George Avakian, veteran jazz album producer, writer of the first jazz album liner notes
Margaret C. Bridge, Executive Vice President, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Foundation, for helping to establish the Dizzy Gillespie Cancer Clinic
Representative John Conyers, sponsor of H.R. 57 designating jazz as a significant American art form
Jim deJong, About the Music retail, presentation and and musician management consultant, Jazz Institute of Chicago
Dr. David Feldman, specialist in joint replacements donating services to musicians in need
Bruce Forman, guitarist and founder of JazzMasters Workshops and The Music Performance Developmental Workshops, Seaside, CA
Dr. Frank Forte, guitar enthusiast, cancer specialist at Englewood Medical Center, NJ, founder of the Jazz Foundation of America's Physicians Network
Barry Harris, pianist and director of the Jazz Workshop Theatre
Dr. David Hinkamp, specialist in occupational and preventive therapy for artists, Health in the Arts, Occupational Health Service Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago
Anna Immanuel, former journalist and advocate for children in areas of conflict
Dorthann Kirk, community outreach director, WBGO-FM Jazz 88
Arnie Lawrence, saxophonist and peace proponent employing jazz across borders
Dr. Robert Litwak, avocational drummer, cardiologist emeritus at Mt. Sinai Hospital, early instigator of New York-based volunteer physicians network serving jazz musicians
Dr. Lewis Marshall, internist to jazz musicians, Washington, D.C.
Dr. John Minichetti, specialist in dentistry donating services to musicians in need
Dr. David Morwood, drummer, jam session leader, and volunteer surgeon on children for Rotoplasty International
Herb Storfer, founder of the Jazz Foundation of America
Dr. Billy Taylor, pianist, composer, newscaster, educator, co-founder of the Jazz Foundation of America
Davey Yarborough, jazz director of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Washington, D.C.
The Jazz Journalists Association also wants to recognize those actors, entertainers, raconteurs and writers who have contributed to the Jazz Awards. They, too, belong in the A Team:
Eric Bogosian
Avery Brooks
Jayne Cortez
Keith David
Al "Grandpa" Lewis
Joe Piscopo
Soupy Sales
Paul Schafer