The Jazz Journalists Association will celebrate its 25th birthday and honor winners of its 17th annual 2013 Jazz Awards with a cocktails-plus-music party at the Blue Note Jazz Club, 131 W. 3rd St., New York City, from 4 to 6 pm on Wednesday, June 19. Harpist Edmar Castañeda, singer Paulette Dozier with pianist Danny Mixon, and violinist Zach Brock’s trio will provide entertainment; Josh Jackson, host of WBGO’s “The Checkout,” will be Master of Ceremonies. The event is open to the public; reservations should be made at http://bit.ly/10WrObb.
Winners of the JJA’s awards for jazz journalism, the only recognition of excellence in this field, will be announced at the event. Winners of JJA Jazz Awards for musical achievement – topped by Lifetime Achievement in Jazz recipient Wayne Shorter, and Musician of the Year trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith — were announced May 1, and are being presented at the honorees’ performances in various venues across the U.S. A complete list of those winners and roster of the JJA’s 2013 Jazz Heroes Awards for “activists, advocates, altruists, aiders and abettors of jazz” are posted at www.JJAJazzAwards.org.
Of the party’s featured artists, Edmar Castañeda is the winner of the JJA’s 2013 Jazz Award for “Player of Instruments Rare in Jazz,” and Zach Brock was nominated for “Best Violinist/Violist/Cellist of the Year.” Ms. Dozier is a Florida-based jazz vocalist, and Danny Mixon a veteran New York keyboards virtuoso, performer and instructor for Jazzmobile, teacher at the New School Jazz and Contemporary Music program and formerly music director of Harlem’s Lenox Lounge,
The party is a fundraiser to support the Jazz Journalists Association’s education and outreach programs. Reserved “ringside” tickets are $120. General admission is $60; Awards nominees and JJA members pay $45, and 2013 Jazz Awards winners are admitted free. All attendees must register at http://bit.ly/10WrObb.
The JJA is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) professional association of writers, broadcasters, photographers, videographers and support members, with some 300 current members mostly in North America but also residing in Europe, Asia, Cuba, South America and New Zealand. The JJA, which was responsible for the recent JazzApril campaign in support of Jazz Appreciation Month and International Jazz Day, produces webinars and workshops on topics relevant to music journalists navigating the fast-changing media landscape, maintains the website JJANews.org and has an active social media presence, among other activities. For further information on the JJA, its Jazz Awards, Jazz Heroes, or Blue Note Jazz Club party on June 19, contact President@JazzJournalists.org.
