Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Heroes 2020

Twenty-seven “activists, advocates, altruists, aiders and abettors of jazz” in 23 U.S. cities were announced by the Jazz Journalists Association today as the organization’s 2020 slate of Jazz Heroes.

This year’s Heroes, from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Los Angeles, California, Seattle to South Florida, Birmingham to Minneapolis are all presenters, educators, non-profit administrators, public faces of grassroots organizations, writers, broadcasters and in several cases – as with Ran Blake, Ocie Davis, Matthew Garrison, Billy Mitchell, Patty Peterson, Gwen “Rivablue” Redding, Ron Steen, Jay Thomas and Anthony Tidd — active musicians developing and sustaining America’s native art in their local communities and beyond.

The complete list of honorees, with photo portraits and biographies, is posted HERE.

1. Ann Arbor, MI: Deanna Relyea
2. Atlanta, GA: Gwen Redding
3. Baltimore, MD: Sean Jones
4. Bay Area, CA: Richard Hadlock
5. Birmingham, AL: Leah Tucker
6. Boston, MA: Ran Blake
7. Brooklyn, NY: Matthew Garrison & Fortuna Sung
8. Capital Region, NY: Susan Cohen Brink
9. Charlotte, NC: Lonnie & Ocie Davis
10. Chicago, IL: Harriet Choice
11. Cleveland, OH: Terri Pontremoli
12. Denver, CO: Norman Provizer
13. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Dr. Ronald B. Weber
14. Hartford, CT: Ed Krech
15. Indianapolis, IN: Albert Coleman
16. Los Angeles, CA: Billy Mitchell
17. Minneapolis, MN: Patty Peterson
18. New York, NY: Roberta Alloway
19. Philadelphia, PA: Anthony Tidd
20. Portland, OR: Ron Steen
21. Seattle, WA: Jay Thomas
22. St. Louis, MO: Gene Dobbs Bradford
23. Tallahassee, FL: Jan & Mark Pudlow
24. Washington, DC: Sunny Sumter

“In this troubling time, as the world fights a pandemic, the JJA is proud to celebrate the hearts, souls and efforts of these Heroes who all are of the opinion that creative, improvised music offers substantial person and societal benefits, ” says Howard Mandel, president of the JJA. “And they do everything they can to spread that message.”

The Jazz Journalists Association, a 501 (c) (3) professional organization of writers, photographers, videographers, broadcasters and new media activists covering jazz, established its Jazz Heroes campaign in 2010, having since 2001 called the honorees members of the JJA “A Team.” Public presentations of Jazz Heroes statuettes by their local friends and fans will be done locally when such events can safely resume. Dates will be announced at JJAJazzAwards.org.

The Jazz Heroes are named in conjunction with the JJA’s annual, voted-for Jazz Awards for excellence in music and music journalism. Nominees for 2020 Jazz Awards will be announced mid-April, with winners revealed on or about May 1 at www.JJAJazzAwards.org.