The Jazz Journalists Association has announced
finalists for the 2023 JJA Jazz Awards, the organization’s 28th annual celebration of excellence in jazz and jazz journalism. See all nominees for Journalism and Media here; nominees for Recordings and Performance awards here.
Of thousands of nominees proposed for Awards in 49 categories by professional voting members of the JJA in first round submissions, the finalists claimed the most mentions, and are now presented to those same JJA members for consideration of their works in calendar year 2022. The ballot is now open for eligible voters until midnight Sunday, May 7. Awards winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 17.
Photos of the Year, Album Art of the Year, Jazz Documentaries, Books, Podcasts, Publications and Streaming Platforms are among the media categories, while awards for Recordings and Performance range from vocalists and big bands to players of every kind of instrument, including electronics.
Lifetime Achievement Awards for Jazz Journalism cite Nate Chinen, Will Friedwald, Ashley Kahn and Gene Seymour, who are all authors/critic/broadcasters/educators/cultural critics/public speakers. Lifetime Achievement in Jazz finalists are tenor sax standard-bearer George Coleman, solo and ensemble piano recitalist Keith Jarrett, wind and reeds playing composer/improviser/ensemble leader Charles Lloyd (a Memphis contemporary of Coleman’s, in whose 1960’s quartet Jarrett emerged) and composer/trumpeter/educator/philosopher Wadada Leo Smith.
Records nominated for Best of the Year are Ghost Song (Nonesuch) — Cécile McLorin Salvant; Música De Las Américas (Miel Music) — Miguel Zenón; New Standards Vol. 1 (Candid) — Terri Lyne Carrington, and Mesmerism (Yeros7 Music) — Tyshawn Sorey Trio. Zenón, Carrington and also Charles Lloyd have been nominated as Musician of the Year, along with guitarist Mary Halvorson.
See all nominees for Journalism and Media here; nominees for Recordings and Performance awards here. Winners of the 2023 JJA Jazz Awards will be invited to participate in an interactive online experience at the JJABashHouse, to be scheduled as are in-person presentations. For further information including sponsorship opportunities for the JJA Jazz Awards, contact Howard Mandel, President@JazzJournalists.org.
