Global Jazz Community Convenes at IAJE Annual Conference

The International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) held its 29th Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, USA, from January 9 -12, 2002 at the Long Beach Convention Center and Hyatt Regency Hotel. Recognized as the world's largest jazz gathering, upwards of 7,000 educators, musicians, industry executives, exhibitors, media and jazz enthusiasts attended the conference. The IAJE Conference in Long Beach offered a record number of concerts, seminars, showcases, and exhibits. In 2003, the conference will be held outside of the United States for the first time in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from January 8-11.

“The success of the 2002 IAJE Conference was remarkable in light of recent world events. We look forward to building on this momentum as we move the conference outside of the United States to Toronto, Canada, for the first time in our 30 year history"

This year's theme, Uniting The Global Jazz Community, was reinforced with conference attendance representing more than 30 countries, including performance groups from Kazakhstan, Europe, Canada, Peru, and Israel.

Also worth noting was the inauguration of the European Jazz Festivals Organization International Jazz Award, presented on Saturday, January 12 to Austrian keyboardist, bandleader, and composer Joe Zawinul. The ceremony took place during a special tribute concert by the WDR German Radio Big Band under the direction of multiple GRAMMY-winner Vince Mendoza featuring Weather Report alumni Peter Erskine, Alex Acuna and Victor Bailey. The concert also featured guest artists who had played with Joe during his extensive career. The European Jazz Festival Organization (EJFO) and the IAJE partnered to create this new award, which includes a $20,000 honorarium, that recognizes international artists who have contributed significantly to the evolution of jazz.

National Public Radio (NPR) constructed a command broadcast booth in the lobby of the Long Beach Convention Center with daily live bi-coastal feeds to the conference host station KLON-FM (Long Beach, CA) and WBGO-FM (Newark, NJ). Additionally, NPR produced a full-day radio jazz symposium on Wednesday January 9, with panels on issues of interest to jazz radio professionals.

On Friday, January 11, tenor saxophonist/arranger/composer Frank Foster, bassist Percy Heath and pianist/composer McCoy Tyner each were granted Jazz Masters Awards (worth $20,000 each) from the National Endowment for the Arts. Past NEA Jazz master and IAJE President-elect David Baker served as the Master of Ceremonies. The evening's musical performances were by the Dave Brubeck Quartet and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with special guest vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater.

IAJE recognized the achievements of leading industry figures and presented various awards throughout the conference. The IAJE President's Award is presented to individuals whose contributions have made an extraordinary impact on the goals and mission of the IAJE. This year, the recipient was Quincy Jones, whose impassioned speech cited the need for the U.S. Congress to appoint a cultural ambassador to address issues pertaining to the expansion of America