ECM)

Latin Jazz Album of the Year
Song for Chico
Arturo O’Farrill
(Zoho)

Historical Recording/Reissue of the Year
Road Shows, Vol. 1
Sonny Rollins
(Doxy)

Historical Recording Boxed Set
The Lester Young/Count Basie Sessions 1936-40
(Mosaic)

Record Label of the Year
Mosaic

Female Singer of the Year
Cassandra Wilson

Male Singer of the Year
Kurt Elling

Instruments Rare in Jazz
Richard Galliano, accordion

Large Ensemble of the Year
Maria Schneider Orchestra

Arranger of the Year
Maria Schneider

Small Ensemble Group of the Year
SF Jazz Collective

Trumpeter of the Year
Terence Blanchard

Trombonist of the Year
Roswell Rudd

Tenor Saxophonist of the Year
Sonny Rollins

Alto Saxophonist of the Year
Rudresh Mahanthappa

Flutist of the Year
Frank Wess

Baritone Saxophonist of the Year
Gary Smulyan

Soprano Saxophonist of the Year
Branford Marsalis

Clarinetist of the Year
Anat Cohen

Guitarist of the Year
Bill Frisell

Pianist of the Year
Hank Jones

Organist of the Year
Dr. Lonnie Smith

Strings Player of the Year
Billy Bang

Bassist of the Year
William Parker

Electric Bassist of the Year
Steve Swallow

Mallet Instrumentalist of the Year
Joe Locke

Percussionist of the Year
Hamid Drake

Drummer of the Year
Brian Blade

Periodical of the year
Jazz Times

Website of the Year
AllAboutJazz.com

Blog of the Year
Jazz Beyond Jazz
(Howard Mandel)
www.artsjournal.com/jazzbeyondjazz

Best Book about Jazz
A Power Stronger Than Itself: The AACM and American Experimental Music
(George Lewis)
University of Chicago Press

Best Photo of the Year
Hank Jones, Montreal Jazz Festival 2008
(Kris King)

The Lona Foote–Bob Parent Award for Photography
John Abbott

The Willis Conover–Marian McPartland Award
for Broadcasting
Ben Young, Director, WKCR
(Columbia University)

The Helen Dance–Robert Palmer Award
for Review and Feature Writing
Nate Chinen

Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Journalism
Mike Zwerin

The Jazz Foundation of America and the Jazz
Journalists Association Special Career Honors
for Words with Music
Mark Murphy

A Team Awards for:

Herb Alpert
Musician, Producer, Jazz Supporter

Dr. Agnes Varis
Jazz Angel

Bruce Lundvall
Record Man

David N. Baker
Jazz Educator

Timuel Black
Cultural Historian

Steven Saltzman
Chicago Jazz Advocate

Ruth Price
The Jazz Bakery

Clarence Acox
Garfield High School
Jazz Band Leader

Scott Brown
Roosevelt High School
Jazz Band Leader

Peter Levinson
Author and Publicist

Richard Sudhalter
Author, Journalist, Musician

Winners Announced For 13th Annual Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards

jazzman — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:18:59 +0000

A large group of jazz’s best singers convened at the 13th annual Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards at the Jazz Standard Tuesday afternoon (June 16th) as Kurt Elling, Sheila Jordan, Roberta Gambarini, Giacomo Gates and Venissa Santî gathered around bebop-vocalist Mark Murphy to wish him well. Murphy, age 74, was recipient of the first “Words and Music” Awards, co-presented by the Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) and the Jazz Foundation of America, whose director Wendy Oxenhorn made an appeal for $20 donations to cover the crisis in housing and health care for musicians in need.

Kurt Elling was named Male Vocalist of the Year (Gambarini was Female Vocalist of the Year 2008). Besides the singers, the following awards winners were in attendance: Pianist Hank Jones (shown on the right), trumpeter Terrence Blanchard, alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, Latin jazz bandleader Arturo O’Farrill, trombonist Roswell Rudd, violinist Billy Bang, reeds player Frank Wess, clarinetist Anat Cohen, organist Dr. Lonnie Smith and producer of the year George Wein. Nominees including vibeist Stefon Harris, saxophonist Noah Preminger, trombonist Clifton Anderson, flutist Jamie Baum, pianist Vijay Iyer, baritone saxophonist Claire Daly, multi-instrumentalist Scott Robinson, drummer Harris Eisenstadt and big band composer-conductor Darcy James Argue and Karen Mantler were in attendance. (see full list of winners)

So were a multitude of jazz journalists from the U.S. and overseas, including Gary Giddins, Dan Morgenstern, Ira Gitler, Francis Davis, Doug Ramsey, Dan Ouellette, Bill Milkowski, Marc Myers, David Hadju, David Adler, Art Lange, Fred Kaplan, Laurence Donohue-Greene, Chris Kelsey, Tim Wilkins, Nate Chinen, Ben Ratliff, Marcia Hillman, Hank Shteamer, Christian Broecking (Germany) and Cyril Moshkow (Russia), photographers John Abbott, Fran Kauffman, Enid Farber, Steven Sussman and broadcasters Linda Yohn (WEMU-Ypsilanti), Ben Young (WKCR-Columbia University and Becca Pulliam (WBGO-Newark) along with program director Thurston Briscoe and general manager Cephas Bowles.

- For further information about the Jazz Awards, go to www.JazzJournalists.org.
- For further information about the JJA go to www.Jazzhouse.org.

See full list of winners

Berklee Alumni and Faculty Receive 29 Grammy Nominations

jazzman — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:24:10 +0000

The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences nominated 22 Berklee alumni and one faculty member for a total of 29 Grammy Awards. The nominees were recognized for their outstanding contributions across the spectrum of fields, including pop, rock, rap, alternative, jazz, Latin, country, polka, producing, engineering, arranging, and composing. To date, 58 known Berklee alumni have won a total of 168 Grammy Awards. The 51st Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 8th 2009, and broadcast on CBS at 8:00 pm (ET/PT).

John Mayer (seen below), who performed with B.B. King during the TV special “The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! – Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night (’98),” was nominated for five awards this year, including Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, for a duet with Alicia Keys. Other multiple nominees include Andrew Dawson ’01, who was nominated for Album of the Year and Rap Album of the Year, for his work on Lil Wayne’s top-nominated album Tha Carter III; and Gary Burton ‘62 who was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo and Best Jazz Instrumental Album.

Assistant Professor Dave Samuels was nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album for Afro Bop Alliance, hot on the heels of winning a Latin Grammy Award last month in the same category. Additional jazz nominees include Joe Lovano ‘72 (Gary Burton Jazz Chair at Berklee), Bill Frisell ’77, Antonio Sanchez ’97, and Mike Stern ’75.

Other nominees include Mars Volta drummer Thomas Pridgen ’03 for Best Hard Rock Performance; Aimee Mann ‘80 for art direction on her album @#%&*! Smilers; Bruce Hornsby ‘74 for Best Country Instrumental Performance; Gavin Lurssen ’91 for his work on Raising Sand, by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; Tony Maserati ‘86 for engineering Jason Mraz’s album; and Iron Man soundtrack composer Ramin Djawadi ’98.

For a complete list of Berklee alumni and faculty Grammy nominees, please visit http://www.berklee.edu/news.

The 2009 Grammy Nominations Are Out: Who’s nominated in the jazz category?

jazzman — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:19:57 +0000

Grammy nominations for 2009 were released Dec. 4th, 2008. For those that follow jazz, it is no suprirse to see some of the following names. At the same time, we will have a chance to become familiar with some newer faces.

The jazz category is broken up into 6 sub-categories, consisting of:
(1) Best Contemporary Jazz Album
(2) Best Jazz Vocal Album
(3) Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
(4) Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
(5) Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
(6) Best Latin Jazz Album

So, here are they are!

(1) Best Contemporary Jazz Album:
(This category is reserved for albums containing 51% or more playing time of instrumental tracks)

Album: Randy In Brasil
Artist: Randy Brecker
[MAMA Records]

Album: Floating Point
Artist: John McLaughlin
[Abstract Logix]

Album: Cannon Re-Loaded: All-Star Celebration Of Cannonball Adderley
Artist: (Various Artists)
Gregg Field & Tom Scott, producers
[Concord Jazz]

Album: Miles From India
Artist: (Various Artists)
Bob Belden, producer
[4Q/Times Square Records]

Album: Lifecycle
Artist: Yellowjackets Featuring Mike Stern
[Heads Up International]

(2) Best Jazz Vocal Album
(This category is reserved for albums containing 51% or more playing time of vocal tracks.)

Album: Imagina: Songs Of Brasil
Artist: Karrin Allyson
[Concord Jazz]

Album: Breakfast On The Morning Tram
Artist: Stacey Kent
[Blue Note]

Album: If Less Is More…Nothing Is Everything
Artist: Kate McGarry
[Palmetto Records]

Album: Loverly
Artist: Cassandra Wilson
[Blue Note]

Album: Distances
Artist: Norma Winstone (Glauco Venier & Klaus Gesing)
[ECM]

(3) Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
(This category is reserved for an instrumental jazz solo performance. Two equal performers on one recording may be eligible as one entry. If the soloist listed appears on a recording billed to another artist, the latter’s name is in parenthesis for identification. Singles or Tracks only.)

“Be-Bop”
Terence Blanchard, soloist
Track from: Live At The 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival (Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars)
[Monterey Jazz Festival Records]

“Seven Steps To Heaven”
Till Brönner, soloist
Track from: The Standard (Take 6)
[Heads Up International]

“Waltz For Debby”
Gary Burton & Chick Corea, soloists
Track from: The New Crystal Silence
[Concord Records]

“Son Of Thirteen”
Pat Metheny, soloist
Track from: Day Trip
[Nonesuch Records]

“Be-Bop”
James Moody, soloist
Track from: Live At The 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival (Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars)
[Monterey Jazz Festival Records]

(4) Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
(This category is reserved for albums containing 51% or more playing time of instrumental tracks.)

Album: The New Crystal Silence
Artist: Chick Corea & Gary Burton
[Concord Records]

Album: History, Mystery
Artist: Bill Frisell
[Nonesuch Records]

Album: Brad Mehldau Trio: Live
Artist: Brad Mehldau Trio
[Nonesuch Records]

Album: Day Trip
Artist: Pat Metheny With Christian McBride & Antonio Sanchez
[Nonesuch Records]

Album: Standards
Artist: Alan Pasqua, Dave Carpenter & Peter Erskine Trio
[Fuzzy Music]

(5) Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
(This category is reserved for large jazz ensembles, including big band sounds. Albums must contain 51% or more INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)

Album: Appearing Nightly
Artist: Carla Bley And Her Remarkable Big Band
[WATT]

Album: Act Your Age
Artist: Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band
[Immergent]

Album: Symphonica
Artist: Joe Lovano With WDR Big Band & Rundfunk Orchestra
[Blue Note]

Album: Blauklang
Artist: Vince Mendoza
[Act Music and Vision (AMV)]

Album: Monday Night Live At The Village Vanguard
Artist: The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
[Planet Arts Recordings]

(6) Best Latin Jazz Album
(This can be vocal or instrumental.)

Album: Afro Bop Alliance
Caribbean Jazz Project
[Heads Up International]

Album: The Latin Side Of Wayne Shorter
Conrad Herwig & The Latin Side Band
[Half Note Records]

Album: Song For Chico
Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra
[Zoho]

Album: Nouveau Latino
Nestor Torres
[Diamond Light Records]

Album: Marooned/Aislado
Papo Vázquez The Mighty Pirates
[Picaro Records]

[Source: allaboutjazz.com]

Jack Prybylski Declared Best Saxophonist Of The Year Again: Buffalo Music Awards honors him for the 10th time

Mike — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:56:47 +0000

At the 2008 Buffalo Music Awards, Jack Prybylski was declared the Saxophonist of the Year for the tenth time (four years consecutively from 2004-2008). “It’s flattering and rewarding to be recognized by peers and fans. I appreciate that people continue to find enjoyment in my musical craft,” said Prybylski.

In 2006, Prybylski released one of his great albums Window Shopping, receiving high marks and a top ten listing in the Smooth Jazz News.

“It doesn’t take long to realize why Prybylski has been
awarded top honors for his sax work so many times.”
- Susan Lozinak of the Jazz Review.

Currently, Prybylski is finalizing plans for his upcoming 2009 CD release. “The music will be a more urban direction with elements of dance and chill,” he said.

Jack Prybylski is endorsed by Yamaha, Applied Microphone Technologies and Theo Wanne Mouthpieces.

For more information about Jack Prybylski, please visit his site:
www.jackprybylski.com

Recommended Listening:

(1) Window Shopping (Released 2006)
(2) Soho Strut (Released 2002)

Chick Corea Among Winners At The 2008 BBC Jazz Awards

Mike — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:05:43 +0000

The first UK performance in 25 years by Chick Corea and Return To Forever, Best Vocalist nominee Ian Shaw’s first public performance of the late, great Humphrey Lyttleton’s Sad, Sweet Song and an exclusive performance by Jamie Cullum, Jeff Beck and Kyle Eastwood were just some of the highlights of the 2008 BBC Jazz Awards celebrating the best of British and international jazz, held at the Mermaid Theatre in London last night, Monday 21st July.

Pianist Kit Downes took home the Rising Star Award before being joined onstage by his band Empirical, and the Best Vocalist Award went to Christine Tobin who performed a rendition of her song Camille with star violinist Nigel Kennedy. Saxophonist Tony Kofi received the award for Best Instrumentalist from legendary guitarist Jeff Beck, while the Album Of The Year Award went to Bristol-based quartet The Blessing who announced their name change to Get The Blessing, and played the track Cake Hole from their debut release All Is Yes after being handed their award by DJ and producer Goldie.

The BBC Radio 3 Jazz Line-Up Best Band Award was given to Curios, the modern piano trio led by Tom Cawley, and the BBC Radio 3 Jazz On 3 Innovation Award went to ultra-contemporary ‘post-jazz’ group Fraud, with saxophonist James Allsop leading the band through one of their trademark daring numbers. Scottish sax supremo Tommy Smith picked up the BBC Radio 2 Heart Of Jazz award for his unstinting work on the British and international scene.

CEO of Candid Records Alan Bates was presented with the Services To Jazz In The UK Award by his most famous signing, Jamie Cullum, in recognition of his efforts as head of one of the UK’s premier jazz labels. Bates was then further honoured by a rendition of Quincy Jones’ Let The Good Times Roll, with Cullum joined by bassist Kyle Eastwood and Jeff Beck alongside the Guy Barker Jazz Orchestra.

Longstanding ambassadors of jazz, Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine were presented with the Gold Award, adding another well-deserved trophy to their collection, while Chick Corea and his ground-breaking jazz-fusion group Return To Forever received the Lifetime Achievement Award from legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin, before performing their standout composition Romantic Warrior. Bassist Charlie Haden was presented with the International Award by Jazz On 3 presenter Jez Nelson and Level 42 bassist Mark King, and performed alongside British pianist John Taylor.

CD Features Winning Artists

As well as acknowledging the stars of the present and future, the evening also paid homage
to a revered figure from the music’s past. Veteran broadcaster and bandleader Humphrey Lyttelton, who died earlier in the year, was posthumously awarded the title of BBC Radio 2
Jazz Artist Of The Year. Few people in the history of British jazz have done more to further
the popularity and profile of the music while remaining true to its spirit. Ian Shaw, winner
of last year’s Best Vocalist Award, gave the world premiere of Lyttelton’s Sad, Sweet Song. Lyttelton had asked Shaw to record the song, to which he’d written the words, at the BBC
Jazz Awards in 2006 and it was eventually recorded within a few days of Lyttelton’s death.

Hosted by Paul Gambacini, an array of international stars presented awards on the night including Jamie Cullum, jazz trumpeter and actor Colin Salmon, Sir George Martin, Goldie, Soul II Soul’s Jazzie B and Humph’s long time friend Barry Cryer.

Watch The Highlights

Audiences can watch highlights of the BBC Jazz Awards 2008, including the award presentations and performances at www.bbc.co.uk/music/jazzawards2008 from Wednesday 23 July.

[Source: ejazznews.com]