Excitement is mounting with news that the nominees have been announced for the inaugural American Smooth Jazz Awards which will be held on October 29 at the Blue Chip Casino Hotel & Spa in Michigan City, Indiana. Among the 18 categories are both male and female vocalists, instrumentalists, song, album and entertainer of the year.
There is also a category for Journalist Of The Year and I am honored to report that I have been included in the short list. Check back here soon for information on how to place your vote.
Speaking about his aims and aspirations for this ground-breaking event, Bernie Scott, president of Scott & Company Music Group and the American Smooth Jazz Awards is quoted as saying that “We want smooth jazz fans from all over the globe to be part of the voting process”.
Award presenters will be coming in from around the world to be part of the show and to date those confirmed as attending include high-profile radio personalities such as Jimi King from London, Philadelphia’s own Michael Tozzi, Doug Thomas from Sacramento, Lynn Bridges from Las Vegas and the voice of smooth jazz in Cleveland, the one and only Carmen Kennedy.
Blue Chip Casino Hotel & Spa is located 50 miles east of Chicago on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. Tickets for the dinner and awards ceremonies are available to the public through Ticketmaster or any Ticketmaster outlet. Special packages are available through Blue Chip Casino Hotel & Spa by calling 888-879-7711.
More news on the American Smooth Jazz Awards will follow. For a full listing of nominees please continue reading.
American Smooth Jazz Awards Nominees
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Dave Koz
Nick Colionne
Brian Culbertson
Richard Elliot
MALE VOCALIST
Spencer Day
Will Downing
George Benson
Phil Perry
Kenny Lattimore
FEMALE VOCALIST
Maysa Leak
Melody Gardot
Norah Jones
Vanessa Williams
Randy Crawford
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Rippingtons
Sax Pack
Fourplay
Pieces of a Dream
Spyro Gyra
BRASS/WOODWIND
Rick Braun
Boney James
Richard Elliot
Darren Rahn
Euge Groove
PERCUSSIONIST
Harvey Mason
Alex Acuna
Rayford Griffin
Lenny Castro
Russ Kunkel
GUITARIST
Peter White
Nick Colionne
Jeff Golub
George Benson
Nils
KEYBOARDIST
Brian Culbertson
Gregg Karukas
Jeff Lorber
Philippe Saisse
Brian Simpson
NEW ARTIST
Cindy Bradley
Spencer Day
Drew Davidson
Kyle Wolverton
Darren Rahn
GOSPEL JAZZ
Greg Vail
Take 6
Jonathan Butler
Angella Christie
David Wells
Kirk Whalum
Ben Tankard
SONG
‘Bright’ - Peter White
‘I’m Waiting For You’ - Jackiem Joyner
‘Living In High Definition’ - George Benson
‘Talk Of The Town’ - Darren Rahn
‘Go For It’ - Bernie Williams
ALBUM
‘Send One Your Love’ - Boney James
‘Bloom’ - Cindy Bradley
‘Rock Steady’ - Richard Elliot
‘Good Day’ - Peter White
‘In Boston’ - Chris Botti
JOURNALIST
Carol Archer - All That Jazz Inc.
Melanie Maxwell - Smooth Jazz News
Denis Poole - Smooth Jazz Therapy, Abyss Jazz, iJazzGlobal and Smooth Jazz Vibes
Brian Soergel Smooth Jazz Network, Smooth Jazz News and Jazz Times
Jonathan Widran - Jazziz and Wine & Jazz
BROADCASTER -TERRESTRIAL RADIO
Randy Bennet
Brian Culbertson
Art Good
Allen Kepler
Dave Koz
Rick O’Dell
Alexander Zonjic
BROADCASTER - INTERNET RADIO
Jimi King
Ted Hasiuk
Mike Scott
Cameron Smith
Michael Tozzi
INTERNATIONAL MALE VOCALIST
Michael Buble
Seal
Matt Dusk
Anders Holst
INTERNATIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST
Basia
Diana Krall
Sophie Milman
Carol Welsman
Corinne Bailey Rae
INTERNATIONAL GROUP
Four80East
Hiroshima
Jazzmasters
Down to the Bone
Incognito
Groove Kings
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST
Jesse Cook
Oli Silk
Marc Antoine
Candy Dulfer
Paul Hardcastle