Throughout 2020, Jazz Heroes — “activists, advocates, altruists, aiders and abettors of jazz” — responded to challenges brought on by a pandemic, economic crisis and social-political turmoil with energy, imagination and resilience. So the Jazz Journalists is proud to celebrate 23 of these diverse, devoted people based in 21 U.S. cities. Public presentations to the Heroes of their personalized Awards are to be announced.
These Jazz Heroes are united in determination to keep jazz in the air and in our ears, for everyone to enjoy and be enriched by. They are presenters, educators, writers, photographers, broadcasters, videographers, non-profit administrators, chefs, festival workers, public faces of grassroots organizations and in several cases active players who have developed, sustained and helped document America’s native-born music in their local communities and beyond.
The Jazz Journalists Association, a nonprofit professional organization of media content creators covering jazz, established its Jazz Heroes designation in 2010, having previously (starting in 2001) called the honorees members of the JJA “A Team.” The JJA presents annual Jazz Awards for excellence in music and music journalism; nominees for 2021 Jazz Awards will be announced mid-April, with winners of those Awards scheduled to be announced on May 3.
Entities collaborating on the 2021 Heroes campaign include Carolyn McClair Public Relations, Jazz Promo Services, the American Jazz Museum, and The Syncopated Times. The JJA thanks them for their participation and support.
