Award / Grant News

Billie Holiday Statue Finally Gets Finishing Touches

Source: All About Jazz
July 17, 2009

Graphic panels in the base add elements of black history When Baltimore sculptor James Earl Reid created the city's first memorial to the stunningly gifted jazz singer Billie Holiday in 1985, something was missing. Gone were the panels containing references to the Jim Crow era and the lynching that Holiday so chillingly recounted in the ballad “Strange Fruit." Now Reid has a chance to remedy what he calls censorship by city officials, by adding the bronze panels for today's rededication ...

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Sinan Bakir Trio is Nominated for the Best Jazz Group

Source: All About Jazz
July 17, 2009

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With a Mix of Rock, Jazz and Blues, Reverend Zen Wins Artist of the Year at the Los Angeles Music Awards

Source: All About Jazz
July 16, 2009

By Rich Monetti Creating quality music takes time and patience - even if it doesn't always sound that way when we are inundated by commercial music played over and over on the radio. “I hear too much music that sounds like a first draft," said Jack Evans of Katonah, who recently won artist of the year at the Los Angeles Music Awards. Mr. Evans or Reverend Zen, along with the studio musicians who helped him put together the winning CD, ...

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Amanda Tosoff Quartet Wins the 2009 General Motors Grand Jazz Award

Source: All About Jazz
July 13, 2009

The Galaxie Rising Star Award of the CBC goes to Vincent Gagnon Montreal -- The Festival International de Jazz de Montreal in collaboration with General Motors Canada--partner and presenter of the event for the 10th consecutive year--are today pleased to be awarding the General Motors Grand Jazz Award to Amanda Tosoff Quartet. The artist was deemed best of 10 other jazz artists and ensembles who took part in the pan-Canadian competition. The jury wanted to acknowledge the talent of all ...

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Soloist Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Serenade in the Key of Glee

Source: Michael Ricci
July 12, 2009

Steve Lopez takes Nathaniel Anthony Ayers to San Francisco, where he is honored for helping decrease the stigma of mental illness.

He was so eager to make the trip, he called several times to make sure it hadn't been canceled.

“Mr. Lopez, is the pickup still at 9 a.m?"

“Yes, Mr. Ayers. I'll see you in the morning."

When I pulled up, he was standing on the sidewalk playing a skid row reveille on his trumpet. He had a small ...

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Neil Peart's Powerhouse Percussion Results in Third Consecutive Victory as Drummer of the Year in Enter Music Publishing's Drummies Awards

Source: JCM Media
July 10, 2009

SAN JOSE, Calif., -- Neil Peart's lucky number may just be three. He can definitely play in three; he has been part of a highly successful trio, Rush; and, he has now garnered his third consecutive victory as “Drummer Of The Year” in this year's Drummies. Additionally, he won “Best Progressive Drummer. Enter Music Publishing, publishers of hip, drum magazines worldwide, conducts The Drummies every year with voting open to anyone from February to May. This year 5,310 votes were ...

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Ornette Coleman Winner of the Miles Davis Award

Source: Michael Ricci
July 10, 2009

The Festival International de Jazz de Montreal this year offered the prestigious Miles Davis Award to the peerless free jazz titan Ornette Coleman. He was given the prize by Alain Simard, founder and president of the Festival. For over five decades, saxophonist and composer Ornette Coleman, 79, has played a major role in the evolution of American music; he belongs to that rare species of artists and thinkers whose influence extends far beyond the range of his instrument. Very early ...

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Toots and the Maytals, 6th Winners of the Antonio Carlos Jobim Award

Source: Michael Ricci
July 10, 2009

Montreal - Reggae pioneers Toots & The Maytals were honoured by the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal with the awarding of the Antonio Carlos Jobim Award. The prize was presented to them by Laurent Saulnier, vice-president of programming of the Festival, on stage at their concert on Thursday night. Toots & The Maytals are the 6th recipients of the Antonio Carlos Jobim Award, created for the Festival’s 25th anniversary to honour artists distinguished in the field of world music ...

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