Winners of the 2023 JJA Jazz Awards have emailed their appreciations for the honors, often with notable things to say about our lives immersed in music and media —
“Thank you!” wrote Dorothy Darr on behalf of her husband Charles Lloyd, honored for his Lifetime Achievement in Jazz. “That is lovely news to start the morning. A bumper crop! Many wonderful musicians in all categories. We continue to work on it from both sides. The writers and the creators.”
Ashley Kahn, Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Journalism recipient, was in Tucson on family business. “Just came back from an early AM walk (it’s still 7:45am here),” he emailed, “and saw the news. I’m humbled and truly honored, especially given that Nate Chinen, Will Friedwald and Gene Seymore were nominated too. Most grateful!”
Several responses were short and sweet:
- “Yay! Thanks!” — Nicole Mitchell, Flutist of the Year
- “Oh wow! Thanks!” — Tomeka Reid, Strings Player of the Year
- “What an awesome list. GO TERRY LYNE!!!” — Brandee Younger, Player of Instruments Rare in Jazz
- “Lovely surprise! Thank you!” — Arturo O’Farrill, Large Ensemble of the Year with his Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
- “We are honored.” — pianist Fred Hersch, with Esperanza Spalding singing, for Duo of the Year.
- “That’s great news, thanks to the team.” — Kurt Elling, Male Vocalist of the Year
- “Thank you so much! I am honored to receive this recognition.” — Roscoe Mitchell, Multiple Reeds and Winds Player of the Year
- “Awww, thank you. Nice news to receive.” Christian McBride, bassist-leader of New Jawn, Mid-Sized Ensemble of the Year
- “Thanks so much for this incredible honor. And for Ahmad’s album, too [Historical Album of the Year Ahmad Jamal’s Emerald City Nights (Elemental Music)]. Such a nice thing to happen. I can’t thank you and the JJA enough for all your support.” Zev Feldman, Record Producer of the Year
- “Whoa! 20 years since the last time I won…. How cool is that…. Good thing I keep practicing…. I’m smiling!” – Steven Bernstein, Brass Specialist of the Year
- “Thanks so much! I’m so honored.” — Aidan Levy, author of Awarded Saxophone Colossus: The Life and Music of Sonny Rollins (Hachette) and winner of Palmer-Dance Award for Writing in 2022
- “Thank you so much JJA for for listening, for caring and for the award! I am super honored!” — Anat Cohen, Clarinetist of the Year
- For Samara Joy, Up and Coming Musician and Female vocalist of the Year, her producer (nominated) Matt Pierson wrote, “Samara is so honored, and we spread the word to Verve and the press team the day we found out.”
- “Wow! For real? Thanks so much!” ♥♥♥🙏🙏🙏🔥🔥🔥 — Emmet Cohen, Pianist of the Year, Live-Stream Producer for Live from Emmet’s Place
Terri Lyne Carrington, Musician of the Year with Album of the Year New Standards, Volume 1, and Trombonist of the Year Steve Turre, Willard Jenkins and D.M. Stith all chimed in, too, genuinely pleased.
As news of her Career Excellence in Jazz Photography Award was posted, along with her image of William Parker chosen as Photo of the Year, Lauren Deutsch wrote,”I am being celebrated by my peers all over the world as we speak. It feels WONDERFUL! Thank You!!!”
Wrote Bill Frisell, Guitarist of the Year — “”Thank you so much for the good news. I hope you know …I know you do ….how much it means to me …all the incredible support and encouragement you’ve given me over all these many years. Music is a trip. I still feel like I’m just barely getting started …I’m going to keep on trying ….It’s wonderful having friends like you. I’m so lucky. Thank you and to all the folks.”
“The news was a nice surprise for Paul and me, and we are grateful to the JJA for the recognition. Thanks for all you do to make the JJA and these awards possible. No one says it enough—actually they usually say something closer to the opposite–but the community of jazz journalists and writers play an indispensable role connecting musicians to audiences. A small label like Smoke Sessions would be known by almost no one if there weren’t writers spreading the word.” — Damon Smith, Smoke Sessions Records (Records Label of the Year)
“That’s wonderful news,” wrote Edward Keane, manager of The Manhattan Transfer, Vocal Group of the Year, “and we appreciate the honor as we celebrate their 50th Anniversary and Final World Tour! We will look for your next email regarding the celebration!” [currently scheduled for September 10, 2023 — details tba]
“This is indeed a special blessing bestowed upon me. I am humbled by this honor and hope to live up to the potential you all see in me. I also want to congratulate my fellow awardees, it is a special moment for me to stand amongst them. Thanks ever so much to you for all that you do.” — Zakir Hussain, Percussionist of the Year.
Jazz Awards winners have nothing to prove — but many of them look ahead. As Dorothy Darr mentioned in Charles Lloyd’s note of thanks, “”Charles just made one of the best recordings of his life the week before his 85th birthday – with Jason Moran, Larry Grenadier and Brian Blade. Unlike the old days when you could turn around a recording in a few months, vinyl production is so slow, it won’t be out until next March.” Listeners await!
