Award / Grant News

Jazz Arts Group Named 2011 Recipient of the Columbus Foundation Award

Source: Michael Ricci
September 30, 2011

The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) is proud to announce that it has been named the 2011 recipient of The Columbus Foundation Award. Created in 1986, The Columbus Foundation Award recognizes non-profit organizations that have made a difference in the quality of life in central Ohio. “We are so honored to have received The Columbus Foundation Award, both as acknowledgment of the Jazz Arts Group's work on stage and in the community, but also as acknowledgement that the creative ...

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Omar Sosa Receives Latin GRAMMY Nomination for "Calma"

Source: Chris M. Slawecki
September 29, 2011

We are pleased to announce that Omar Sosa's solo piano CD, Calma, has received a Latin GRAMMY nomination for Best Instrumental Album. The 11th annual Latin GRAMMY awards will be held in Las Vegas on November 10, 2011.

Released in February 2011, Calma is comprised of 13 solo piano improvisations, fusing stylistic elements of jazz, classical, ambient, and electronica. The overall feeling is relaxed and introspective, evoking a sense on reflection and contemplation.

The recordings feature a rarely heard combination ...

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Bluiett, Bistro Among Riverfront Times "Best of St Louis" Winners for 2011

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
September 29, 2011

The Riverfront Times' 2011 “Best of St. Louis" issue is out, and this year's winner for “Best Jazz Artist" is baritone saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett. (Bluiett also won the BOSTL award two years ago, with pianist Peter Martin getting the trophy in 2010. ) Jazz at the Bistro once again is the winner in 2011 for “Best Jazz Club," and KWMU's Sunday night broadcast “Jazz Unlimited," hosted by Dennis Owsley, got the nod for “Best Jazz Radio Program." You can see ...

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Bobby Sanabria, and the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra Nominated for a Latin Grammy.

Source: Two for the Show Media
September 21, 2011

Multi-Grammy nominated Jazz and Latin music artist, bandleader and educator, Bobby Sanabria, and the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, have nominated for a Latin Grammy (LARAS) for Tito Puente Masterworks Live!!!, in the Latin Jazz category. Under Professor Sanabria's direction, it's the second time the 21-member orchestra has been nominated for this prestigious award. Two years ago, the ensemble was nominated for a Latin Grammy for the Kenya Revisited Live!!! 2009 recording, making it the first orchestra comprised ...

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MacArthur 'genius' grants go to cellist, architect, jazz musician

Source: Michael Ricci
September 20, 2011

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation on Tuesday announced new MacArthur fellows for 2011. The arts honorees include architect Jeanne Gang of Chicago, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, jazz musician Dafnis Prieto and choral conductor and composer Francisco Nunez, all of New York. Each of the so-called “genius" fellows receives $500,000 in “no-strings-attached support over the next five years," according to the foundation. The money comes “without stipulations or reporting requirements," and is intended to give the fellows a wide ...

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Vocalist Vassil Petrov receives Bul­gar­i­an Apollo Toxophoros Award

Source: Vassil Petrov
September 19, 2011

Jazz sing­er Vas­sil Pet­rov was award­ed the 2011 Apol­lo­nia Fes­ti­val of Arts annu­al prize for excep­tion­al con­tri­bu­tion to Bul­gar­i­an cul­ture and achieve­ments abroad. Petrov was pre­sent­ed the Apol­lo Tox­oph­o­ros stat­u­ette by Apol­lo­nia fes­ti­val artis­tic direct­or Mar­ga­ri­ta Dim­it­ro­va at the open­ing cer­e­mo­ny in the Bul­gar­i­an town of Sozo­pol. The event also includ­ed a con­cert by the Bul­gar­i­an Nation­al Radio Big Band fea­tur­ing the world-famous US trump­et play­er Tom Har­rell and the con­duct­or Anto­ni Don­chev. The jazz stage of the fes­ti­val offered ...

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Paul Lieberman's "Ibeji" Chosen As All About Jazz Download of the Day Highlight

Source: Paul Lieberman
September 13, 2011

The opening track from Paul Lieberman's new CD Ibeji has been selected one of only 12 selections by All About Jazz in celebration of their 7 millionth free download. This puts Paul in the company of Avishai Cohen and Bill Frisell among others. A Big Thank You to Michael Ricci & Dave Sumner at All About Jazz for the honor, and for all of their tireless work to help keep the music flowing, and to Joel A. Martin, Rufus Reid, ...

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Sonny Rollins to Receive 34th Annual Kennedy Center Honors

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity
September 7, 2011

Sonny Rollins is one of five individuals who have been selected to receive the Kennedy Center Honors of 2011, it was announced today by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. These individuals' “collective artistry has contributed significantly to the cultural life of our nation and the world." Along with fellow recipients Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Yo-Yo Ma, and Meryl Streep, Rollins will be honored at the 34th annual national celebration of the arts on December 4. “I ...

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