A new recognition award celebrating “industry trailblazers who actively promote jazz awareness, discovery, and culture” has been announced by AllAboutJazz, the online platform celebrating its 30th birthday this year. through its prestigious Jazz Forward award program.
Honorees in this initial coterie are:
Jazz Week, which tracks North American jazz radio airplay;
Oh! Jazz, an Australia-based live and on-demand streaming platform
Seattle Jazz Fellowship, a grassroots non-profit presenting jazz weekly, paying fairly, offering mentorships
Sligo Jazz Project, a broadly inclusive jazz education festival in Ireland.for students of varying ages and experience levels from across the globe.
Recognition of these entities is to be promoted by AllAboutJazz reports of their activities, with representatives of the winners featured on Spotlight On, the podcast hosted by Lawrence Peryer (also managing editor of The Buzz: The Jazz Journalists Association Podcast. Peryer served on the Jazz Forward Award’s 2025 selection committee, along with AAJ founder Michael Ricci and Joseph Vella. They intend the All About Jazz Award to be announced annually.
