JJA Awards, da winners

Peterdubya · June-25th-2003, 07:52 PM

JAZZ AWARDS 2003 WINNERS

1. Lifetime Achievement in Jazz (joining previous honorees Benny Carter, Ornette Coleman, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins and Clark Terry) Winner: Cecil Taylor
2. Musician of the Year (achievement in sound recordings, live concert performances and overall presence, April 15, 2002 - April 15, 2003) Winner: Wayne Shorter
3. Up 'n' Coming Musician of the Year Winner: Jason Moran
4. Album of the Year (Released April 15, 2001 - April 15, 2002) Winner: Footprints Live!, Wayne Shorter (Verve)
5. Reissue of the Year Winner: A Love Supreme - Impulse!; John Coltrane
6. Historical Box Set of the Year Winner: Charlie Christian, Genius of the Electric Guitar - Columbia Legacy
7. Record Label of the Year Winner: Blue Note Records
8. Events Producer of the Year Winner: George Wein, Festival Productions, Inc. and Patricia Nicholson Parker, The Vision Festival, Arts for Art [a tie, both receive Awards]
9. Composer of the Year Winner: Andrew Hill
10. Arranger of the Year Winner: Maria Schneider
11. Male Vocalist of the Year Winner: Andy Bey
12. Female Vocalist of the Year Winner: Cassandra Wilson
13. Latin-Jazz Album of the Year Winner: Cuban Odyssey, Jane Bunnett and Spirits of Havana (Blue Note Records)
14. Combo of the Year Winner: Wayne Shorter Quartet
15. Big Band of the Year Winner: Dave Holland Big Band
16. Trumpeter of the Year Winner: Dave Douglas
17. Trombonist of the Year Winner: Roswell Rudd
18. Rare Brass of the Year Winner: Steve Bernstein - slide trumpet
19. Alto Saxophonist of the Year Winner: Greg Osby
20. Tenor Saxophonist of the Year Winner: Wayne Shorter
21. Soprano Saxophonist of the Year Winner: Jane Ira Bloom
22. Baritone Saxophonist of the Year Winner: Hamiet Bluiett
23. Clarinetist of the Year Winner: Marty Ehrlich
24. Pianist of the Year Winner: Kenny Barron
25. Organ Player of the Year Winner: Dr. Lonnie Smith
26. Guitarist of the Year Winner: Russell Malone
27. Bassist of the Year Winner: Dave Holland
28. Electric Bassist of the Year Winner: Steve Swallow
29. Strings Player of the Year Winner: Regina Carter
30. Mallets Player of the Year Winner: Stefon Harris
31. Percussionist of the Year Winner: Kahil El'Zabar
32. Drummer of the Year Winner: Matt Wilson

JAZZ JOURNALISM 2003 AWARDS WINNERS

1. Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Journalism Winner: Gary Giddins
2. Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Broadcasting/the Willis Conover-Marian McPartland Award Winner: Alyn Shipton
3. Photographer of the Year/the Lona Foote-Bob Parent Award Winner: Ken Franckling
4. Jazz Writer of the Year the Helen Oakley Dance - Robert Palmer Award Winner: Gary Giddins
5. Best Periodical Covering Jazz Winner: Jazz Times
6. Best Website Covering Jazz Winner: AllAboutJazz.com
7. Best Book on Jazz of the Year Winner: A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album, Ashley Kahn, Penguin Putnam
8. Best Photo of the Year Winner: "Sir Roland Hanna, Sept. 22, 2002" John Abbott

DISCRETIONARY JAZZ AWARDS 2003 WINNERS FOR SERVICE TO & BEYOND JAZZ

o Barry Harris, pianist, educator and Director of the New York City Jazz Theatre Workshop, Jazz Cultural Theatre
o Dorthaan Kirk, Community Relations and Coordinator of Special Events, WBGO-FM, Newark, NJ
o Dr. Robert Litwak, cardiologist, Mt. Sinai Hospital, NYC
o Englewood Hospital and Medical Center: Daniel Kane, President and CEO, Andrew F. Durkin, Chairman, Margaret C. Bridges, Executive VP of the Foundation
o Representative John Conyers (D-Michigan), for recognition of his work to support jazz in the U.S. Congress.
o Dr. Lewis Marshall, "jazz doctor," Washington, D.C.
o Davey Yarborough, Duke Ellington School of the Arts
o Jim deJong, About the Music consultant/facilitator, Jazz Institute of Chicago board member
o Dr. David Hinkamp, Health in the Arts Program, Occupational Health Service Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago
o Dr. David Morwood, volunteer chief surgeon for 'Rotaplast' (Rotary International-sponsored medical missions to South America to operate on children with cleft lips and palates, Monterey, CA
o Bruce Forman, guitarist and founder of Jazz Masters Workshops and The Music Performance Developmental Workshops, Seaside, CA
o Arnie Lawrence, International Center for Creative Music
o Anna Immanuel, International Artistic Director of "God Bless The Child"

Lois Gilbert · June-27th-2003, 03:16 PM

This should say it all.... more later... Lois

hornplayer · June-27th-2003, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lois Gilbert

This should say it all.... more later... Lois

Oy Vay!!!

Lois Gilbert · June-27th-2003, 11:40 PM

Actually Stanley sounded quite good - it was his freedom solo.

Here's Howard Mandel's, President of the JJA's take on the evening:

"Cecil Taylor strode onstage, resplendent, to collect his Lifetime Achievement
in Jazz Award. Gary Giddins, receiving Lifetime Achievement in Jazz
Journalism (from Ira Gitler) and also Jazz Writer of the Year Awards, praised the
generation of jazz journalists he's part of as writing "hot, substantial" criticism
that any other genre -- "movies, theater, dance" would be hard pressed to
match. Jayne Cortez, in her invocation opening the event, exhorted everyone to
"find your voice and use it!"

"Gene Martin began the afternoon perched on a ladder, shooting 26 shots of the
assembled multitude (nominees and other musicians) in 6 minutes flat. Roswell
Rudd, accepting his award as trombonist of the year, credited the Jazz
Foundation of America with helping him get a new set of teeth. Dorthaan Kirk praised
her radio station WBGO (Newark), and made a plea for getting jazz on TV (she
also presented the Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Radio award to Alyn Shipton,
who thanks the BBC for letting him 13 years in which to spend government money
on the promotion of jazz). Wallace Roney, with his brother Antoine on tenor,
Gary Bartz on alto, Adam Holzman on keyboards, Ira Coolman bass and Ronnie
Burrage, drums, played a killer set -- but then, so did the New Jazz Composer's
Octet, David Hazeltine's Quartet, Wendy Oxenhorn (of the jazz foundation) on
blues harp with a quartet, and Judy Silvano/James Williams, with their affecting
tribute to Mal Waldron.

:Oh, yes -- Stanley Crouch played a drum solo he dedicated to "Freedom of
Speech," which Francis Davis said immediately following that *he* recognized as
"Demagogery" -- and Nat Hentoff, both presenting and accepting the Award for
Jazz Times as "periodical of the year," chastised the magazine for "sounding a
clinker" in its dismissal of Crouch. Much more interesting were comic actor Al
Lewis's remarks recalling Jelly Roll Morton, Igor Stravinsky jamming in jazz,
Lester Young, etc. And Joe Piscopo got us off to a great start, with a dynamic
presentation of the first award, Jazz Drummer of the Year, to Matt Wilson.

"Other winners in attendance: Regina Carter, Ashley Kahn, Greg Osby, Steve
Bernstein, Jane Ira Bloom, Andrew Hill, Maria Schneider, George Wein and Patricia
Nicholson Parker (who tied for "Events Producer of the Year"), Michael Ricci
. . . Lots of other nominees were there: John Szwed, Howard Johnson, Jim
Gavin, Phil Woods, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Brian Lynch, Todd Barkan, Tim Jackson, Ted
Panken . . . And among the presenters were Marian McPartland, Martin Mueller
from the New School Jazz & Contemporary Music program, Thomas Bellino from the
Doris Duke jazz fellowships (administered through Chamber Music America), Steve
Graybow (Billboard), Bob Porter (WBGO), Stuart Broomer (Coda), Jason Koransky
(Down Beat), Dmitri Ukhov (Moscow Jazz Journalists Association), Ken Dryden
(JJA Awards ballot committee chair), Enid Farber (who also organized, with R.
Andrew Lepley, a financially successful "silent auction"), Robert O'Meally
(Columbia University, pledging to build a "liberal arts cirriculum with jazz at its
core"), record producer Richard Seidel, restauranteur Danny Meyers (the Jazz
Standard/Blue Smoke), Michelle Mercer, George Kanzler, Phil Elwood, Suzan and
Willard Jenkins, Lois Gilbert (jazzcorner.com), clarinetist Tony Scott, arranger Sy Johnson,
Nate Chinen (co-author of Geo. Wein's book) . . .

B. B. King's is a great place to have an event like this, and all seemed to
have fun, I've heard few complaints. Thanks to everybody who helped this show
get up and launched..."

best regards, friends --

Pres Howard

For more photos please visit http://jazzjournalistsawards.com Click on press

Lois Gilbert · June-28th-2003, 12:25 AM

Now my take on things... first of all it was a blast. I was so exhausted yesterday after working on this for nearly 2 months almost non-stop. I just couldn't post about it. It was a big schmooze fest - saw stevebop down from Boston, and I was fortunate to present the award for best strings to Regina Carter. Cecil showing up toward the end for his Lifetime Achievement Award was beautiful as was seeing Andy Bey get the award for Male Vocalist of the Year.

I hung out with my fella and Gary Bartz afterwards. We went over to Birdland to see Arturo O'Farrill Latin Band with special guest Larry Harlow. We talked about the awards. Some of them (I'm not sure most of them), I agreed with, but ----and this has nothing to do with Matt Wilson's talent --- come on --- when you're up for the same award as Roy Haynes, Jack DeJohnette and Elvin Jones who between the 3 of them has almost all the jazz history in them, to give a drummer who is influenced by those drummers and other greats the award seems a little ludricous. I can't imagine that as happy and honored Matt Wilson may be, he wouldn't disagree with what I'm saying.

The same thing for Alto Sax - hello - we love Greg Osby, but geez - there's Gary Bartz and Phil Woods. I could go on --- a lot of the same folks won that won last year and the year before like Dave Douglas when there's Brian Lynch who put out a great record this year called The Trumpet Masters and Tom Harrell and Roy Hargrove among the nominees (but where was Clark Terry - who's been working his butt off after being ill for a long time) or for trombone why wasn't Slide Hampton or Bob Brookmeyer nominated? - where was Jackie McLean's name or for tenor Jimmy Heath.... I loved the awards, I believe in the JJA, I believe in the Jazz Foundation of America which runs the Jazz Musicians' Emergency Fund. But the nominees and the voting gets a little funky here and there.

And yes Jan Leder and Jamie Baum and other flutists who might be reading this, I will campaign for your category. And at the very least I will campaign that we invite every elder statesmen and stateswomen in jazz who we are fortunate to have still with us and provide us with our roots from which all these stems grow from -- are at a table (hopefully it will be a long table) front and center.

Lois Gilbert · June-28th-2003, 12:30 AM

This was a very special moment

Lois Gilbert · June-28th-2003, 03:59 PM

I'm surprised so little comment on the winners, my take, Howard Mandel's take?

Gary Sisco · June-29th-2003, 09:52 AM

Lois -- For my part, I'm tired of these polls and the established jazz world and what it thinks about itself and the music. Nothing personal, I'm just tired of it.

For example, while obviously historically I might agree with you re Roy Haynes's stature in jazz history as opposed to Matt Wilson's, if the question is jazz drummer *of the year,* I have no problem with it, even if I might disagree. Matt's a great drummer. So are all of those nominated. But if we are to only go by musicians' historical stature, then the awards will always go ispo facto to the older cats. Until they die. So, the end result would be (and has been, for the most part) a taking-turns kind of thing, where one older cat will get the award this year and another next year and etc., rather the way they trade the award (not to say the nominations) around between the glossy mags while ignoring the others altogether.

Re Giddins remarks, he can't be serious about jazz criticism. Only very rarely does one encounter jazz writing of any kind that attempts to go beyond fanzine material or mere commercial collusion for reasons business.

But really, I'm tired of what that (to me) too-enclosed world has to say about much of anything. I've learned more about more great *living* music here at JC and JCS before it, just from the discussions and various tastes here, than I ever have from a glossy or any of the established jazz writers' books, most of which repeat what's already been written by themselves or someone else, countless times already.

JJA and like groupings have become as irrelevant to my take on music as the Grammies or Oscars or whatever.

I mean if we want to talk seriously, why is it almost always Jane Ira Bloom who takes soprano awards? This has happened so many times already that it's tiresome. Sure, she can play, but so can many others who won't be nominated.

I have no problem with Osby getting the award, as he's not just a great alto player but one who has created his own concept and voice on the instrument, instantly recognizable. But, to me, no discussion about jazz alto today that excludes cats like Rob Brown can really be taken seriously. Yet, it'll be a cold day in hell when he's even acknowledged by the JJA, much less nominated.

I find their world too insulated and too conservative to get much interested in these kinds of ceremonies.

Mike Schwartz · June-29th-2003, 09:37 PM

I don't take these things very seriously, so far as that when those I would choose don't win doesn't bother me at all; not one bit. I think I've done all my ranting and raving about such matters decades ago.

That said, within it's limitations an interesting list of folks recognized with awards.

Blue Note as label of the year among those to choose pretty funny actually. This ain't 1965 anymore...

Didn't like the Jane Bunnett choice very much either; her most recent CD the least well done [to me] in her last several out.

I got to cast a vote in this one.

What I will recommend, in the future, if those that decide will pay attention, is to have the final choice in every category be "other", with the ability to write in a choice other than those listed.

I would bet with certainty that there would be multiple votes for many people [and record labels, and publications] that fall beyond the scope of the choices that appear now.

I think it quite nice for there to be jazz events like this, so long as there is some open ideas to improve and expand the process, which would be good for all.

Lois Gilbert · June-30th-2003, 02:14 AM

Actual Mike, there were more than 1500 suggested nominees (I saw the list and can dig it up if anyone is interested) out of that it was whittled down to 5 (and in a few cases) 6 nominees in each category. I'm not sure what purpose it would serve if we were to put other (as in disagree with the 5 nominees)

As far as Matt - he is a great drummer, all I'm saying is that given the choices his output this year IMO doesn't compare with DeJohnette or Haynes or even Brian Blade. I don't remember if Elvin released a CD this year. I just get nervous when the same people are automatically voted in year after year and that musicians still developing their voice are in the same category as those who are firmly established. I can recognize a Roy Haynes solo (esp on his latest CD) without question. In a blindfold test how many would recognize Matt Wilson?

Maybe more categories for the established seperated from the up and coming or something like that. I just get nervous when we forget our elder artists (who have made great records this year) for the latest groovemeister....

I think the record company of the year should be abolished. Merely by the fact, that many of us in the JJA are not serviced by all the independent labels so naturally folks vote for Verve and Blue Note....

Nathaniel Catchpole · June-30th-2003, 05:58 AM

I don't know whether the JJA awards give money or gongs or both, but it would seem to make sense for awards going to less established musicians in order to give them some name recognition, as opposed to Elvin, Haynes and DeJohnette who I'm sure can't be short of gigs, and who's careers would likely be unaffected by receiving such an award. I also agree that drummer of the year, means drummer of the year, not best drummer in the world or something - this ain't boxing. What's so different between Elvin's playing this year and last that deserves special recognition (haven't heard him this year, but has he done anything strikingly new)? I'm not familiar with Matt Wilson's playing, but if he's put out some exceptional stuff (for him) this year, then it might deserve a mention over someone who's output is consistently good but not strikingly different from last year.

kdd · June-30th-2003, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lois Gilbert
Now my take on things... first of all it was a blast. I was so exhausted yesterday after working on this for nearly 2 months almost non-stop. I just couldn't post about it. It was a big schmooze fest - saw stevebop down from Boston, and I was fortunate to present the award for best strings to Regina Carter. Cecil showing up toward the end for his Lifetime Achievement Award was beautiful as was seeing Andy Bey get the award for Male Vocalist of the Year.

I hung out with my fella and Gary Bartz afterwards. We went over to Birdland to see Arturo O'Farrill Latin Band with special guest Larry Harlow. We talked about the awards. Some of them (I'm not sure most of them), I agreed with, but ----and this has nothing to do with Matt Wilson's talent --- come on --- when you're up for the same award as Roy Haynes, Jack DeJohnette and Elvin Jones who between the 3 of them has almost all the jazz history in them, to give a drummer who is influenced by those drummers and other greats the award seems a little ludricous. I can't imagine that as happy and honored Matt Wilson may be, he wouldn't disagree with what I'm saying.

The same thing for Alto Sax - hello - we love Greg Osby, but geez - there's Gary Bartz and Phil Woods. I could go on --- a lot of the same folks won that won last year and the year before like Dave Douglas when there's Brian Lynch who put out a great record this year called The Trumpet Masters and Tom Harrell and Roy Hargrove among the nominees (but where was Clark Terry - who's been working his butt off after being ill for a long time) or for trombone why wasn't Slide Hampton or Bob Brookmeyer nominated? - where was Jackie McLean's name or for tenor Jimmy Heath.... I loved the awards, I believe in the JJA, I believe in the Jazz Foundation of America which runs the Jazz Musicians' Emergency Fund. But the nominees and the voting gets a little funky here and there.

And yes Jan Leder and Jamie Baum and other flutists who might be reading this, I will campaign for your category. And at the very least I will campaign that we invite every elder statesmen and stateswomen in jazz who we are fortunate to have still with us and provide us with our roots from which all these stems grow from -- are at a table (hopefully it will be a long table) front and center.

The awards things are usually silly but if helps the industry in some way then hey, more power to them. Was there music at the awards, Lois? I heard there was but you made no mention of it. It is about the music right but I guess it was such a big schmooze fest, that no one paid attention to some fine performances (at least that is what I was told). Also I heard Jazz Times won best publication of the year. Was this because they fired Stanley Crouch? I also heard that none of the executives from Jazz Times were there to accept the award, did they know Stanley was going to be there? My friend said he was very happy with the gift bag which included a Bad Plus matchbook.

Lois Gilbert · June-30th-2003, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kdd
The awards things are usually silly but if helps the industry in some way then hey, more power to them. Was there music at the awards, Lois? I heard there was but you made no mention of it. It is about the music right but I guess it was such a big schmooze fest, that no one paid attention to some fine performances (at least that is what I was told). Also I heard Jazz Times won best publication of the year. Was this because they fired Stanley Crouch? I also heard that none of the executives from Jazz Times were there to accept the award, did they know Stanley was going to be there? My friend said he was very happy with the gift bag which included a Bad Plus matchbook.

Wallace Roney, with his brother Antoine on tenor, Gary Bartz on alto, Adam Holzman on keyboards, Ira Coleman bass and Ronnie Burrage, drums, played a killer set -- but then, so did the New Jazz Composer's Octet, David Hazeltine's Quartet, Wendy Oxenhorn (of the jazz foundation) on blues harp with a quartet, and Judy Silvano/James Williams, with their affecting tribute to Mal Waldron.

That was in Howard Mandel's take....

Sand · June-30th-2003, 04:56 PM

Always interesting to observe what's going on the local scenes around the world.

mke · July-1st-2003, 07:12 AM

Wow, a The Bad Plus matchbook!

Tom Storer · July-1st-2003, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lois Gilbert
As far as Matt - he is a great drummer, all I'm saying is that given the choices his output this year IMO doesn't compare with DeJohnette or Haynes or even Brian Blade. I don't remember if Elvin released a CD this year. I just get nervous when the same people are automatically voted in year after year and that musicians still developing their voice are in the same category as those who are firmly established. I can recognize a Roy Haynes solo (esp on his latest CD) without question. In a blindfold test how many would recognize Matt Wilson?

Actually, Matt Wilson does have quite a distinctive solo style, what I think of as the "single-note-lines drum solo." ;-) I joke, but I like it a lot. And he does have a new CD out this year that's a killer ("Humidity"). My impression is that at age 38, he's already developed a personal voice both as a drummer and perhaps above all as a bandleader. I'd vote for him over Brian Blade, who probably has more drums chops but so what? I don't mean to diss Brian Blade, who is also a fine musician, only to say that I don't think Wilson's winning the award was by any means unwarranted - of course one can argue for different choices, but hell, you can't vote for the Elvins and Roys every year or no one else would ever get an award. As Nat says, their careers and reputations are pretty well assured by now.

mke · July-1st-2003, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kdd
it was such a big schmooze fest, that no one paid attention to some fine performances (at least that is what I was told).

If you found a The Bad Plus matchbook in your goody bag, would you be able to focus on music? I sure wouldn't!

kdd · July-1st-2003, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mke
If you found a The Bad Plus matchbook in your goody bag, would you be able to focus on music? I sure wouldn't!

You do have a point mke

I haven't seen one on ebay yet either

Mike Schwartz · July-1st-2003, 07:31 PM

Lois;

I don't doubt that there were many, many names on various lists before being culled to 5 for the multiple choice vote.

What I'm proposing is that in every category, the final choice should be a 'write-in' so that there would be someone to vote for when A thru E choices don't always get the job done, so far as one's most excellent choice is not available.

I'm sure that would also be more fair, would invite more members to join & take part, and avoid most if not all complaining about the selections, if everyone could vote for a deserving favorite left of the short list.

redmango7 · July-1st-2003, 11:21 PM

Gary S- I totally agree with you. Its a bunch of biased shit, laden with backslappery.

mango

Bill Barton · July-2nd-2003, 12:05 PM

Polls, schmolls...

To some degree, I find myself at least partially agreeing with Gary's post, and even with redmango7's seconding opinion (truly a first regarding the latter!)

But my take on it comes down on the side closer to that of Tom Storer.

Any event where Cecil Taylor gets a Lifetime Achievement Award and Jayne Cortez does the invocation is okay in my book.

Journalists should be turning readers on to musicians who deserve more exposure, not just rehashing the past and voting for people like Phil Woods and Clark Terry, who have a prominent place in everybody's "Hall of Fame" already. So I would disagree with Lois's perspective on this matter. I think it's great that Matt Wilson came in on top of the drummer's list!

That photo of the Grouch is some scary s$@t! I look forward to Francis Davis's review of the event...