The Jazz Journalists Association today named 27 “activists, advocates, altruists, aiders and abettors of jazz” in 23 U.S. cities as 2020 Jazz Heroes.
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This year’s Heroes, from Boston to Los Angeles, Seattle to South Florida, Birmingham to Minneapolis, are all presenters, educators, non-profit administrators, public faces of grassroots organizations, writers, broadcasters and in several cases – as with Ran Blake, Ocie Davis, Matthew Garrison, Billy Mitchell, Patty Peterson, Gwen “Rivablue” Redding, Ron Steen, Jay Thomas and Anthony Tidd — active musicians developing and sustaining America’s native art in their local communities and beyond.
All 27 heroes are notable in their accomplishments. However, special mention must be made of Susan Brink, Capital Region of New York Hero, as she is a JJA board member who has for several years worked directly on the Jazz Heroes and Jazz Awards campaigns.
“In this troubling time, as the world fights a pandemic, the JJA is proud to celebrate the hearts, souls and efforts of these Heroes who are all of the opinion that creative, improvised music offers substantial person and societal benefits,” says Howard Mandel, president of the JJA. “And they do everything they can to spread that message.”
The Jazz Journalists Association, a 501 (c) (3) professional organization of writers, photographers, videographers, broadcasters and new media activists covering jazz, established its Jazz Heroes campaign in 2010, having since 2001 called the honorees members of the JJA “A Team.” Public presentations of Jazz Heroes statuettes by their local friends and fans will be done at local public events when such events can safely resume. Dates will be announced at JJAJazzAwards.org.
The Jazz Heroes are named in conjunction with the JJA’s annual, voted-for Jazz Awards for excellence in music and music journalism. Nominees for 2020 Jazz Awards will be announced mid-April, with winners revealed on or about May 1 at www.JJAJazzAwards.org.
Entities collaborating on 2020 Jazz Heroes presentations include the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, Ars Nova Workshop (Philadelphia), Braithwaite and Katz Communications, B Sharps Jazz Club, the California Jazz Foundation, Jazz Promo Services, Jazziz magazine and MNM Creative. They are thanked for their participation.
For more information on the JJA Jazz Heroes, Jazz Awards or the Jazz Journalists Association itself, contact Howard Mandel, President@JazzJournalists.org/212 533 4952.
