2015 JJA Jazz Awards Honor Musical Excellence Randy Weston Praised For Lifetime Achievement

Source: Michael Ricci
May 16, 2015
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NEW YORK �C The Jazz Journalists Association has announced winners of its 2015 JJA Jazz Awards for musical excellence in calendar year 2014 (see winners below), and released details about its annual public Jazz Awards party, at the Blue Note Jazz Club, 131 W. 3rd St., NYC, on June 16, from 3 pm to 5:30 pm. Tickets are available here.

The 19th annual JJA Jazz Awards celebrates

Randy Weston

piano
1926 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Randy Weston, 89-year-old pianist, composer, lecturer, and Brooklyn-born Africanist with its top honor, the Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Award. Recording for six decades and still touring widely, Weston is a frequent presence at Jazz Foundation of America benefits and also played memorably with conguero Candido Camero at the JJA's Jazz Awards party in 2010. African Rhythms, Weston's autobiography written with JJA founding member Willard Jenkins, was nominated for the JJA's Book of the Year Award in 2011.

Piano jazz is a major focus of the 2015 Jazz Awards, as pianist

Jason Moran

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Moran, artistic director of jazz at the Kennedy Center, is cited as Musician of the Year, and pianists

Kenny Barron

piano
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Barron,

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea and composer-arranger-orchestra leader

Arturo O'Farrill

piano
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Arturo O'Farrill receive Awards in other categories. Besides being deemed Pianist of the Year, Kenny Barron with bassist

Dave Holland

bass
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Holland wins the Duo or Trio of the Year Award, and their album The Art of Conversation (Impulse!) is Record of the Year.

Guitarist

Mary Halvorson

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Halvorson and vibraphonist

Warren Wolf

vibraphone
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Warren Wolf are first time winners of Jazz Awards, while

Gregory Porter

vocals
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Gregory Porter,

Cecile McLorin Salvant

vocals
b.1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecile McLorin Salvant Salvant,

Pedrito Martinez

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Pedrito Martinez,

Nicole Mitchell

flute
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Nicole Mitchell,

Christian McBride

bass
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Christian McBride,

Anat Cohen

clarinet
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Anat Cohen,

Ambrose Akinmusire

trumpet
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Ambrose Akinmusire,

Miguel Zenon

saxophone, alto
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Miguel Zenon,

Brian Blade

drums
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Blade and Edmar Castañeda are among the repeat honorees.

Winners of 2015 Jazz Awards for excellence in media categories will be announced at the Blue Note cocktail party with music by bassist-vocalist

Mimi Jones

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Mimi Jones' band, singer Antoinette Montague accompanied by keyboardist Dannie Mixon, and Fula Flute, the duo of Bailo Bah and Sylvain Leroux. Musician winners of 2015 JJA Jazz Awards and 2015 Jazz Heroes are invited to the Jazz Awards party at the Blue Note as guests of the JJA, but must reserve tickets.

Jazz Awards winners receive engraved statuettes, presented at their summer performances across the United States by JJA member writers, photographers, broadcasters and new media professionals. Jazz Awards winners are determined through open nominations and direct voting by members. The JJA Jazz Awards were established in 1996. Winners of all years and nominees for 2015 are searchable at the JJA website.

Major sponsors of the 19th annual JJA Jazz Awards include the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation, Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale, Mack Avenue, Mot��ma Music, ECM and Resonance Records, BMI and Berklee College of Music.

Lifetime Achievement in Jazz:

Randy Weston

piano
1926 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Randy Weston

Musician of the Year:

Jason Moran

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Moran

Up and Coming Artist of the Year:

Cecile McLorin Salvant

vocals
b.1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecile McLorin Salvant

Composer of the Year:

Wadada Leo Smith

trumpet
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Wadada Leo Smith

Arranger of the Year:

Maria Schneider

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">Maria Schneider

Record of the Year:
The Art of Conversation (Impulse!)