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Notes TM The Journal of the Jazz Journalists AssociationSM

Special Issue • Jazz Awards 2009

George E. Lewis, author of A Power Strong Than Itself: The AACM and American Experimental Music, winner of the award for Best Book about Jazz. Photo by Enid Farber. t h e 13t h An n u a l JJA Ja z z Aw a r d s s m

Celebrating excellence in jazz and jazz journalism and honoring activists, advocates, altruists, aiders and abettors of jazz June 16, 2009 • New York A dispatch from the JJA president on the 2009 annual Jazz Awards. We’re All Winners 8 By Howard Mandel

he 2009 Jazz Awardssm — the ed by the JJA and the Jazz Foundation director of the Institute for Jazz Studies 13th annual celebration of ex- of America. Besides the singers (Elling at Rutgers University. Dr. Agnes Varis, T cellence in music making, music was named Male Vocalist of the Year, the “angel” of the Jazz Foundation of presentation and music documentation Gambarini was Female Vocalist of the America, was unable to be at the Stan- produced by the 23-year-old Jazz Jour- Year 2008), the following award win- dard due to her own recent health is- nalists Association — was a resounding ners were in attendance: pianist Hank sues, although the Jazz Foundation was success. An overflow crowd of 190 jazz- Jones, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, ably represented by its president R. Jar- world movers and shakers attended, alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthap- rett Lilien as well as executive director schmoozed and listened at our cocktail- pa, baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan, Wendy Oxenhorn, who made an appeal barbecue party at the Jazz Standard in Latin jazz bandleader Arturo O’Farrill, for $20 donations from everybody who Manhattan on Tuesday, June 16. About trombonist , violinist Bil- cares about jazz (to contribute, go to 50 of them trooped up to speak onstage, ly Bang, reeds player , clari- www.jazzfoundation.org; jazz journal- between music by the Charles Tolliver netist Anat Cohen, organist Dr. Lonnie ists are urged to report about the JFA’s , the duet of knuckle-busting Smith, author-educator-trombonist and work) to cover the growing crisis in pianist Marian Petrescu and guitarist electronic composer George E. Lewis housing and health care for musicians Andreas Öberg, soprano sax and flutist and events producer of the year George in need. Jane Bunnett’s Spirits of , the Wein. Herb Alpert’s A Team Award was ac- duo of saxophonist Carol Sudhalter and cepted by New York downtown compos- pianist Daryl Sherman, and tenor saxo- Bruce Lundvall, whose 40-year career er-guitarist John King, winner of this phonist Matt Miller’s trio. has resulted in this year’s 70th anniver- sary of (among other year’s Herb Alpert Foundation Award A bevy of jazz’s top singers convened achievements), was the only new mem- for Music (George E. Lewis, Vijay Iyer as , , Roberta ber of the JJA’s “A Team” of activists, and James Carter are among previous Gambarini, Giacomo Gates and Venissa advocates, altruists, aiders and abettors recipients who have been honored by Santí gathered around bebop vocalist of jazz in the house, and he received the JJA as well). Seattle-based band- Mark Murphy to wish him well. Mur- his honors with an especially warm in- leaders Clarence Acox (Garfield High phy, age 74, was recipient of the first troduction and embrace from Dan Mor- “Words and Music” Award, co-present- genstern, dean of jazz journalists and continued on next page | »

Sheila Jordan and Mark Murphy. Photo by Fran Kaufman. Dan Morgenstern (left) greets Blue Note label chief Bruce Lundvall. Photo by Enid Farber.

JAZZ NOTES: The Quarterly Journal of the Jazz Journalists Association Editor: David R. Adler • Associate Editor: James Hale • Art Director: Forrest Bryant • Editorial Consultants: Howard Mandel, W. Royal Stokes, David Franklin Editorial Correspondence: David R. Adler, 260 Riverside Dr. #2G, New York, NY 10025 • (646) 539-8622 • [email protected] © 2009 Jazz Journalists Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this publication, as a whole or in any part, without prior written permission of the Jazz Journalists Association, Inc. is prohibited. jazz journalists association and jazz awards are service marks or registered service marks of the Jazz Journalists Association, Inc. jazz notes is a trademark and service mark of the Jazz Journalists Association, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

JAZZ NOTES • Special Issue — Jazz Awards 2009 2 » | JAZZ AWARDS: from previous page

School) and Scott Brown (Roosevelt the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles), Timuel bor spoke of Zwerin’s enviable decades High School) were represented during Black (Chicago cultural historian) and of playing and writing about jazz and their inductions into the A Team by Steven Saltzman (a past president of the related music while based in Paris. Joanna Massey of the Essentially El- Jazz Institute of Chicago) will receive lington festival of high school bands their engraved Award statuettes on fu- The single standout acceptance was produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center. ture occasions (Black and Saltzman, it 91-year-old pianist ’s com- is hoped, onstage at the Chicago Jazz ment, while he clutched his award for Jazz journalist Gary Giddins presented Festival over Labor Day weekend). Pianist of the Year, that it was an in- the A Team honors for jazz educator ducement to play better. Jones was also David N. Baker, and accepted them on The Jazz Awards are determined by the subject of Kris King’s Photo of the Baker’s behalf. He also spoke of his high a two-stage voting process involving Year — which John Abbott, winner of regard for the late jazz publicist Peter J. the JJA’s professional members (more the Lona Foote–Bob Parent Award for Levinson — the first publicist honored than 80 percent of the organization’s Excellence in Photography, unveiled by the JJA — who was posthumously international membership of 450), and while Jones stood next to him, admir- inducted into the A Team by Arnold Jay many nominees were present at the ing the large framed print. Smith. Smith, like DL Media’s Don Lu- Jazz Standard, including vibist Stefon Among other particularly notable re- coff, Michael Bloom of Michael Bloom Harris, saxophonist Noah Preminger, marks, George Wein paid tribute to Media Relations, and several other of flutist Jamie Baum, pianist Vijay Iyer, jazz journalists for their continuous the most credible PR people in jazz, ap- baritone saxophonist Claire Daly, and ongoing attentions to the music prenticed in Levinson’s New York shop, multi-instrumentalist Scott Robinson, he’s been presenting at festivals world- under his tutelage. Levinson’s biogra- drummer Harris Eisenstadt and big wide since 1954. Trombonist Clifton phies of , , band composer-conductor Darcy James Anderson, himself a nominee, gleefully and were Argue. , accepting her accepted three awards on behalf of his also lauded. mother ’s award for Record of the Year (, on Watt/ uncle Sonny Rollins, whom the JJA The late author-journalist-musician ECM), spoofed the crowd on the basis voted and Tenor Richard Sudhalter, also inducted post- of looking just like her bangs-wearing Saxophonist of the Year and honored humously, was remembered by his mom. Josh Konitz accepted the Lifetime for Road Shows, Vol. 1, picked as His- friend JJA photographer (and Min- Achievement in Jazz Award for his fa- torical Recording of the Year (which gus band arranger) Sy Johnson, then ther, saxophonist , and bass- Anderson appeared on and produced). honored with a musical segment by ist Ben Zwerin arrived just in time to Michael Cuscuna, another veteran jazz his sister Carol Sudhalter (on sax and serve as a representative of his father, record man, accepted awards for Mo- flute) and his former companion Daryl Mike Zwerin, as he was hailed for Life- siac Records as Label of the Year, and Sherman (singing and playing ). time Achievement in Jazz Journalism. Newly named A Teamers Ruth Price (of Author Rafi (The Bear Comes Home) Za- continued on next page | »

Hank Jones, winner of Pianist of the Year and subject of Kris King’s winning Photograph of the Year. Photo by Enid Farber. Carol Sudhalter performs. Photo by Enid Farber.

JAZZ NOTES • Special Issue — Jazz Awards 2009 3 » | JAZZ AWARDS: from previous page for the Historical Recording Boxed Set resource). Nate Chinen, winner of the Linda Yohn of WEMU in Ypsilanti, The / Sessions Helen Dance–Robert Palmer Award for Michigan, herself a nominee for Broad- 1936–40. Excellence in Newspaper, Magazine or caster of the Year, was among the most Online Writing, accepted the Best Pe- spirited presenters, enthusing over Ter- Scott Robinson, last year’s honoree as ence Blanchard as he took his prize as riodical Covering Jazz Award for Jazz Player of Instruments Rare in Jazz, trumpeter. But for rallying the crowd, Times magazine, which recently sus- accepted three awards for Maria Sch- no one beat Trevor Gale of SESAC, who pended publication; he read a note sent neider: Composer of the Year, Arranger along with SESAC’s Linda Lorence, got of the Year and leader of the Large En- by former editor-in-chief Lee Mergner, everyone to raise glasses of bubbly Pro- semble of the Year, her Maria Schneider expressing hope that the mag will rise seco in a toast to all the nominees. Orchestra (in which Robinson is a key from its ashes. SESAC was a first-time sponsor of the Jazz Awards, as were Absolutely Live, Arbors Records (Jim Czak attended), BPR Music, the Detroit International Jazz Festival, Doxy Records, IPO Re- cordings, the Jazz Institute of Chi- cago, Resonance Records, and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival. Returning sponsors included All About Jazz–New York, Blue Note Re- cords, Boosey and Hawkes (whose staff cheerfully created party favors bags), Columbia Legacy, Half Note Records, Hot House (thanks to Gwen Calvier) the Jazz Foundation of America, Jazz at Lincoln Center (Todd Barkan of Diz- zy’s Club and publicist Bridget Wilson were with us), Motéma Music, the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Mu- sic (executive director Martin Mueller was an award presenter), North Coast Brewing Company (supplying the party with thirst-quenching Brother Theloni- ous Belgian Ale) and Zenph Studios. Sponsors of events for jazz are cur- rently in great demand, and the JJA was fortunate to have such stalwarts behind this initiative.

Along with musicians (here are some more I bumped into: Douglas Ewart, , singers E.J. Decker and Diana Perez, Sue Mingus) and re- cord company friends (George Klabin and Ricky Shultz of Resonance, Greg Brunswick of Columbia Legacy, Fred Pustay of Mosaic, François Zalacain of Sunnyide, Seth Rosner of Pi, Joachim Becher of Zoho, Thomas Bellino of Planet Arts/Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Sarah Humphries and Tina Pelikan of ECM, Bernard Stollman of ESP-Disk’, Mike Wilpizeski of Telarc, Jerald Mill- TOP: Clifton Anderson accepts awards for Musician of the Year, Tenor Saxophonist of the Year and Historical Recording of the Year on behalf of his uncle, Sonny Rollins. BOTTOM: Scott Robinson accepts Maria Schneider’s awards for Composer of the Year, Arranger of continued on next page | » the Year and Large Ensemble of the Year. Photos by Enid Farber.

JAZZ NOTES • Special Issue — Jazz Awards 2009 4 » | JAZZ AWARDS: from previous page er, Joe Paice of the UK’s Jazz Services, editor David Adler (nominated for his colm John Watson (from the UK), Enid Pedro Costa of Clean Feed/Trem Azul, blog lerterland.blogspot.com), Michael Farber, Steven Sussman and nominated Lisbon), a multitude of jazz journalists Ricci (of AllAboutJazz.com, which baritone saxophonist Claire Daly, Rosie were on hand, from the U.S. and over- won Best Website Concentrating on Mandel and Dan Kassell, all three of seas. Besides Giddins and Morgenstern, Jazz), Lois Gilbert (of JazzCorner.com, whom videotaped the events. these included: nominated for Best Website), Laurence Donohue-Greene and Andrey Henkin Broadcasters Ben Young (winner of the Doug Ramsey, winner of the 2008 (co-editor of All About Jazz–New York, Willis Conover–Marian McPartland Award for Lifetime Achievement a nominated periodical). Award for Excellence in Broadcasting, in Jazz Journalism and blogger of WKCR–Columbia University) and (www.artsjournal.com/rifftides), and Chris Kelsey (ballot chairman of the Becca Pulliam (nominee for the Con- prior recipients Ira Gitler, Francis Davis Jazz Awards), Art Lange, David Hadju, over–McPartland Award, WBGO–New- and myself, Howard Mandel (I served Fred Kaplan, Mike West, Tim Wilkins, ark), accompanied by program director as Master of Ceremonies, and am proud Ben Ratliff (nominated for his book Thurston Briscoe and general manager to have won in the newest category, The Jazz Ear: Conversations About Cephas Bowles. Blog of the Year). Jazz), Marcia Hillman, Elzy Kolb, Hank Shteamer, Charles Gans, Ralph Miri- And what of the Awards support staff? Dan Ouellette (whose authorized bi- ello, Lynne Mueller, Dan Doyle, Gene On the JJA side: Yvonne Ervin, very ography : Finding the Right Seymour, Lyn Horton, Slim from Ca- ably assisted at the last minute by Notes was nominated for Book of the dence magazine, Christian Broecking Colleen Growe; stage manager Elise Year), Bill Milkowski (a nominee for (Germany) and Cyril Moshkow (Rus- Axelrad, presenter Sofia Trigo, indis- Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Jour- sia). pensable Joe Petrucelli, volunteer co- nalism and also for the Palmer–Dance ordinator Lois Mirviss, Mary Holland, Award), Marc Myers (nominated for Photographers Abbott, Norm Harris brilliant Nancy Barell, Judy Balos, Joan his blog JazzWax.com and the Palmer– and Alan Nahigian (both Foote–Parent Dance Award), John Szwed, Jazz Notes Award nominees), Fran Kaufman, Mal- continued on next page | »

Congratulations to the JJA and all of the 2009 nominees!

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JAZZ NOTES • Special Issue — Jazz Awards 2009 5 » | JAZZ AWARDS: from previous page

Watson-Jones, treasurer Gene Marlow, he felt he’d made a down payment on 21st Century,” tentatively scheduled for driver Raymond Price, Joel Levin, Jer- that idea in his volume, which attests to January 2010 on the premises of Jazz emy Pfau — from the Standard: Seth, the breadth of community involvement at Lincoln Center. Which demonstrates, Melissa, Zak, soundman Aaron, numer- that seems to be a prerequisite for the as did so many of the exchanges and in- ous servers… emergence and maintenance of strong teractions at the 2009 JJA Jazz Awards, jazz scenes. that what goes around comes around. Presenting the Dance–Palmer Award, Fred Kaplan quipped that he had reser- Lewis, director of Columbia Univer- So congratulations to all winners and vations about the propriety of the JJA sity’s Center for Jazz Studies, was the all nominees, and may the Jazz Awards be, as Hank Jones said, an inducement giving any awards to jazz journalists, producer who drew the JJA into collab- to do even better. believing such awards would have more oration on the 2007 academic confer- credibility if voted on by musicians in- ence “Jazz in the Global Imagination” Howard Mandel stead. However, George E. Lewis, in and indirectly has inspired the JJA to President, receiving his Best Book award for A pursue its next big production, a four- Jazz Journalists Association Power Stronger Than Itself: The AACM day conference on “Jazz Media in Tran- and American Experimental Music, said sition: Audiences and Outlets in the < < <

TOP LEFT: Dan Ouellette and Dance–Palmer Award winner Nate Chinen. ABOVE: JJA President Howard Mandel with Male Vocalist of the Year Kurt Elling. Photos by Enid Farber.

LEFT: Arturo O’Farrill, winner for Latin Jazz of the Year. BOTTOM LEFT: Flutist of the Year Frank Wess and JJA member Joel Levin. BELOW: Pianist Helen Sung hugs WBGO-FM program director Thurston Briscoe. Photos by Fran Kaufman.

JAZZ NOTES • Special Issue — Jazz Awards 2009 6 2009 JJA Jazz Awards Winners

Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Tenor Saxophonist of the Year Experimental Music Lee Konitz Sonny Rollins by George Lewis (University of Chicago Press) Musician of the Year Alto Saxophonist of the Year Sonny Rollins Rudresh Mahanthappa Photo of the Year Hank Jones, Composer of the Year Flutist of the Year Montreal Jazz Festival 2008 Maria Schneider Frank Wess by Kris King Up & Coming Artist of the Year Baritone Saxophonist of the Year Esperanza Spalding Gary Smulyan The Lona Foote–Bob Parent Award for Photography Events Producer of the Year Soprano Saxophonist of the Year John Abbott George Wein, Branford Marsalis New Festival Productions The Willis Conover–Marian McPartland Clarinetist of the Year Award for Broadcasting Record of the Year Anat Cohen Ben Young, Appearing Nightly, Director, WKCR (Columbia University) Carla Bley Big Band (Watt/ECM) Guitarist of the Year Bill Frisell The Helen Dance–Robert Palmer Award Latin Jazz Album of the Year for Review and Feature Writing Song for Chico, Pianist of the Year Nate Chinen Arturo O’Farrill (Zoho) Hank Jones

Historical Recording/Reissue Organist of the Year Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Journalism of the Year Dr. Lonnie Smith Mike Zwerin Road Shows, Vol. 1 Strings Player of the Year JFA/JJA Special Career Honors for Sonny Rollins (Doxy) Billy Bang Words with Music Historical Recording Boxed Set Mark Murphy Bassist of the Year The Lester Young/Count Basie William Parker Sessions 1936–40 (Mosaic) A Team Awards for: Electric Bassist of the Year Record Label of the Year Herb Alpert Mosaic Musician, Producer, Jazz Supporter Mallet Instrumentalist of the Year Dr. Agnes Varis Female Singer of the Year Joe Locke Jazz Angel Bruce Lundvall Percussionist of the Year Male Singer of the Year Record Man Hamid Drake Kurt Elling David N. Baker Drummer of the Year Jazz Educator Instruments Rare in Jazz Brian Blade Timuel Black Richard Galliano, accordion Cultural Historian Periodical of the Year Large Ensemble of the Year Steven Saltzman Jazz Times Maria Schneider Orchestra Chicago Jazz Advocate Website of the Year Ruth Price Arranger of the Year AllAboutJazz.com The Jazz Bakery Maria Schneider Clarence Acox Blog of the Year Small Ensemble of the Year Garfield High School Jazz Band Leader Jazz Beyond Jazz SFJAZZ Collective Scott Brown by Howard Mandel Roosevelt High School Jazz Band Leader Trumpeter of the Year www.artsjournal.com/jazzbeyondjazz Terence Blanchard Peter Levinson Best Book about Jazz Author and Publicist Trombonist of the Year A Power Stronger Than Itself: Richard Sudhalter Roswell Rudd The AACM and American Author, Journalist, Musician

JAZZ NOTES • Special Issue — Jazz Awards 2009 7 Jazz Journalists Association promoting the interests of journalists covering jazz

c/o Village Postal 151 1st Avenue New York, NY 10003 [email protected]

Board of Directors Howard Mandel President & Executive Director David Adler Forrest Dylan Bryant Yvonne Ervin Susan Fox Gary Giddins Fred Jung

Membership Secretary Brett Delmage 389 Holland Avenue Ottawa, Ontario k1y 0y9 Canada (613) 729-0323 [email protected]

Treasurer Eugene Marlow, Ph.D. 235 Adams St. Brooklyn, NY 11201 (212) 802-6653 [email protected]

The Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, promoting the interests of writers, pho- tographers, broadcasters and new media professionals covering jazz. The JJA sup- ports the creation and dissemination of accurate, balanced, ethical and informa- tive journalism on all of jazz’s genres; the growth, development and education of the jazz audience and the dissemina- tion of information pertaining to jazz to the general public, by providing forums for the discussion of jazz-related issues and events, fostering the development of journalistic and presentation skills among new journalists and the continu- ing development of such skills in jour- TOP: Alto Saxophonist of the Year Rudresh Mahanthappa (left) and Francis Davis; MIDDLE LEFT: Trombonist of the Year Roswell nalists already engaged in the field. Rudd; MIDDLE RIGHT: Tenor saxophonist Matt Miller; BOTTOM: Bill Milkowski (left) applauds Strings Player of the Year Billy Bang. All photographs by Enid Farber.

JAZZ NOTES • Special Issue — Jazz Awards 2009 8