2008
PRESS RELEASE
National
Jazz Awards 2008
The
2008 National Jazz Awards:
A Tribute to the Next
Generation. Music enthusiasts
encouraged to vote and
support nominees
Toronto,–
Canadian jazz artists,
festival organizers,
journalists, broadcasters
and enthusiasts will
gather to pay tribute
to their own at the
2007 National Jazz Awards
on April 8, 2008.
Celebrating
its seventh anniversary,
the National Jazz Awards,
presented by Galaxie,
CBC’s continuous
music network, recognizes
contributions to jazz
excellence in Canada.
The nominees selected
by a committee of industry
leaders honour outstanding
Canadian achievements.
The
NJAs continue to expose
and address musicians
concerns with each ceremony.
It’s about presenting
musicians from various
regions of the country
who rarely perform in
front of their peers.
We feel the awards are
only half of what the
evening is about. It’s
about the music –
musicians and social
and professional connections.
A
lot has happened since
we began six years ago.
Jazz festivals flourish
coast to coast. Jazz
radio is expanding formats
– much more welcoming
to new artists. Digital
online sales are beginning
to address the disparities
helping deserving artists
bring their music to
the public. As the process
democratizes all of
these entities will
depend greatly on one
another to support the
growing interest in
the music - the musicians
and long range employment.
Kellylee
Evans and Michael Kaeshammer
confirmed to host Seventh
Annual National Jazz
Award
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The Palais Royale, Toronto
The National Jazz Awards,
presented by Galaxie,
CBC’s Continuous
Music Network and generously
supported by FACTOR,
salutes “The Next
Generation”. Executive
Director, Bill King
has assembled an amazing
line up that will feature
many of this country’s
young jazz artists who
will share the stage
in performance and celebration.
Hosted
by two of our most highly
regarded young artists,
Kellylee Evans and Michael
Kaeshammer, the awards
will also feature performances
from: The Mike Ruby
Quartet, 13 year-old
Nikki Yanofsky, Brandi
Disterheft Quintet,
Elizabeth Shepherd Trio,
Laila Biali Trio, Alex
Bellegarde, October
Trio, and of course
Evans and Kaeshammer.
Kellylee
Evans has enjoyed a
productive, groundbreaking
year receiving nominations
for a Gemini award,
a Juno award and Toronto
Independent Music award.
She also won the 2007
Canadian Smooth Jazz
award for Female Vocalist
of the Year. Kellylee’s
star is on the rise.
www.kellyleeevans.com
Michael Kaeshammer has
just released Days Like
These, his long awaited
follow up to Strut,
and is receiving only
positive reviews. He
has melded his deep
affection for New Orleans
and its music with his
fast growing songwriting
and singing skill. Expect
his droll humour to
shine through as a co-host.
www.kaeshammer.com
Also
confirmed as Musical
Director is the one
and only, Shuffle Demons
founder, Richard Underhill.
Founder
and Executive Director
of the awards, Bill
King, says, “We
can all be proud of
the artists who have
paved the way and music
programs that are now
in place to support
and nurture this next
generation – the
success is obvious with
young artists from all
regions of Canada advancing
the art form. It’s
about new faces, new
sounds and a fresh take
on the music we all
hold dear.”
National
Jazz Awards (NJA) Executive
Producer, Patrick Taylor
added that, “While
the National Jazz Awards
will continue to recognize
all of our Canadian
jazz artists, this show
promises to be one for
the history books, as
we witness some of the
brightest young stars
on the scene today.
An evening not to be
missed.”
Tickets $65 on sale
Thursday, December 6
through Ticketmaster
416.870.8000 or www.ticketmaster.ca
The
2008 National Jazz Awards
Tuesday, April 8
Palais Royale, 1601
Lakeshore Blvd., Toronto
Show 8PM
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