Neil Tesser, Chicago-based writer, radio producer and one of the founding JJA members, has agreed to chair the ballot committee for the 2011 Jazz Awards. Laurence Donohue-Greene, co-editor/publisher of The New York City Jazz Record (formerly known as All About Jazz-New York) returns to the committee which he and Tesser sat on last year under the chairmanship of Ken Dryden. Howard Mandel completes this JJA panel.
The Jazz Awards ballot committee is responsible for determining categories in which to give Jazz Awards, for scheduling ballot deadlines, vetting and tabulating nominations in the first round of voting and for other policy matters. Nominations in the first round of Jazz Awards will be opened within the next two weeks. Discussion of potential nominees can take place “in private” (reserved for JJA members only) on the Members Forum at members.jazzjournalists.org.
Log in with your JJA password and start a discussion. Recommendations at this point in the process — prior to the initial call for nominations — is most influential on the first round of voting, which leads to the JJA’s finalist nominees.
Editor--Not a comment but submission of obit item:
Charles Graham, 91, died of natural causes January 11 at his home in New York City. He will be remembered by older members for his longtime Down Beat column, "Stereo Shopping With....", featuring the sets he assembled and installed for notable musicians, including Louis Armstrong, Paul Desmond, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, J.J. Johnson, Horace Silver, Clark Terry and many others. His masthead listing as "High Fidelity Editor" was unique. A skilled technical writer, Graham also contributed to other consumer publications, including Audio Magazine, American Record Guide, and Jazz. His book, "The Great Jazz Day," exploring the story behind the famous 1958 Esquire Harlem photo shoot and related events, was published in 2000. As "Prince Nabisco," he annotated and provided source material for an LP of Roy Eldridge airchecks (with Roy's approval). Graham grew up in Chapel Hill, N.C., where both parents were teachers and where was befriended by the older George Hoefer, whose father also taught there, and who introduced him to jazz, his lfelong passion. He is survived by his son Jon.