The 1st International Jazz Awards

Sunday June 29th, 2008 is the date where some of the best musicians will come together to honor legendary Jazz artists and their music. This event will take place in Beverly Hills, California at the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Comedian D.L. Hughley will host.

In addition the ceremony will include musical tributes to Lena Horne, Count Basie, Clint Eastwood, George and Ira Gershwin and Antonio Carlos Jobim. The show will be taped for television broadcast in the near future.

You will not see me write too much about award shows on this blog. I like to hear the tunes and not necessarily compare or judge who’s performance is stronger or who may have sold more. I like letting the music just happen. But there comes a time when you have to give credit where it is due. And the jazz genre has been long overlooked. So any attention to these amazing legendary artists is great news… As this blog is a reflective and personal look at the blues & jazz genres, I felt it was important to make mention of this event as the artists that are being honored have greatly inspired me. I wanted to do my part to bring awareness to this most noteworthy event.

-The Blues Blogger

The nominees were selected by a committee comprised of jazz critics and writers, nightclub owners, record retailers, concert promoters, radio programmers, and radio personalities. For more information on the event you can go to their website by clicking here.

The annual ceremony will be an Academy Awards style presentation for the jazz genre. The award statuette ( “The Louie”, in honor of the 16th note turned upside down ), will be presented to the winners in the following 24 categories:

CONTEMPORARY

1. Outstanding Performance In A Vocal (Male)

Michael Buble – Call Me Irresponsible – 143 Records/Reprise
Curtis Stigers – Real Emotional
Tony Bennett – Duets: An American Classic – Rpm/Columbia
Kurt Elling – Nightmoves – Concord Jazz

2. Outstanding Performance In A Vocal (Female)

Patti Austin – Avant Gershwin – Rendezvous Entertainment
Nancy Wilson – Turned To Blue – MCG Jazz
Norah Jones – Not Too Late – Blue Note
Dianne Reeves – When You Know – Blue Note
Tierney Sutton – On The Other Side – Telarc Jazz

3. Outstanding Performance In A Duo Or Group/Instrumental

Herbie Hancock – River: The Joni Letters – Verve
Chris Botti – Italia – Columbia
Najee – Rising Sun – Heads Up
Jeff Lorber – He Had A Hat – Narada Jazz/Blue Note
Eldar – Re-Imagination – Masterworks Jazz
Maria Schneider Orchestra – Sky Blue – Artistshare

TRADITIONAL

4. Outstanding Performance In A Vocal (Male)

Andy Bey – It Ain’t Necessarily So – 12th Street
Kurt Elling – Nightmoves – Concord Records
Giacomo Gates – Illumination
Freddy Cole – Music Maestro Please – Highnote Records
Marcus Simeone – At Last – Miranda Music

5. Outstanding Performance In A Vocal (Female)

Abbey Lincoln – Abbey Sings Abbey – Verve
Jackie Ryan – You And The Night And The Music – Open Art
Rene Marie – Experiment In Truth – Rene Marie
Dee Dee Bridgewater – Red Earth: A Malian Jorney – Emarcy
Tierney Sutton Band – On The Other Side – Telarc

6. Outstanding Performance In A Duo Or Group/Instrumental

Joe Lovano And Hank Jones – Kids: Live At Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola – Blue Note
Joshua Redman – Back East – Nonesuch
Mccoy Tyner Quartet – Quartet – Mccoy Tyner Music
Wynton Marsalis – From The Plantation To The Penitentiary – Blue Note
Bennie Wallace – Disorder At The Border – Enja/Justin Time

SWING

7. Outstanding Performance In A Duo Or Group/Instrumental

The George Washingmachine Quartet – Session – New Market Music
Midnight Serenaders – Magnolia
The Carl Saunders Exploration – The Lost Bill Holman Charts – Mama Records
Frank Rosolino & Carl Fontana – Trombone Heaven (Vancouver 1978)
Urbie Green – His Quintet And Big Band

BRAZILIAN

8. Outstanding Performance In A Vocal (Male)

Gilberto Gil – Gil Luminoso
Carlinhos Brown – A Gente Ainda Nao Sonho
Antonio Carlos Jobim – For Lovers
Funky C – Joya – Sonic 360 Records
Tom Lellis – Avenue Of The Americas – Tom Lellis/Beamtidemarc Demuth Quartet

9. Outstanding Performance In A Vocal (Female)

Karrin Allyson – Imagina: Songs Of Brasil – Concord
Muiza Adnet – Muiza Adnet Sings Moacir Santos – Adventure Music
Clara Nunes – Retratos
Luciana Souza – The New Bossa Nova
Flora Purim – Coffee & Bossa: The Chillout Sound Of Flora Purim

10. Outstanding Performance In A Duo Or Group / Instrumental

Trio Da Paz & Joe Locke – Live At Jazz Baltica – Maxjazz
Marcos Ariel – 4 Friends – Tenure
Gotan Project – El Norte
Marc Demuth Quartet Featuring Sofia Ribeiro
Luiz Bonfa & Laurindo Almeida – Guitar Music Of Brazil

LATIN & AFRO-CUBAN

11. Outstanding Performance In A Vocal (Male)

Poncho Sanchez – Raise Your Hand – Concord Picante
De La Mata – Sirak Y Su Sonora Antillana – Sbb Records
Adrian Bal – Los Angeles – Bal Records
Chris Conway – Chocolate Bossa
Roberto Pitre – Vivo En Vida

12. Outstanding Performance In A Vocal (Female)

Maria Farinha – Kiss Of Love
Jessica Medina – Azul – Hennessy & Sony/BMG
Patrice Fisher – Music of the 3 Americas
Elsa Valle – Salsa Y Picante – Tom-Tom Records
Kathryn Taubert – Where Can I Go Without You

13. Outstanding Performance In A Duo Or Group/Instrumental

Bebo Valdes – Bebo – Calle 54
The Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project – Simpatico – Artistshare
Paquito D’Rivera Quartet – Funk Tango – Paquito Records
Sammy Figueroa And His Latin Jazz Explosion – The Magician – Savant
Arturo O’Farril & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra – Song For Chico – Zoho Music

FUSION

14. Outstanding Performance In A Duo Or Group/Instrumental

Jack Dejohnette, Larry Goldings & John Scofield Trio Beyond – Saudades – ECM
Michael Brecker – Pilgrimage – Head Up International
Pat Metheny/Brad Mehldau – Quartet – Nonesuch
Sean Jones – Kaleidoscope – Mack Avenue
Victor Wooten – Palmystery – Heads Up

DIXIELAND

15. Outstanding Performance In A Duo Or Group/Instrumental

Preservation Hall Jazz Band – Made In New Orleans: The Hurricane Sessions – Preservation Hall
Penthouse Playboys – Bourbon Street Burlesque

NEW ARTISTS (US/INTERNATIONAL)

16. Outstanding Performance Of A New Artist – Vocal/ Duo Or Group/Instrumental (Us)

Jonathan Batiste – Live In New York
Jeremy Pelt And Wired – Shock Value Live At Smoke
Helen Sung – Sungbird (After Albeniz)
Jessy J – Tequila Moon – Concord

17. Outstanding Performance Of A New Artist – Vocal/Duo Or Group/Instrumental (International)

(To Be Announced).

ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES

18. Outstanding Song Of The Year

Joe Sample/Randy Crawford – Feelin Good
“Feeling Good” – Randy Crawford

Norman Brown – Stay With Me – Concord
“Stay With Me – Brian Mcknight

Kirk Whalum – Round Trip – Rndz
“Inside” – Shanice Wilson

Poncho Sanchez – Raise Your Hand – Concord Picante
“Raise Your Hand” – Poncho Sanchez

Michael Buble – Call Me Irresponsible – 143 Records/Reprise
“Everything” Michael Buble

19. Outstanding Album Of The Year

Terence Blanchard – A Tale Of God’s Will (A Requiem For Katrina)
Herbie Hancock – River: The Joni Letters – Verve
Michael Buble – Call Me Irresponsible – 143 Records/Represe
Chris Botti – Italia – Columbia
Wayman Tisdale – Way Up – Rndz

20. Producer Of The Year

Rex Rideout – Kirk Whalum – Round Trip
Herbie Hancock & Larry Klein – Herbie Hancock – River: The Joni Letters
Bobby Colomby – Chris Botti – Italia
David Foster & Humberto Gatica – Michael Buble – Call Me Irresponsible
Ron Fair, Tommy Lipuma & Marc Shaiman – Queen Latifah – Travelin’ Light

21. Outstanding Performance In A Live Album

Jason Lindner Big Band – Live At The Jazz Gallery – Anzic
Steve Kuhn – Live At Birdland – Blue Note
Kenny Burrell – 75th Birthday Bash Live – Blue Note
Mingus Big Band – Live In Tokyo At The Blue Note – Sunnyside/Sue Mingus Music
Terell Stafford – Taking Chances Live At The Dakota – Maxjaz

22. Outstanding Performance In A Holiday Album

White/Adair/Braun – Peter White – Artz
Boney James – Christmas Present – Concord
Tis The Season – Jingle Bell Jazz – CPSS
X Mix Style – Martini Merry Christmas – CMPS
V/A Adult Christmas – Christmas At The Cotton- Star

23. Outstanding Motion Picture Soundtrack Of The Year

Babel – Gustavo Santaolalla
Inside Man – Trence Blanchard – Varese Sarabande
Good Night, And Good Luck – Dianne Reeves

24. Outstanding Performance Of A New Artist In Duo Or Group/Instrumental In Hip-Hop Jazz

Christian Scott – Anthem – Concord
Jill Scott – The Real Thing – Hidden Beach
Rahsaan Patterson – Wines And Spirts – Dome/Artistry
Alica Keys – As I Am – J Records
Corinne Bailey Rae – Corinne Bailey Rae – EMI Records