On Thursday, April 17, the JJA hosted Jazz Zoom 25! – an afternoon online party for the 2025 Jazz Heroes with guest of honor John Edward Hasse, emeritus Curator of Music at the Smithsonian and founder of Jazz Appreciation Month, with everyone speaking up in simultaneous, substantive if brief break-out room discussions on topics of the day.
Free to the public but with registration required, the 90 minute event drew 75 attendees. Howard Mandel introduced the program and the JJA, and then Jazz Heroes in attendance — of the 2025 slate: Shelia Anderson, Ralphe Armstrong, Clare Church and Pete Lewis, Gregory “Blodie” Davis, Kris Dodge, John Foster, Jerry Gordon, Ruth Griggs, Karla Harris, Ajay Heble, Stephanie Matthews, Robert Radford, Amber Rogers; of previously honored Heroes, Dan Atkinson, Suzanne Cloud, Lauren Deutsch and Marcia Hocker. JJA member/nominator Gloria Krolak read remarks from Hero Mark Rapp (Columbia, SC); member/nominators Peter Poses and John Chacona were there, too.
Trumpeter Bobby Bradford said a few meaning words regarding the relationship of jazz musicians and jazz journalists, via video, upon accepting the 2025 Los Angeles Jazz Hero certificate from writer Kirk Silsbee: “They say — we play!” upon accepting the 2025 Los Angeles Jazz Hero certificate from writer Kirk Silsbee.
Hasse spoke about the founding and outreach of JAM, and Robbin Ahrold (a previously named Hero) raised a toast to all the Heroes, and spoke of Hasse as his friend. Then JJA board members Bob Blumenthal, Susan Brink (also a previously honored Hero), Andy Gilbert and Don Palmer moderated breakout room discussions with the Heroes and attendees interacting about jazz fests, jazz clubs, jazz mentoring and education, and jazz non-profits.
Clips from the event are being prepared for posting at the JJA’s YouTube channel.
