Smooth Jazz Now : National Jazz Awards

Talented Artists Garner More Musical Nominations
May 11, 2005 - Smooth Jazz Now would like to congratulate some terrific and versatile Canadian musicians who were nominated for the first ever Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards and are now in line for a National Jazz Award. In the Electric Group of the Year The Eddie Bullen Band and the Clayton/Scott Group, who won the Group/Duo category at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards are nominees. The ever popular Diana Krall, winner at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards Female Vocalist of the Year is nominated as International Artist. Molly Johnson and Sophie Milman who were both nominees as Canadian Smooth Jazz Female Vocalist are in the running for the National Jazz Awards Vocalist of the Year. Smooth Jazz Now wishes all the nominees the best of luck. The Awards will be presented at the Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto on June 21, 2005. Among the featured performers of the evening are Canadian Smooth Jazz Award winners Marc Jordan and Rik Emmett. You can visit their website at http://www.nationaljazzawards.com/index.html

Liz Rivard's Recap of The National Jazz Awards

February 26, 2004 - It was a cloudy, chilly night in Toronto for the National Jazz Awards but the stars shone through, brighter than ever. The 2004 National Jazz Awards, held at the Winter Garden Theatre last night featured performances by some of Canada's best, and most loved jazz artists, like Holly Cole, Peter Appleyard, Lorraine Desmarais and Warren Hill, to name a few. The night also featured the introduction of the Smooth Jazz Musician of the Year, sponsored by the Wave 94.7 fm. Nominees were Eddie Bullen, Warren Hill, Brian Hughes, Demo Cates and Nura. All of the National Jazz Award winners were chosen by the public via an on-line vote. There is no doubt that with a great pool of smooth jazz talent like this, smooth jazz fans everywhere are the true winners. Congratulations to Warren Hill on his win, and best wishes for continued success to all the other very deserving nominees, we hope to hear more from you in the very near future. Click on the pictures below for a larger version. - by Liz Rivard


With Demo Cates	With Eddie Bullen	With Nura	With Nura & Company	With Warren hill

		Warren Hill accepting his award	Warren Hill accepting his award

Warren Hill Wins First Smooth Jazz Award At NJA

February 24, 2004 - Congratulations to Warren Hill for winning Canada's first Smooth Jazz Award. The Canadian saxophonist who now lives in Colorado picked up the honor for Smooth Jazz artist of the year beating out Eddie Bullen, Brian Hughes, Demo Cates and Nura. Appropriately the award was sponsored by Canada's first Smooth Jazz radio station The Wave in Hamilton. Smooth Jazz Now's own Liz Rivard attended the ceremony at Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto. "It's a thrill, its great honor to be in such good company," says Hill who dedicated the award to his parents who were in the audience. A former physics major in high school, Hill says he's glad his mother and father supported his music, "I suppose it would have been nice to say if id stuck with physics. I would have been one of the designers on the Canada space arm but I'm sure that wouldn't have happened," said Hill laughing. "My parents are very proud, when we were kids and were trying to figure out what to do lots of parents say don't be a musician but they were very supportive and I dedicate the award to them." Cool FM's Ross Porter picked up the Jazz broadcaster of the year award. The big winner of the night was Rob McConnell winning Trombonist, Arranger and Big Band awards. Vocalist Molly Johnson from the Narada Jazz label won two trophies for Composer and Musician of the Year. Other Smooth Jazz acts included Denzal Sinclaire whose self titled album picked up Album of the year and Diana Krall was the winner of the International musician of the year even though she is a Canadian artist.

The Winners:
Jazz Broadcaster of the Year - Ross Porter
Jazz Festival of the Year - festival du Montreal
Jazz Journalist of the Year - Geoff Chapman
Jazz Producer of the Year - Bill King
Drummer of the Year - Terry Clarke
Bassist of the Year - Dave Young
Guitarist of the Year - Jake Langley
Keyboardist of the Year - David Restivo
Trombonist of the Year - Rob McConnell
Trumpeter of the Year - Kevin Turcotte
Saxophonist of the Year - Mike Murley
Clarinetist of the Year - Phil Nimmons

Violinist of the Year - Hugh Marsh
Instrumentalist of the Year - Don Thompson
Vocalist of the Year - Heather Bambrick
Arranger of the Year - Rob McConnell
Composer of the Year - Molly Johnson
Big Band of the Year - Rob McConnell Tentet
Acoustic Group of the Year - Kollage
Electric Group of the Year - Metalwood
Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year - Warren Hill
Label of the Year - Justin Time
Album of the Year - Denzal Sinclaire 'Denzal Sinclaire'
International Musician of the Year - Diana Krall
Musician of the Year - Molly Johnson

Brian Hughes Surprised at Jazz Nomination

February 3, 2004 - How does Brian Hughes feel about his nomination in the new Smooth Jazz category of the National Jazz Awards? "I had no idea that I was nominated," said Hughes, "Hopefully someone from the NJA will officially notify me at some point." The guitarist is nominated along with Keyboardist Eddie Bullen, Saxophonist Warren Hill and Demo Cates and vocalist Nura. You can vote at http://www.nationaljazzawards.com/vote.html.

National Jazz Awards Introduces First Smooth Jazz Category

December 5, 2003 - This year's National Jazz Awards will include a new Smooth Jazz flavor. For the first time the Canadian Jazz awards ceremony will include a Smooth Jazz category. The new listing sponsored by Canada's first Smooth Jazz radio station 'The Wave' in Hamilton has co-owner Mary Kirk "Very excited at the move." The nominees for the first "Canadian Smooth Jazz artist" award are Brian Hughes, Warren Hill, Eddie Bullen, Demo Cates, & Nura. Fans can vote on the official site at http://nationaljazzawards.com/vote.html. The National Smooth Jazz awards will take place Feb 24th at the Wintergarden Theatre in Toronto.