Voting Begins Today for the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards
November 12, 2007 – The wait is over and the voting starts now! The Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, the only large scale awards show on the planet for the genre kicks off today with voting in 11 categories. Alfie Zappacosta leads the pack with three nominations, Male Vocalist, Best Original Composition for “Dreams Will Come True” and his “Bonafide” is up for Album of the Year.

Nine other artists were nominated for two awards each, including Michael Buble, Gregory Charles, Julie Crochetiere, Allistair Elliott, Dave Sereny, Les Sabler, Carol Welsman and Darren Rahn.

Event co-chair John Beaudin of SmoothJazzNow.com says, “Our international categories are incredibly important and both International Vocalist and International Instrumentalist come off as a dream team for the genre. Rick Braun and Richard Elliot have had one of the hottest albums this year, Jeff Lorber is a true legend, Gregg Karukas is a treasure and Peter White has had one of the most consistent careers in Smooth Jazz.” The vocalists nominated include Randy Crawford, Janita, Ryan Shaw, Slim Man and Kelly Sweet.

Expect Alexander Zonjic to host the show again this year, Beaudin says, “Alex is world class as a broadcaster, musician and awards host, he’s been our MC since the first year and he’s one of the few guys who can make a room of fifteen hundred people wearing too- tight tuxes and gowns belly-laugh. Alex is a huge part of the show and he’s nominated for two this year, Broadcaster and Wind Instrumentalist.”

Lee Ritenour will be awarded the George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award.. The legendary guitarist sometimes called “Captain Fingers” after his 1977 sophomore album. The George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award was named after Benson who first received the honour in 2005. Bob James followed for the second annual award and Smooth Jazz super-group Spyro Gyra were the recipients last year. This week the official awards site will be filled with quotes for Ritenour from fans and colleagues.

The awards will be presented Friday, March 7, 2008 at 8pm in Hammerson Hall at The Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. Tickets will be available Monday, November 19, 2007 at the LAC Box Office, phone 905 306 6000 or 1 888 805 8888.

There will also be a limited number of VIP party tickets for $40 available from Wave 94.7FM only at 1 866 388 8911 or 905 388 8911.

Confirmed to perform at the ceremony are sax stars, Warren Hill and Richard Elliot, vocalist/pianist Carol Welsman, newcomer Allistair Elliott, and guitarists Dave Sereny and Les Sabler. Alfie Zappacosta and Peter White will also perform. – by Kari Graham

For online voting for the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards Click canadiansmoothjazzawards.com.

Check out the complete list of nominees