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Jazz Journalists Association Announces 2013 Awards Nominees

The Jazz Journalists Association has announced nominees in 37 categories for the 2013 JJA Jazz Awards, the non-profit professional organization's 17th annual celebration of excellence in musicianship and journalism.

Besides the Jazz Awards nominees, the JJA announced the names of 26 "Jazz Heroes" – who it describes as "advocates, altruists, activists, aiders and abettors of jazz" – nominated by JJA members and unaffiliated colleagues in 24 U.S. cities and Ottawa, Canada.

Nominees for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz are pianist/composers Muhal Richard Abrams, McCoy Tyner and Randy Weston as well as saxophonist/composer Wayne Shorter (also nominated for Best Small Ensemble and Soprano Saxophonist of the Year. Musicians nominated in several categories include arranger and orchestra leader Ryan Truesdell, trumpeter/composer Wadada Leo Smith, and clarinetist Anat Cohen.

The JJA Jazz Awards are the only honors presented by professional jazz media- makers for both musicianship and journalistic activities (including Best Publication, Best Website, Best Book of the Year, and Photo of the Year). Nominees for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Journalism are multi-taskers Willard Jenkins, W. Royal Stokes and Ted Panken.

The JJA, with more than 300 members (writers, photographers, broadcasters and new media professionals as well as supporters, jazz industry and community sponsors, mostly in North America but also in South America, Europe, Asia and New Zealand) promotes all media activities about all styles or genres of jazz. Its initiatives currently include JazzApril, http://www.JazzApril.com, a broadly based campaign in support of local jazz activities during the Smithsonian Institution-driven Jazz Appreciation Month, culminating in UNESCO's declared International Jazz Day, April 30.

Winners in the 28 categories of 2013 Jazz Awards pertaining to musicianship will be announced on May 1. Winners of the Jazz Awards for media will be announced at a JJA Jazz Awards party in New York City at the Blue Note Jazz Club, a ticketed event, on June 19. Details about tickets will follow.




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