The Jazz Journalists Association initiated its awards honoring excellence in jazz music, recordings, presentation and journalism in 1996, at first in conjunction with the Knitting Factory. In 1999 the JJA took on the endeavor itself, usually with sponsorship from commercial and non-profit entities supporting jazz.
The JJA held annual Jazz Awards galas at New York venues including Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, South Street Seaport, Birdland, the Jazz Standard, the Blue Note, City Winery and the New School, featuring such notable performers as Joe Lovano, Charles Tolliver’s Big Band, Dewey Redman’s band, Nnenna Freelon, Doug Wamble, Sy Johnson’s Sextet, Edmar Castañeda, the Fula Flutes of Bailo Bah and Sylvain Leroux, John Beasley, Herlin Riley’s ensemble, Gregory Porter, Randy Weston with Candido Camero and T.K. Blue, Elio Villafranca’s group, Mimi Jones’ quartet, René Marie, the Wallace Rooney sextet, Sheila Jordan with Cameron Brown, Min Xiao-Fen, Polly Gibbons, Antoinette Montague with Dannie Mixon and Leni Stern (not a complete list!).
Visit the Jazz Journalists Association website for information on how to participate in the JJA Jazz Awards as a voting member or as a sponsor.
Jazz Heroes
Starting in 2001, the JJA has also honored Jazz Heroes (originally called members of the A Team — “Activists, advocates, altruists, aiders and abettors of jazz who have had significant impact in their local communities.” Jazz Heroes are nominated by their communities and typically have been presented with their Awards during a party or other celebration organized by local jazz circles, open to the public.
Voting for the JJA Jazz Awards
Voting for the Jazz Awards for achievements starts with the JJA’s professional members being asked to submit up to three nominees in each category. Nominees accumulating the most votes are finalists; ties in some categories result in fewer or more than five nominated finalists. Finalists are voted upon by JJA professional members in a second round to determine Awards winners.
The JJA presents all its Awards as an assertion that informed, professional, independent coverage of jazz across genre is vital to the preservation and promotion of contemporary music, for new and established audiences alike.
Photos
Top: Jazz Awards 2018 attendees, ©Michael Jackson
Bottom: 2009 Photo of the year, ©KRIS KING: Hank Jones, Montreal Jazz Festival 2008
