Award / Grant News

SWR Jazz Award for Ingrid Laubrock

Source: All About Jazz
April 25, 2009

Saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock is the winner of this year's Southwest Germany Radio (SWR) Jazz Award, one of Germany's most prestigious music awards.

The prize money is funded by the State of Rhineland-Palatinate and SWR and is worth around $19,000.

Laubrock received the award for her album Sleepthief (Intakt, 2008), recorded with Tom Rainey (drums) and Liam Noble (piano). The jury cited Laubrock's “individual and highly personal improvisation on the saxophone" as the reason for the award.

In 2006, Laubrock was ...

Continue Reading

Ascap Pop Music Awards Honor Ann and Nancy Wilson and Other Great Teams

Source: Michael Ricci
April 23, 2009

Why aren't Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? That question buzzed around my table as rock's champions of powerful sisterhood prepared to accept the Founders Award at Wednesday night's ASCAP Pop Music Awards.

The ceremony, which honors the most performed songs in the performance rights organization's repertory -- this year, Ryan Tedder and Jesse McCartney's “Bleeding Love," as sung by Leona Lewis, took top honors -- united many notables around banquet tables ...

Continue Reading

Pulitzer Prize: Steve Reich

Source: JamBase
April 22, 2009

Steve Reich Wins 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Music

Steve Reich The 2009 Pulitzer Prize for “distinguished musical composition by an American" has been awarded to New York composer Steve Reich. Reich won the $10,000 prize for his Double Sextet (Boosey & Hawkes), “a major work that displays an ability to channel an initial burst of energy into a large-scale musical event, built with masterful control and consistently intriguing to the ear." The piece debuted March 26, 2008 at the University ...

Continue Reading

Philadelphia Music Project Announces 2009 Grant Awards

Source: All About Jazz
April 21, 2009

Support from the Philadelphia Music Project brings 118 Events to the Philadelphia region Nineteen local music organizations receive almost $1.2 million in funding Philadelphia, PA -- The Philadelphia Music Project (PMP), a program of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, has awarded $1,179,675 to 19 local music organizations in support of 118 concerts and residency programs spanning traditional and contemporary forms of classical, jazz, and world music. This year's grants will make possible world premiere performances of 15 new ...

Continue Reading

B.B.King to Appear at Blues Music Awards

Source: All About Jazz
April 20, 2009

B.B. King will be on hand at the Blues Music Awards ceremony on May 7 in Memphis to present an award named in his honor, the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year.

Nominees for this award are Janiva Magness, Watermelon Slim, Bobby Rush, Lil' Ed and Magic Slim. This year's awards ceremony and concert should be fantastic. Performers (info courtesy of the Blues Foundation) will include:

Bettye LaVette Detroit-born singer has performed at the Kennedy Center and at ...

Continue Reading

Detroit Blues Society Establishes Memorial Award for Youth Blues Musicians

Source: Just Roots PR
April 15, 2009

Detroit Blues Society Establishes Memorial Award for Youth Blues Musicians.

DETAILS The award is called THE JAMES S. HENRY YOUTH EXCELLENCE AWARD. It is named in honor of Detroit Blues Society Member and friend, Jim Henry who passed away at the age of 49 in March of 2009. Jim was dedicated to mentoring young musicians or bands, that he felt, showed a bright future in the Blues world. Jim would routinely assist them, record them, give ...

Continue Reading

The Original Disciples of Beethoven Award Honors the Street Musician

Source: Michael Ricci
April 12, 2009

Rewarding The Soloist Mr. Ayers' courage, who has touched so many hearts. Steve Lopez on Nathaniel Anthony Ayers

They had every kind of trophy you could imagine at House of Trophies in Boyle Heights. Soccer, basketball, baseball, football, even fishing. They had trophies 6 inches tall and 6 feet tall, plaques and desk ornaments too, for retiring cops and transit workers and for great teachers.

But nothing for musicians.

I told a clerk I needed a trophy with something a ...

Continue Reading

Society of Singers Names Honorees Herb Alpert, Lani Hall to be Feted in May

Source: All About Jazz
April 9, 2009

The Society of Singers will honor Herb Alpert and Lani Hall with the 18th Ella Award held at the BevHilton on May 18.

The org, which is celebrating its 25th anni this year, honors singers who have made significant contributions to charitable and humanitarian causes. Past recipients of the kudo include Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Tony Martin.

Alan Bergman, the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis, Jr., Renee Olstead, Steve Tyrell, Tata Vega and Paul ...

Continue Reading