Each year, the Jazz Journalists Association recognizes musicians, writers, broadcasters and others who have made important contributions to the health and success of jazz in their parts of the United States. Here are the new honorees.
For the list of 2020 heroes and their biographical sketches, scroll down and click on the names of the heroes who interest you. You’re likely to find at least one whom you know, or know about.
- Ann Arbor, MI:Â Deanna Relyea
- Atlanta, GA:Â Gwen Redding
- Baltimore, MD:Â Sean Jones
- Bay Area, CA:Â Richard Hadlock
- Birmingham, AL:Â Leah Tucker
- Boston, MA:Â Ran Blake
- Brooklyn, NY:Â Matthew Garrison & Fortuna Sung
- Capital Region, NY:Â Susan Cohen Brink
- Charlotte, NC:Â Lonnie & Ocie Davis
- Chicago, IL:Â Harriet Choice
- Cleveland, OH:Â Terri Pontremoli
- Denver, CO:Â Norman Provizer
- Fort Lauderdale, FL:Â Dr. Ronald B. Weber
- Hartford, CT:Â Ed Krech
- Indianapolis, IN:Â Albert Coleman
- Los Angeles, CA:Â Billy Mitchell
- Minneapolis, MN:Â Patty Peterson
- New York, NY:Â Roberta Alloway
- Philadelphia, PA:Â Anthony Tidd
- Portland, OR:Â Ron Steen
- Seattle, WA:Â Jay Thomas
- St. Louis, MO:Â Gene Dobbs Bradford
- Tallahassee, FL:Â Jan & Mark Pudlow
- Washington, DC:Â Sunny Sumter
Congratulations to all of the new jazz heroes and the past winners listed at the bottom of this post.