The JJA Jazz Awards is going bi-coastal, as the Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance in downtown Berkeley, California, has announced a free and public “satellite party” on Monday, June 14 from 12:30 to 3:30 PDT, simultaneously with the Jazz Awards ceremony and reception at City Winery in Manhattan.
The Jazzschool invites musicians, journalists and jazz fans to toast trumpeter-bandleader-educator Khalil Shaheed, newly named “Jazz Hero, Bay Area” by the JJA, to watch an online simulcast of the New York events and to informally talk over local music-related issues. (Mr. Shaheed plans to attend.) The idea is for Bay Area guests to learn who has won in 40 categories of Jazz Awards instantaneously via online audio/video and Twitter, see the JJA’s “A Team” and “Jazz Hero” honorees and hear at least some of the music being performed at the Awards by pianist Ayako Shirasaki, guitarist Rale Micic’s trio, pianist Marc Cary’s Focus Trio, the Tia Fuller Quartet and the Bobby Sanabria Big Band.
Susan Muscarella, president of the Jazzschool, and Terri Hinte, independent writer, editor and music publicist, are organizing the party, which will include refreshments and a cash bar. Both Ms. Muscarella and Ms. Hinte have been inducted previously by the JJA into its “A Team” of “activists, advocates, altruists, aiders and abettors of jazz,” in recognition of their careers focused on educational and informational work.
“The JJA is eager to spread news of the Jazz Awards, which celebrate excellence in all things jazz,” said Howard Mandel, president of the JJA. “It’s especially gratifying to have JJA ‘A Team’ honorees Susan Muscarella and Terri Hinte organize a Bay Area party at Jazzschool. If I could be in two places at once I’d be at Jazzschool as well as at City Winery!
“We’re also excited to try simul-streaming video for the first time so that people worldwide can see and hear what happens onstage in New York” Mandel continued. “We’re eager to set up other satellite parties — which don’t have to be fancy or formal affairs. We first thought of them because of President Obama’s campaign phone bank parties.” Mandel urged potential hosts to contact him at President@JazzJournalists.org.
For further information on the Jazzschool Jazz Awards party, contact Terri Hinte, hudba@sbcglobal.net.
