Jazz Journalist Association Announces 2001 Award Winners: Joe Lovano Named Musician of the Year

The Jazz Journalists Association held their annual awards event on Thursday, June 14 at Birdland (44th & 8th Ave., New York City) with over 200 journalists, photographers, broadcasters, new media professionals, musicians and industry executives in attendance. The capacity audience was treated to celebrity Master of Ceremonies Keith David and guest appearances from Lionel Hampton, Billy Taylor, Joe Lovano, Kenny Barron, Eliane Elias, Stefon Harris, George Wein, Howard Johnson, Larry Goldings, Hamiet Bluiett, Jimmy Owens, Jane Ira Bloom, and Regina Carter, among others.

Based on votes cast by members of the 400 strong JJA international membership, and presented at a benefit for the Jazz Foundation of America, the custom engraved statuettes were presented in 39 categories. J&R Music/Computer World served as the host sponsor and additional support came from The Jazz Store, Jazz Corner, and Columbia Legacy Records.

Noted photographer Bill Gottlieb's silent auction raised $2500 for the Jazz Foundation of America's Jazz Emergency Fund. The JJA's awards comittee honored JFA co-founders Herb Storfer, Dr. Frank Forte and Billy Taylor.

Presenters included: journalists, Nat Hentoff, Ira Gitler, Larry Blumenfeld, Bill Milkowski, Lara Pellegrinelli, Sharony Andrews Green, Ashley Khan, Barry McRae (U.K); Cyril Moshkow, president, Moscow Jazz Journalists Association; Frank Oteri, American Music Center; Suzan Jenkins, RIAA; Martin Mueller, director, New School; and Lauren Deutsch, executive director Jazz Institute of Chicago.

History of the jazz awards is viewable in the library of Jazzhouse site of the Jazz Journalists Association. This year's entry will be posted 12 noon EST, Saturday, June 16.

 1. Lifetime Achievement in Jazz (joining previous honorees Benny Carter, Ornette Coleman, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins) 

John Lewis

2. Musician of the Year (achievement in sound recordings, live concert performances and overall presence, April 15, 2000 - April 15, 2001)

Joe Lovano 

3. Album of the Year (released April 15, 2000 - April 15, 2001)

Joe Lovano, 52nd Street Themes (Blue Note) 

4. Reissue of the Year

Louis Armstrong, Hot 5s and 7s (Columbia Legacy) 

5. Events Producer of the Year

George Wein, Festival Productions 

6. Composer of the Year

Andrew Hill

7. Male Singer of the Year

Jimmy Scott 

8. Female Singer of the Year

Dianne Reeves

9. Recording Debut of the Year

Jane Monheit, Never Neverland (N-Coded Music)

10. Afro-Cuban Jazz Album of the Year

Chucho Valdes -- Solo: Live in New York (Blue Note)

11. Brazilian Jazz Album of the Year

Eliane Elias, Everything I Love (Blue Note) 

12. Small Ensemble of the Year (nonet or smaller)

Dave Holland Prime Directive Quintet

13. Large Ensemble of the Year (tentet or bigger, including big bands, jazz orchestras, contemporary symphonies, et. al.)

Maria Schneider Orchestra

14. Trumpeter of the Year

Dave Douglas 

15. Trombonist of the Year

Wycliffe Gordon 

16. Brass of the Year (tuba, French horn, etc.)

Howard Johnson

17. Alto Saxophonist of the Year

Greg Osby

18. Tenor Saxophonist of the Year

Sonny Rollins 

19. Soprano Saxophonist of the Year

Jane Ira Bloom 

20. Baritone Saxophonist of the Year

Hamiet Bluiett

21. Winds and Reeds of the Year

Marty Ehrlich, saxophones, clarinets, flutes 

22. Pianist of the Year

Kenny Barron

23. Organ-keyboards of the Year

Larry Goldings 

24. Guitarist of the Year

Bill Frisell 

25. Acoustic Bassist of the Year

Dave Holland 

26. Electric Bassist of the Year

Steve Swallow 

27. Strings Player of the Year

Regina Carter, violin 

28. Mallets Player of the Year

Stefon Harris, vibes, marimba

29. Percussionist of the Year

Poncho Sanchez, congas

30. Drummer of the Year

Billy Higgins

JAZZ JOURNALISM CATEGORIES 

1. Jazz Journalism Lifetime Achievement Award

Dan Morgenstern

2. Excellence in Photography/the Lona Foote-Bob Parent Award 

Chuck Stewart 

3. Excellence in Newspaper, Magazine or Online Feature and Review Writing/the Helen Oakley Dance-Robert Palmer Award

Bob Blumenthal 

4. Excellence in Jazz Broadcasting/the Willis Conover-Marian McPartland Award 

Michael Bourne, WBGO-FM, Newark and www.wbgo 

5. Best Film/Video Regarding Jazz of the Year

Ken Burns' “Jazz" 

6. Best Periodical Covering Jazz

Jazz Times 

7. Best Jazz Liner Note/Program Note of the Year

David X. Young's Jazz Loft (JazzMagnet), essays by Bob Brookmeyer, Teddy Charles, Bill Crow, Howard Mandel, Juan Osaka McFelsnir, and David X. Young

8. Best Jazz Website of the Year (last year's honoree: Jazzhouse.org)

jazzhouse.org

9. Best Book on Jazz of the Year

Oxford Companion to Jazz, Bill Kirchner, ed. (Oxford University Press)