[jja-announce] and who did I leave out this time? Hundreds. . .

[Jazzmandel at aol.com]

dear JJA friends and colleagues -- 

I'm not sure what the superhighlight was: 

Joe Lovano's deeply touching soprano sax solo in tribute to Steve Lacy; Keiko 
Jones talking about how to her Elvin is still alive, and she continues to 
make him breakfast and lunch every day; Sam Rivers explaining how "Fuschia Swing 
Song" wasn't the album he intended to make, but the last-minute substitution 
of music he'd been playing since the '40s to some new stuff producer Alfred 
Lion didn't like (Sam also mentioned, when picking up Wayne Shorter's award for 
Album of the Year, that Miles had traded him to Art Blakey for Wayne, but no 
one had told him where to go to join the Messengers) -- or perhaps the lineup of 
an extraordinary A Team presenters Jimmy Heath, Olu Dara, Dorthann Kirk, Jon 
Faddis, Pat Martino and Creed Taylor onstage with honorees Arthur H. Barnes 
(who announced he'd kicked off the WBGO 25th anniversary fundraising campaign 
with a $100,000 contribution), Jarrett Lilien (who announced that he and his 
wife had decided to launch the Jazz Foundation of America's creation of a 
residence for jazz musicians in need with a $100,000 donation), Bethany Bultman (who 
said if SHE could start a Musicians Clinic in New Orleans, WE ought to be able 
to do the same here in the Apple), Sandy Jackson (proclaimed a "great friend 
and great supporter whose background works are too numerous to talk on and on 
about"), Rudy Van Gelder (who doesn't like crowds, but was able to deal with 
our noisy, chaotic event by sitting amidst friends at the Blue Note Records 
table), and Les Paul (fit and funny as ever, age 89 and looking well ahead). 

I know, that's a helluva sentence. But so it seemed to me, all the activity 
and buzz swirling at the 8th Annual Jazz Awards, held at B.B. King's last 
Tuesday from 4 til 7 p.m. 

At least that was the official time. Volunteers arranged by Yvonne Ervin, 
Wendy Oxenhorn of the Jazz Foundation, Lois Gilbert and me (including JJA tap 
dance chronicler Jane Goldberg) arrived at BB's at 10 a.m. to stuff goody bags (
supplied by Ron Sturm, owner of the Iridium Jazz club) with t-shirts from 
E-Trade Financial and Marsalis Music, coupons offering two weeks free Sirius 
Satellite Radio, BETJazz program guides, the latest Hot House magazine, CDs by Frank 
Kimbrough and Ingrid Jensen, among others and new Blue Note samplers, and the 
thick recent issue of Jazz Improv magazine (somehow BETJazz keyrings didn't 
get in those bags, and when that box is located, we'll find a way to distribute 
them to all JJA members we can). At 1:30 the program books expertly 
art-directed by AllAboutJazz-NY's Andrey Henkin arrived; at 2:30 p.m. the Awards 
themselves, shepherded by Nancy Barell and Joel Levin, turned up, and that was just 
about when Dick Gregory came to the club, on the arm of Jackie Buster 
Lawrence, who had enlisted him as a guest host for the Awards. 

While intrepid JJA members from far away were waiting for us to start (I 
think Tom the jazzman Mallison and Michael writer/photographer Jackson were there 
first), Gene Martin was setting up what turned out to be a brilliant group 
photo in B.B. King's luncheon-barroom Lucilles. I got to stand between Casssandra 
Wilson and Pat Martino (it's *good* to be President). JJA members George 
Kanzler, Ira Gitler, Frank J. Oteri, Paul deBarros, Bill Milkowski, Sy Johnson 
(whose wife Lois Mirvisss was busy, along with Enid Farber, setting up the 
outstanding Silent Photo Auction) and many more are in that image, along with 
several dozen musicians (Buddy DeFranco, Faddis, on and on) -- you've got to see it 
at JazzCorner.com or JazzJournalistsAwards.com, the website for the event that 
Lois Gilbert instituted for us, which Ben Allison designed.

I can't stop now to give you a complete rundown of the evening, but Dewey 
Redman led a burning quartet (with altoist Greg Lilly, drummer Reggie Nicholson, 
and I missed the bassist's name though I've heard him before); Duane Eubanks 
on trumpet and EJ Allen on sax plus Anthony Wonsey, piano, fine bass and drums 
held the audience as they came in, warmed up by New School bassist Renee 
Cruz's  great young sextet. Dick Gregory spoke up for Brother Ray Charles, and told 
some truths and jokes, which were not necessarily distinguishable from each 
other. Roswell Rudd spoke very movingly of his friend Steve Lacy, also modestly 
in awe that he'd won Trombonist of the Year for the 2nd in a row "when there 
were all these other truly great trombonists nominated." A full house -- over 
500 -- scarfed down the BB's salads, chicken dinners and desserts, while 
whetting there whistles on the bountiful Michelob, Michelob Ultra and Budweister 
given to us by Anheuser-Busch. 

The stage was draped with banners -- not just the JJA's, but also from 
E-Trade and HIP Health Care of New York. BETJazz's stand-up posters arrived 
mid-show, and went right up onstage. Paxton Baker, a principle at the 24 hour cable 
jazz station, was most gracious in his awards presentations to Michael Ricci of 
AllAboutJazz.com and broadcaster Steve Schwartz of WGBH-FM, Boston. Maria 
Schneider was delightful, picking up her award for Best Arranger, and astonished 
when she was next announced the winner of Composer of the Year. Willard Jenkins 
was a great sport despite my confusion in handing him the Best Large Ensemble 
Award to give out, when ECM's Tina Pelikan had picked it up for Dave 
Holland's Big Band just a minute before (I gave Willard "Best Miscellaneous 
Instrumentalist" to present as a consolation, and it went to the legendary 
guitarist-harmonicaman-composer Toots Thielesman. Edguardo Vega Yunque, author of last 
year's best novel concerned with jazz themes, "No Matter how Much You Promise to 
Cook or Pay the Rent You Blew It Cauze Bill Bailey Ain't Never Coming Home Again
" gave the Best Book of the Year Award to the JJA's own Nate Chinen, just as 
George Wein, whose autobiography "My Life Among Others" that Nate co-authored, 
arrived in the hall. In time for his Presenter of the Year Award. 

I saw many others in the house - Tim Jackson, Myra Melford, Lourdes Delgado, 
Judy Balos, Jeff Ballard, Frank Kimbrough, Michael Cuscuna, Bob Porter, Mike 
Zwerin, Patricia Willard, Cecil Taylor, Frank Wess (it was my amateurish 
flutist's honor to present him with the award for Flutist of the Year, which he's 
been for many years), Joe Locke, Ted Panken, Laurence Donohue-Greene, Shellie 
Williams, Kahil El Zabar, Francis Davis, Russ Dantzler, John Szwed (did a nice 
job as a pinch-hit presenter), Ashley Kahn, Amanda Sweet from Telarc Records, 
Pat Rustici from Palmetto, Pete Gershon editor of Signal2Noise, Jason Koransky 
from Down Beat, Larry Blumenfeld representing Jazziz, Glen Sabin accepting the 
Best Periodical Award from Tracks editor Alan Light for Jazz Times (fifth 
year in a row), mother and son writing teamCarla and Jason Rupp, photog Jeff 
Kliman, Claire Daly with her pro-level digital videocam, Dan Ouellette, flutist 
Jamie Baum, Roy Haynes, Miguel Zenon, Andrew Hill, Chris Washburne with his 
producer Randy Klein, Judi Silvano, Bob Blumenthal, Bobby Watson, Gary Smulyan, 
Ronnie Cuber with his wife, Perry Robinson, Michelle Dreighton, Lew Tabackin, 
Ron Carter, Eric Neymeyer, Matt Wilson, Linda Yohn, Jimmy Katz, Mitchell Seidel, 
Paul Blair, Jack Vartoogian, and John Abbott, among so many others. Sorry for 
those I said hi to and now leave out, but I can't let this go without 
crediting my dear daughter Rosie Mandel and Lois Gilbert's handsome son Chris Franco 
for outstanding, difficult work in bringing the Awards from the wings and 
putting them securely in the presenters hands. Also, guitarist Doug Wamble did a 
masterful solo version of St. Louis Blues, not easy in front of this sometimes 
babbling crowd.

It really was fun. And we got out in time for the British skiffle band Mungo 
Jerry to go on as scheduled. Whoa, how did we pull it off? Jim Eigo and Don 
Lucoff and Jana LaSorte were major helpers. Martin Mueller and Bethany Riker of 
the New School Jazz program helped us put together the bands, as did Chantal 
Phaire. David Adler made sure the new issue of Jazz Notes got to the club. Matt 
Abramowitz of Sirius Jazz Radio and new JJA member Michael Abbott who both 
interviewed me were fully supportive. I saw my neighborhood JJA buddies Greg 
Masters and Martin Johnson, and of course Arnold Jay Smith and Lois Gilbert, Lois 
Gilbert!! did good things with ticket sales and our receipts and payouts. Ken 
Franckling and Bill Gottlieb, together, presented the Photographer of the 
Year (really, lifetime achievement) to Lee Tanner, who couldn't be there, so 
Chuck Stewart, who won in 2000 but had never gotten his Award until that night, 
came on and took it for his old pal Lee. Big help from B.B.'s Amanda Presser -- 
so much thanks to her -- and same from/to Anheuser-Busch's Cynthia Moore, and 
major sponsor Pfizer Inc.'s Rick Luftglass, and Marina Mackel-Brown and Rita 
Lewis from BETJazz, Connie Dotson of E-Trade, and many thanks to HEI Art for 
oil paintings and posters, and to Fender, which donated a guitar! 

Not to mention Fred Jung, whose West Coast Jazz Party at the Jazz Bakery 
occurs Monday, June 21. Still time to buy a ticket and attend. That will be yet 
another great party.

Here are the Awards winners and correct category titles:

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Lifetime Achievement in Jazz
2004
Dave Brubeck

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Musician of the Year
2004
Wayne Shorter

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Up & Coming Musician of the Year
2004 
Vijay Iyer

The Jazz Journalists Association
Record of the Year
2004
Alégria
Wayne Shorter
Verve 

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Jazz Reissue of the Year, single CD
2004 
Fuschia Swing Song
Sam Rivers
Blue Note Records

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Jazz Reissue of the Year, boxed set
2004
The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions
Miles Davis 
Columbia Legacy

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Jazz Record Label of the Year 
2004
Blue Note Records

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Jazz Events Producer of the Year
2004 
George Wein
Festival Productions, Inc.

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Jazz Composer of the Year
2004 
Maria Schneider

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Jazz Arranger of the Year
2004 
Maria Schneider

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Male Jazz Singer of the Year
2004 
Andy Bey

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Female Jazz Singer of the Year 
2004
Cassandra Wilson

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Latin Jazz Album of the Year
2004 
New Conceptions
Chucho Valdes
Blue Note Records

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Small Ensemble of the Year
2004
Wayne Shorter Quartet

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Large Ensemble of the Year
2004
Dave Holland Big Band

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Trumpeter of the Year
2004
Dave Douglas

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Trombonist of the Year
2004 
Roswell Rudd

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Miscellaneous Instrument
Player of the Year
2004
Toots Thielemans
Harmonica

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Alto Saxophonist of the Year
2004 
Lee Konitz

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Tenor Saxophonist of the Year
2004 
Chris Potter

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Soprano Saxophonist of the Year
2004 
Steve Lacy

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Baritone Saxophonist of the Year
2004 
Gary Smulyan

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Clarinetist of the Year
2004 
Paquito D'Rivera

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Flutist of the Year 
2004
Frank Wess

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Pianist of the Year
2004 
Hank Jones

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Organist of the Year
2004 
Dr. Lonnie Smith

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Guitarist of the Year
2004 
Bill Frisell
 
The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Acoustic Bassist of the Year
2004 
Dave Holland

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Electric Bassist of the Year
2004 
Steve Swallow

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Strings Player of the Year
2004
Regina Carter

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Mallets Player of the Year
2004
Stefon Harris

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Percussionist of the Year
2004 
Ray Barretto

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Drummer of the Year
2004 
Roy Haynes

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Lifetime Achievement Award 
for Jazz Journalism
2004
Gene Lees

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Willis Conover-Marian McPartland Award
for Excellence in Jazz Broadcasting
2004
Steve Schwartz
WGBH-FM
Boston

The Jazz Journalists Association 
Lona Foote-Bob Parent Award
for Excellence in Photography
2004
Lee Tanner

The Jazz Journalists Association 
Helen Oakley Dance-Robert Palmer Award 
for Excellence in Newspaper, Magazine,
Online Feature or Review Writing
2004
Bill Milkowski

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Best Periodical Covering Jazz
2004 
Jazz Times

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Best Website Concentrating on Jazz
2004
AllAboutJazz.com

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
Best Book About Jazz
2004 
Myself Among Others
George Wein with Nate Chinen 
Da Capo

The Jazz Journalists Association Award
2004
Best Photo of the Year
John Abbott

The Jazz Journalists Association
 "A" Team Award
for Advocates, Altruists
Aiders and Abettors
2004
Arthur H. Barnes

The Jazz Journalists Association
 "A" Team Award
for Advocates, Altruists
Aiders and Abettors
2004
R. Jarrett Lilien

The Jazz Journalists Association
 "A" Team Award
for Advocates, Altruists
Aiders and Abettors
2004
Sandy Jackson

The Jazz Journalists Association
 "A" Team Award
for Advocates, Altruists
Aiders and Abettors
2004
Bethany Bultman

The Jazz Journalists Association
 "A" Team Award
for Advocates, Altruists
Aiders and Abettors
2004
Rudy Van Gelder

The Jazz Journalists Association
 "A" Team Award
for Advocates, Altruists
Aiders and Abettors
2004
Les Paul

The Jazz Journalists Association
 "A" Team Award
for Advocates, Altruists
Aiders and Abettors
2004
Horace Silver

The Jazz Journalists Association
 "A" Team Award
for Advocates, Altruists
Aiders and Abettors
2004
Chuck Niles

The Jazz Journalists Association
 "A" Team Award
for Advocates, Altruists
Aiders and Abettors
2004
LaRue Brown Watson

The Jazz Journalists Association
 "A" Team Award
for Advocates, Altruists
Aiders and Abettors
2004
Dr. Margaret Ray

The Jazz Journalists Association
 "A" Team Award
for Advocates, Altruists
Aiders and Abettors
2004
Dr. Paul Martin