I’m writing my “Saturday Morning News Post” on a Wednesday for a very important reason. Yours truly has been nominated for “Best Jazz Clarinetist” by the National Jazz Awards. And do you know how the winners are chosen? … BY YOU! That’s right, you can decide my fate no matter what country you’re voting from! So what will it be? Will I toil for yet another year in complete obscurity or will I be propelled to the heights of Canadian Jazz Clarinet-dom? It’s in your hands, go ahead, drink it in, you are now the master of my destiny.
Okay, now get off your high horse of ascendancy and go vote already! You can do so on-line by visiting www.nationaljazzawards.com and clicking on the red “2009 voting booth” button or just click here to go straight to the booth. Oh, and one more thing, … you must answer all the questions in order for your vote to count but don’t worry, the “None of the above” option will work if you just want to speed through it. Now for the love of God, spread the word and let’s get me on the fast-track to a substantially more impressive resume!
For those of you who’d like to take the time and vote for all categories but don’t know who to support, here’s “James’ 2009 National Jazz Award Picks” (Picks are based on musicianship and amount of recent artistic output, I’ve tried to attach links to every pick so you can check them out for yourselves too.)
Drummer of the Year: Joel Haynes
Bassist of the Year: Jodi Proznick
Guitarist of the Year: Bill Coon
Pianist of the Year: David Braid
Trombonist of the Year: William Carn
Trumpeter of the Year: Brad Turner
Saxophonist of the Year: Quinsin Nachoff
Clarinetist of the Year: YOURS TRULY, … I THINK YOU KNOW WHO!
Violinist of the Year: Hugh Marsh
Instrumentalist of the Year: Ross Taggart
Female Vocalist of the Year: Emilie-Claire Barlow
Male Vocalist of the Year: Denzal Sinclaire
Arranger of the Year: Don Thompson
SOCAN Composer of the Year: David Braid
Acoustic Band of the Year: The Brad Turner Quartet
Electronic Band of the Year: The Inhabitants
Jazz Label of the Year: Cellar Live
Jazz Recording of the Year: Joel Haynes: Transitions
Jazz Musician of the Year: Don Thompson
Latin Jazz Artist of the Year: Hilario Duran
Broadcaster of the Year: Katie Malloch
Jazz Festival of the Year: Vancouver
Journalist of the Year: Peter Humm
Producer of the Year: Cory Weeds
Jazz Photographer of the Year: Steve Mynett would have been my choice, but he’s not listed.
Big Band of the Year: Rob McConnell’s Boss Brass
Have a great week everyone! 