welcome to the inaugural Jazz Music Awards, celebrating innovation, creativity, and freedom.

(lively drumbeat continues) (moves to upbeat jazz music) (audience applauding) Please welcome three-time Jazz Music Award nominee, The Baylor Project, with special guests, multi-Grammy Award winner, Dianne Reeves, and Jazz Music Award nominee, Jazzmeia Horn.

(upbeat jazz music continues) ♪ Why must we swing so hard, sometimes they don't understand ♪ ♪ It's the way we live, the lay of our land ♪ ♪ In everything we do, we got to tell our life story ♪ ♪ It might be the blues or pop, how we rock or hip-hop ♪ ♪ A little bit of church, and don't forget the doo-wop ♪ ♪ That's how we swing ♪ We, we swing (Jean scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Jean continues scatting) ♪ Why do we swing so hard, it's just the cycle of life ♪ ♪ With all its ups and downs, got us spinning around ♪ ♪ We can reach and touch the sky ♪ ♪ With our feet standing on the ground ♪ ♪ From the rhythm of the bush to the souls on the street ♪ ♪ We be tap dancing on your head ♪ ♪ Or break dance like it's Beat Street ♪ ♪ That's how we swing ♪ That's how we swing (Jazzmeia scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) ♪ Why do we swing so hard, it's the rhythm of life ♪ ♪ It's how we get down the whole world around ♪ ♪ It's a kinda special magic, hard on that melanated sound ♪ ♪ From the rising of the sun to the end of the day ♪ ♪ We be shining like a diamond, that's just our way ♪ ♪ Why do we swing ♪ That's why we swing (Dianne scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Dianne continues scatting) ♪ Hey, yeah (upbeat jazz music continues) (Jean scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Jean continues scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Jazzmeia scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Jazzmeia continues scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Dianne scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Dianne continues scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Jean scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) ♪ Whoo, whoo-whoo (Jazzmeia scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Jazzmeia continues scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Dianne scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Dianne continues scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Jean scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) ♪ Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo - [Dianne] Yeah!

(Jazzmeia scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Jazzmeia continues scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Dianne scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Dianne continues scatting) (upbeat jazz music continues) (Jean and Dianne scatting) (Jazzmeia and Jean scatting) ♪ Why do we swing ♪ We swing (upbeat jazz music continues) ♪ We swing ♪ We swing ♪ We swing ♪ We swing ♪ We swing ♪ We swing ♪ We swing ♪ That's what we do ♪ We swing ♪ We swing ♪ All day, all night ♪ We swing (upbeat jazz music continues) ♪ We swing ♪ We swing ♪ We swing ♪ We swing ♪ We swing (upbeat jazz music continues) ♪ Hey, that's right, we do (Dianne scatting) (all singers scatting) (Jean and Dianne vocalizing) ♪ We swing, we swing, we swing (upbeat jazz music continues) (Dianne vocalizing) ♪ We swing (jazz music continues) (Jean vocalizing) (jazz music crescendos) - Hey!

(audience applauding and cheering) (applause and cheering continues) - [VOG] Ladies and gentlemen, your host for the Jazz Music Awards, star of stage, screen, multi-Grammy Award winner, Tony Award winner, and NEA Jazz Master, Ms. Dee Dee Bridgewater.

(audience applauding) And currently appearing opposite Kerry Washington in "UnPrisoned" and from "Da 5 Bloods", "The Good Fight", and "The Harder They Fall", Peabody Award winner and Tony nominated actor, Delroy Lindo!

- We will not fall.

- We will not.

- Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

How are you?

(audience cheering) Thank you so much for coming out to join us.

It is an honor to be your host for this inaugural awards ceremony, celebrating the beloved genre of jazz music.

(audience applauding and cheering) And it's an honor for me to do this with you, Delroy.

- Thank you, Dee Dee.

Before we go any further- - Yes?

- Just one quick second.

- What, Delroy?

- Please.

(audience applauding and cheering) - Oh, Delroy!

(applause and cheering continues) (Dee Dee laughing) - I'm really thrilled to be doing this with you.

Dee Dee and I co-hosted a virtual event for the NEA Masters' celebration in 2021.

It's wonderful to be here in person.

- It is.

- And to be sharing it with you all.

The Jazz Music Awards is the first full-scale awards show dedicated to jazz and the dynamic artists who create jazz.

(audience applauding and cheering) - We come together in a spirit of gratitude after nearly three years of a pandemic that taught us about isolation, change, (audience laughing) and, unfortunately, loss.

But we are all here.

- Amen, amen, (audience applauding) and we also come together in the spirit of unity, embracing the many forms of jazz, mainstream jazz, contemporary, experimental, instrumental, vocal, and any combination of the above.

- Jazz is the culture.

- Yeah!

- Our culture.

Our culture!

(audience applauding) It is a precious and essential part of the American experience.

- Very, very well put.

Indeed, jazz is the culture because jazz is a sound born right here, in this country, rooted in the Black American experience, and carried forward by creators from all, all backgrounds.

- Jazz and blues are a springboard for so many other genres of music, rock and roll, R&B, and even hip-hop.

Jazz is a living and breathing sound that electrifies fans around the world.

(audience applauding) - So, this evening, the Jazz Music Awards will bestow honors on six very exceptional individuals who have dedicated their life's work to this art form.

Awards will also be announced in eight competitive categories.

- The awards are designed to celebrate, to educate, and to elevate, and before this night is over, we will definitely syncopate.

- Come on.

♪ I'll syncopate - Come on, and I will try to keep rhythm.

(chuckles) (audience laughing) All right, (clears throat) before we get to the music, I'd like to recognize some individuals who made this celebration this evening possible.

Please join me in welcoming the Founder and Executive Producer of this evening's Jazz Music Awards and the General Manager of Jazz 91.9 WCLK, Ms. Wendy F. Williams.

(soothing jazz music) (audience cheering and applauding) - Thank you, Dee Dee and Delroy.

I can't tell you how happy we are to have you as our hosts.

- Aw!

- And to welcome everyone to the inaugural Jazz Music Awards: Celebrating The Spirit of Jazz.

As you mentioned, our theme is "Jazz is the Culture".

The sounds and rhythms of jazz are woven into the very fabric of this country.

Jazz has given us many musical heroes and sheroes, past and present.

While some have already been hailed for their brilliance, there are others whose incredible work remains unsung.

Our mission in creating the Jazz Music Awards is twofold, one, to raise the profile of jazz music and place it on equal footing with other forms of American music that are treated with prestige, and two, (audience applauding) to acknowledge the artistry of jazz creators all across the hybrids of all the genre.

So, tonight, we take a giant step forward realizing those goals.

First, I thank God for bringing us to this point, yes, (audience applauding) and for our parent institution, Clark Atlanta University.

Without the university, (audience cheering) this celebration, trust me, would not be possible.

I'm so proud of the role Jazz 91.9 WCLK has played in helping to establish and launch the Jazz Music Awards.

We are one of a few all-jazz radio stations in the country, and even fewer located on the campus of a historically Black institution.

(audience cheering) Yes.

(audience applauding) Thanks to the many artists who are participating, and, of course, to all of you who are here to help us celebrate.

Good luck to all of our nominees, and please enjoy the show.

(audience applauding and cheering) - [VOG] Please welcome three-time nominees Jean and Marcus Baylor of The Baylor Project.

(audience applauding) - The Jazz Music Awards is presenting awards in eight categories, voted on by active members of the jazz music industry.

During the nomination period, the awards committee received hundreds of submissions.

- Our first award for Best New Artist spotlights the work of an outstanding instrumentalist or vocalist, contemporary or mainstream.

Let's take a look at the nominees.

- [VOG] The nominees for Best New Artist, Julieta Eugenio, (audience applauding) Kazemde George, (audience applauding) Samara Joy, (audience applauding) Simon Moullier.

(audience applauding) - I see, unseal the seal, okay, amen, amen.

- And the winner is, for Best New Artist, Samara Joy.

(audience applauding) ♪ Sometimes ♪ I wonder why - Look here, Samara is on tour right now.

I call it doing ministry work, amen.

She's in Europe, but in other words, we're gonna accept this award on her behalf and take it back to the offering plate.

Amen?

(audience laughing) God bless y'all, let the church say what?

- [Audience] Amen!

(audience applauding) - [VOG] And now, please welcome Jazz Music Awards nominee and vocalist, Lindsey Webster, performing "I Didn't Mean It".

(audience applauding) (smooth jazz music) (audience applauding) - What's going on, ATL?

(chuckles) It's such an honor to be here tonight.

We're gonna do a song of mine called "I Didn't Mean It".

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ What does it mean when it feels perfect ♪ ♪ Like you really know you found the one ♪ ♪ I, I could've sworn the last guy would be worth it ♪ ♪ But just as quickly as he came, then he was gone ♪ ♪ Now could it be I'm overthinking ♪ ♪ If he doesn't text and when he doesn't call ♪ ♪ Or is it he just can't say what it is ♪ ♪ Well, after all this back and forth, on second thought ♪ ♪ I didn't mean it ♪ I know I told you when I'd meet you ♪ ♪ That I'd feel connected ♪ I didn't mean it ♪ I know I said that I really wanna spend the time ♪ ♪ Well, I was wrong ♪ I didn't anticipate such a strong attraction ♪ ♪ But I didn't mean it when I said you'd be the one ♪ ♪ I didn't mean it (smooth jazz music continues) ♪ Yeah, oh, oh ♪ Oh, oh, oh-oh ♪ And so again I get to thinking ♪ ♪ Is it the devil playing with these idle hands ♪ ♪ 'Cause you know I spend all my time at home alone ♪ ♪ So you can't blame me if I fell a little fast ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, 'cause there are things I'm overlooking ♪ ♪ Overlooking ♪ Like your tendency to not let me get mine ♪ ♪ What about me, what about me, babe ♪ ♪ It's as if you just don't understand how it goes ♪ ♪ So, baby, maybe you should stop wasting my time ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ I know I told you when I'd meet you ♪ ♪ That I'd feel connected ♪ I didn't mean it ♪ I know I said that I really wanna spend the time ♪ ♪ Well, I was wrong ♪ I didn't anticipate such a strong attraction ♪ ♪ But I didn't mean it when I said you could be the one ♪ ♪ I didn't mean it, oh (smooth jazz music continues) (smooth jazz music continues) Give it up for Milena on that trumpet, y'all.

(audience applauding and cheering) ♪ Oh, yeah, you're doing things that make me cry ♪ ♪ And now I'm asking myself why ♪ ♪ Why can't I just make up my mind ♪ ♪ And leave it all behind ♪ I know I told you when I'd meet you ♪ ♪ That I'd feel connected ♪ I know I said that I really wanna spend the time ♪ ♪ Didn't anticipate such a strong attraction ♪ ♪ I didn't mean it ♪ I, I did not mean it when I said that you could be the one ♪ ♪ I know I told you when I'd meet you ♪ ♪ That I'd feel connected ♪ I didn't mean it, I ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ Spend the time, oh, oh ♪ I, I didn't mean it ♪ I did not mean it when I said that you could be the one ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ Oh, oh, oh, yeah ♪ I really wanted you to be the one ♪ ♪ No way, I didn't mean it ♪ I did not mean it when I said that you could be the one ♪ ♪ The one ♪ The one ♪ Yeah ♪ No way ♪ The one ♪ The one, yeah (smooth jazz music continues) ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ I said I don't know you (smooth jazz music continues) ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah (smooth jazz music continues) ♪ I didn't mean it (music stops abruptly) (audience applauding and cheering) Thank you so much, thank you.

(applause and cheering continues) - [VOG] Please welcome the fifth president of Clark Atlanta University, George T. French Jr. (audience applauding) - Good evening.

I am pleased to be here for this inaugural Jazz Music Awards.

It gives me and Clark Atlanta University great pleasure to celebrate the distinguished member of our Clark Atlanta University family.

For years, for decades, the name James Patterson has been synonymous (audience applauding) with Jazz Education and Jazz Excellence.

(applause continues) Professor Patterson has been passionate about the sound, the style, and yes, the culture of jazz.

He has not only educated some of our nation's top jazz-performing artists, and students, but he also served as a performer and arts administrator.

Professor Patterson is beloved by his students and revered by his colleagues for keeping jazz at the center of our cultural life.

Ladies and gentlemen, let us learn now about our honoree, Professor James Patterson.

- I think that James's impact will be his commitment and his determination to showcase this glorious, glorious sound that we call American classical music.

- It has healing properties.

It brings people together.

Everybody wants to play jazz, but its importance is healing.

It has the same healing properties as the blues.

The healing properties of the blues, it's the same thing 'cause blues is jazz and jazz is blues.

You can't play jazz without playing the blues.

I am just delighted.

I'm just overwhelmed with appreciation.

I just appreciate you so much for doing it while I'm in the standing position rather than in the prone position, you know?

A lot of times, we don't know these things unless you do it while we're alive, and that's the good thing about it.

Thank you.

(audience applauding) - Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present the Jazz Impact Award to Professor James Patterson.

(audience cheering loudly) (soft jazz music) (audience applauding) (audience continues cheering and applauding) - I love you madly!

(audience cheering loudly) (audience applauding) (cheering continues) (audience continues cheering and applauding) - [VOG] And now, introducing the Jazz Music Awards All-Star Band, featuring saxophonist Braxton Cook, saxophonist Marcus Strickland, (audience applauding) on trumpet, Milena Casado, (applause continues) on bass, James Genus, (applause continues) on piano, Orrin Evans, (applause continues) on guitar, Mark Whitfield, (applause continues) on keyboards, Ray Angry, (applause continues) on electronics, Kassa Overall, (applause continues) on percussion, Gerson Lazo-Quiroga, and on drums, Nikki Glaspie, all under the direction of multi-Grammy Award winner, NEA Jazz Master, and Executive Producer for the show, drummer Terri Lyne Carrington.

Now, please welcome two of our award nominees, vocalist Jazzmeia Horn and harpist Brandee Younger.

(soft jazz music) - Well, well, hello, good evening.

We are excited to be here to present the award for Best Contemporary Artist, aren't we, Brandee?

- Super excited, love Atlanta.

This category recognizes the blend of jazz with other contemporary genres.

That's why the Jazz Music Awards are so important, recognizing artists who extend jazz to a wider audience.

- [VOG] The nominees for Best Contemporary Artist, Ben Tankard, "Shine!

", (audience applauding) Brian Bromberg, "A Little Driving Music", (audience applauding) Lindsey Webster, "I Didn't Mean It", (audience applauding) Ragan Whiteside, "Off the Cuff".

(audience applauding) - Can I see it, though?

(audience laughing) Please?

(chuckles) Best Contemporary Artist, Ragan Whiteside, "Off the Cuff".

(audience cheering) (lively jazz music) (audience applauding) (applause continues) (applause continues) - Wow!

I'm so incredibly honored, especially being this historic, inaugural event that we all, all of us jazz musicians, no matter what sub-genre you're in, we all need this, and this is so long overdue.

(audience applauding and cheering) So many people have contributed to me standing right here, my parents, Velma and Jerry Whiteside, my sister, Kristin, my husband and producer and songwriting partner, Dennis Johnson, mentor, Bob Baldwin, and, of course, radio.

(laughs) I want to thank every single radio station that has ever played the music, and especially David Linton, who has just put me in the right place at the right time.

And last but not least, I want to thank the Creator for all of this favor.

- Amen.

- Keep music in the schools, (audience applauding) music education as a theme.

God bless you, thank you.

(applause continues) - [VOG] Ladies and gentlemen, she's nominated tonight for Best Mainstream Artist.

Performing her song, "Spirit U Will", please welcome, once again, Ms. Brandee Younger!

(audience applauding and cheering) (melodious jazz music) (melodious jazz continues) (lulling harp resonating) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz continues) (audience applauding) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz continues) (audience applauding) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music continues) (melodious jazz music fades) (audience cheering and applauding) (audience continues cheering and applauding) You know their voices from 91.9 WCLK radio.

(applause continues) Please welcome Morris Baxter of "Morning Jazz" and Jamal Ahmad, host of "S.O.U.L.

of Jazz".

(audience applauding) - All right.

We didn't pay y'all that much.

(audience laughing) We said light enthusiasm.

(audience laughing) - We want to say good evening, everybody.

If you're glad to be alive, can y'all make some noise?

(audience cheering and applauding) - We're here to present Best Mainstream Artist.

Now, I've heard that the word "mainstream" can be defined as conventional or part of the norm.

Mainstream represents the best in the tradition of jazz, while still pushing boundaries and shaping new sounds.

We know all about that from the music we program on the station every day, and there is nothing conventional about these nominees.

- [VOG] Here are the nominees for Best Mainstream Artist.

Brandee Younger, "Somewhere Different".

(audience applauding) Christian McBride and Inside Straight, "Live at the Village Vanguard".

(audience applauding) Joey DeFrancesco, "More Music".

(audience applauding) Kenny Garrett, "Sounds from the Ancestors".

(audience applauding) - All right, and the award for Best Mainstream Artist goes to... - [Both] Christian McBride and Inside Straight!

(audience cheering and applauding) - Hi, everyone.

I am deeply grateful and humbled to accept this award as Best Mainstream Artist on this, the inaugural Jazz Music Awards.

I love our jazz community, and I deeply thank you.

(audience applauding) - [VOG] Performing "House of the Rising Sun", please put your hands together for Jazz Music Awards nominee, playwright, and actress, Somi, featuring Milena Casado on trumpet.

(Somi breathing rhythmically) (vibrant jazz music) (rhythmic breathing continues) (vibrant jazz music) (rhythmic breathing continues) ♪ There's a house in New Orleans ♪ ♪ They call the Rising Sun ♪ It's been the ruin of many a poor girl ♪ ♪ And me, oh, Lord, is one ♪ Me, oh, Lord, is one Hah!

(vibrant jazz music continues) ♪ Go tell my baby sister ♪ Never do what I have done ♪ To shun the house in New Orleans ♪ ♪ They call the Rising Sun ♪ They call the Rising Sun ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh (vibrant jazz music continues) ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh (scatting) ♪ (vibrant jazz music continues) (Somi continues scatting) Hey!

(scatting) (vibrant jazz music continues) (Somi continues scatting) (vibrant jazz music continues) Yebo, oh, hah!

(vibrant jazz music continues) (vibrant jazz music continues) (vibrant jazz music continues) (vibrant jazz music continues) Yeah, ah!

(vibrant jazz music continues) ♪ I'm going to a house in New Orleans ♪ ♪ Called the Rising Sun ♪ It's been the ruin of many a poor girl ♪ ♪ And me, oh, Lord, is one ♪ Me, oh, Lord, is one (vibrant jazz music continues) Ah!

♪ I'm going back to New Orleans ♪ ♪ My race is almost run ♪ Going back to one more day ♪ B5neath the Rising Sun ♪ B5neath the Rising Sun Hey!

(scatting) Oh!

(scatting) (vibrant jazz music continues) (vibrant jazz music continues) (Somi scatting) (Somi vocalizing) (vibrant jazz music continues) (Somi continues vocalizing) (vibrant jazz music continues) Hah!

(Somi singing in African language) (Somi continues singing in African language) (Somi scatting) (Somi continues scatting) (Somi breathing rhythmically) (vibrant jazz music continues) (rhythmic breathing continues) (vibrant jazz music continues) (Somi breathing slows) (vibrant jazz music slows) (Somi exhales deeply) (audience applauding) Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

(applause continues) - [VOG] Here to present our next award, Grammy Award-winning vocalist and NEA Jazz Master, Dianne Reeves!

(audience applauding) - Ah, thank you, everybody looks so beautiful tonight.

Goodness gracious, give yourself a hand.

(audience cheering and applauding) It's been said that the voice is the first instrument, and we can all agree about the vocal brilliance of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughn, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Betty Carter, and others too numerous to mention.

Let's see which vocalists we are going to continue that legacy with.

The award for the Best Vocal Performance is given to an individual or group whose work best demonstrates their skills and the spirit of jazz.

- [VOG] The Jazz Award for Best Vocal Performance, The Baylor Project, "Generations", (audience applauding) Shawnn Monteiro, "You Are There", (audience applauding) Somi, "Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba", Stacey Kent, "Songs From Other Places".

(audience applauding) - Oh, my goodness, it's a tie.

(laughs) Okay, the award for Best Vocal Performance goes to, (mimics drum roll) give me something, (dramatic drum roll) my fabulous friend, Ms. Somi.

(audience applauding) Stacey Kent also wins this award, and she is on tour in Europe, and we will gladly accept this on her behalf.

♪ There would be Tango in Macao ♪ ♪ That's what you told me (applause continues) ♪ And I believed in you somehow ♪ ♪ Believed all your baloney - Thank you so very much.

This is a surprise, (laughs) but thank you.

I'm so honored.

First of all, what a gift to receive from the great Dianne Reeves as the one to announce this.

(audience applauding) I love her so much, and I guess I hadn't really thought so much about the award, right, to win something, because we've been gathered with so much community these last few days.

It's just really been about being together.

I'm so grateful, I'm so honored for the other nominees, who I get to call my friends and colleagues, and I'm just so grateful.

This is a project.

The correct title of the album is called "Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba".

So, this is, (audience applauding) it's to honor Mama Miriam, who was the first African artist to show up on the global cultural stage and make room for my story and for countless others, and I give thanks to her and the memory of all those who came before us.

So, thank you so much.

What a deep honor to be here, Terri Lyne, and everybody, thank you so much.

(audience applauding) (lively jazz music) - Tonight, we pay tribute to those who have dedicated their life's work to creating, educating, promoting, and preserving the legacy of jazz.

- The Jazz Music Awards are proud to present three Awards of Distinction.

- [VOG] The Jazz Composer Award is presented to Pulitzer Prize-winning multi-instrumentalist, composer, and improviser, Henry Threadgill.

- I would like to take this moment to thank all of the people that have worked so hard to get this award for me, for the Jazz Award, and all of the people like myself, the musicians, that's being honored at this, some of those that's living and those that have already passed away, I would just like to say thank you 150%.

- [VOG] The Jazz Music Awards salutes Henry Threadgill, recipient of the Jazz Composer Award.

(audience cheering and applauding) The Jazz Innovator Award goes to an artist who defies boundaries and sets new musical standards, modern jazz trumpeter and composer, Ambrose Akinmusire.

- I think the interesting thing as an innovator is that he's taken the tradition and he's figured out what works for him, what doesn't work for him, what he wants to change, what he wants to bring to the music and move it forward, and that's why I think he's winning this Innovation Award and why he deserves to win this Innovation Award, is because he's found his own way to play jazz and to bring something new to the music and the tradition.

- [VOG] The Jazz Music Awards salutes Ambrose Akinmusire, recipient of the inaugural Innovator Award.

(audience applauding and cheering) Presenting our next Award of Distinction is Terri Lyne Carrington.

- Musician, trailblazer, and scholar, Dr. Lenora Helm Hammonds is the recipient of the first Jazz Educator Award in recognition of her academic leadership.

A native of Chicago, Dr. Hammonds is a former U.S. Jazz Ambassador and twice appointed Fulbright Senior Music Specialist.

Hammonds is also a notable jazz vocalist, composer, and pianist.

(audience applauding) It's truly my pleasure to give this award to Dr. Lenora Helm because I went to college with her, so it's extra special for me to present this to her.

Please welcome Dr. Lenora Helm Hammonds.

(audience cheering and applauding) (audience continues cheering and applauding) - Thank you.

Chi-town, my Chi lanterns in the house?

(audience cheering and applauding) All honor and glory to God.

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to teach and learn music.

(audience applauding) All my colleagues and friends on the stage, thank you.

Terri Lyne, this is really special.

Thank you, Wendy F. Williams, for your vision and your power.

(audience applauding and cheering) So, y'all know I'm a teacher, so I gotta give you some homework.

So, take out your phone and write it down.

I promise I won't cuss, or if you- (audience laughing) So, ATL, all right, Atlanta, but I'm gonna give that an acronym.

Ask, ask for more jazz.

Wherever you go and listen to music, ask them to play jazz, ask them to program jazz, ask them to play jazz musicians.

Tell, so that's A, T, Tell, (audience applauding) tell other people how much you love jazz and why.

T, L, ATL, Listen, help people listen to the music.

Make playlists, give them that for stocking-stuffers instead of a Starbucks card 'cause we need to bring more listeners to the music.

So, advocate for a change.

(audience cheering) Thank you.

(audience applauding) (lively jazz music) (applause continues) - (clears throat) Sir Delroy?

- Yes, ma'am.

- Do you have something that you want to say to these lovely people?

- I do.

- Go on.

- Before I go to what I'm supposed to say, I just want to share.

The comment that was made about jazz being a reflection of life seems extremely profound to me because to the extent that jazz is a reflection of life, and African-descended people created jazz, then we are a reflection of life.

(audience applauding) - [Dee Dee] Amen.

- And that actually does not exclude anybody.

It just means that as these musical forms are being practiced, and we're all participating in the practice of this very, very special art form, we're all reflecting ourselves and we're all affirming each other in our humanity.

- Beautiful.

(audience applauding) Beautifully said.

- The fact is jazz has undergone many evolutions since it emerged from the clubs and speakeasies of New Orleans, and it's spread like wildfire all across the globe.

- We have had hot jazz, cool jazz, swing, bebop (audience laughing) post-bop, avant garde, free jazz- - Come on.

- West Coast jazz, jazz fusion!

- Look at it.

- I could go on and on and on, but I'm gonna stop.

(audience laughing) - And with each new style or iteration of jazz, the music expanded, spurred on by the ingenuity of so many of its creators.

- Jazz definitely owes a debt of gratitude to our next honoree.

There are very few artists who we can rightfully call Legends.

Wayne?

- [Audience] Shorter!

(audience cheering and applauding) - Here with a musical medley in tribute to the genius of Wayne Shorter is our incomparable All-Star Band.

(audience cheering and applauding) (soothing trumpet intro) (moves to rhythmic jazz music) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz continues) (audience applauding) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music fades) (audience applauding) (vibrant jazz music) (vibrant jazz music continues) (moves to soulful jazz music) (soulful jazz music continues) (soulful jazz music continues) (soulful jazz music continues) (moves to syncopated jazz music) (syncopated jazz music continues) (syncopated jazz music continues) (syncopated jazz music continues) (syncopated jazz music continues) (syncopated jazz music continues) (syncopated jazz music slows) (moves to vibrant jazz music) (vibrant jazz music continues) (vibrant jazz music continues) (vibrant jazz music continues) (moves to soulful jazz music) (soulful jazz music continues) (soulful jazz music fades) (audience applauding) (drumsticks tapping) (upbeat jazz music) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music slows) (audience applauding and cheering) - How about a hand for Terri Lyne Carrington?

(audience applauding) The band.

(applause continues) It is our distinct privilege to present the Jazz Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Wayne Shorter.

(audience applauding) (applause continues) - It is my distinct honor and pleasure to accept this award on Wayne Shorter's behalf.

I've played with Wayne for, goodness, about 35 years, so I'm thrilled for him (audience applauding) and to accept this award on his behalf, thank you.

(audience applauding) (lively jazz music) - Here to perform a medley of songs on Social Justice, five captivating women, Dianne Reeves, (audience applauding) Lizz Wright, (applause continues) Jazzmeia Horn, (applause continues) Ledisi, (applause continues) and our host, Dee Dee Bridgewater.

(audience cheering and applauding) ♪ I ♪ Am an endangered species ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ And I sing ♪ No victim's song ♪ No victim's song ♪ I am a woman ♪ Yeah ♪ I ♪ Yeah, I am an artist (singers vocalizing) ♪ And I know ♪ I know ♪ I know ♪ Yes, I know ♪ I know ♪ I know ♪ I know ♪ Yes, I know ♪ Yes, yes, yeah ♪ Where my voice belongs Uh!

(rhythmic jazz music) (rhythmic jazz music continues) ♪ I am an endangered species ♪ And I sing no victim's song ♪ I am a woman, I am an artist ♪ I know where my voice belongs ♪ ♪ I am an endangered species ♪ And I sing no victim's song ♪ I am a woman, I am an artist ♪ And I know where my voice belongs ♪ ♪ I am a woman, I exist ♪ I shake my fist, sometimes my hips ♪ ♪ My skin is dark, my body is strong ♪ ♪ I sing of rebirth, no victim's song ♪ (rhythmic jazz music continues) ♪ I am an endangered species ♪ But I sing no victim's song ♪ I am a woman, I am an artist ♪ I know where my voice belongs ♪ ♪ I am an endangered species ♪ And I sing no victim's song ♪ I am a woman, I am an artist ♪ And I know where my voice belongs ♪ ♪ Yes, I know where my soul belongs ♪ ♪ Yes, I know where I belong ♪ Yeah (audience applauding) (harmonious jazz music) (harmonious jazz music continues) ♪ Whisper, listen, whisper, listen ♪ ♪ Whisper, say we're free ♪ Rumors flyin', must be lyin' ♪ Can it really be ♪ Can't conceive it, can't believe it ♪ ♪ But that's what they say ♪ Slave no longer, slave no longer ♪ ♪ This is Freedom Day ♪ Freedom Day ♪ It's Freedom Day ♪ Throw those shackle ♪ And chains away ♪ Free to vote ♪ And earn my pay ♪ And we call it ♪ Freedom Day (harmonious jazz music continues) (harmonious jazz music continues) (harmonious jazz music continues) (moves to upbeat jazz music) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (moves to soulful jazz music) (audience cheering) ♪ Hmm, hmm-hmm-hmm ♪ Whisper, listen, whisper, listen ♪ ♪ Whisper, say we're free ♪ Rumors flyin', they must be lyin' ♪ ♪ Can it really be ♪ I can't conceive it, can't believe it ♪ ♪ But that's what they say ♪ Slave no longer, slave no longer ♪ ♪ This is Freedom Day ♪ Freedom Day ♪ It's Freedom Day ♪ Free to vote ♪ And earn my pay ♪ They dim my path ♪ And they hide the way ♪ But they call it ♪ Freedom Day (soulful jazz music slows) (audience cheering and applauding) (slow jazz music) ♪ He had a dream ♪ A beautiful dream ♪ A dream he believed would soon come true ♪ ♪ Let's make that dream ♪ That dream come true ♪ It's up to me ♪ And up to you ♪ He had a cause ♪ Never stopped to pause ♪ A poor man's dream ♪ Was his appeal ♪ Now it's up to me ♪ And up to you ♪ To make his dream come real (slow jazz music continues) ♪ Use your common sense ♪ Please, no violence ♪ We all can live in harmony (slow jazz music continues) ♪ He had a goal ♪ Gave his heart and soul ♪ To set all people free (slow jazz music continues) ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ So, let's not hate ♪ Let's not even wait ♪ That is my appeal to you (slow jazz music continues) ♪ Because it's up to me ♪ And up to you ♪ To make his dream come true (slow jazz music continues) (slow jazz music continues) ♪ It's up to me ♪ And it's up ♪ To you (slow jazz music continues) (audience cheering and applauding) (soulful jazz music) (soulful jazz music continues) ♪ Southern trees ♪ Bear a strange fruit ♪ Blood on the leaves (soulful jazz music continues) ♪ And blood ♪ At the root ♪ Black bodies swinging (soulful jazz music continues) ♪ In the Southern breeze ♪ Strange fruit hanging ♪ From the poplar trees (soulful jazz music continues) ♪ Pastoral scene ♪ Of the gallant South (soulful jazz music continues) ♪ The bulging eyes ♪ And the twisted mouth (soulful jazz music continues) ♪ Scent of ♪ Scent of magnolias ♪ Sweet and fresh ♪ And then the sudden smell ♪ Of burning flesh (soulful jazz music continues) (soulful jazz music continues) ♪ Here is a fruit (soulful jazz music continues) ♪ For the crows to pluck ♪ For the rain to gather ♪ For the wind ♪ To suck ♪ For the sun ♪ To rot ♪ For the rains ♪ To drop ♪ Here is a strange ♪ And bitter crop (soulful jazz music continues) ♪ A strange and bitter crop ♪ A strange and bitter crop (soulful jazz music continues) ♪ Strange fruit (soulful jazz music fades) (audience cheering and applauding) (nostalgic jazz music) ♪ Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang ♪ ♪ Breaking rocks and serving my time ♪ ♪ Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang ♪ ♪ 'Cause I've been convicted of a crime ♪ ♪ Hold it steady (nostalgic music continues) ♪ Right there while I hit it ♪ Well, I reckon that ought to get it ♪ ♪ I-I-I-I ♪ I've been working (nostalgic music continues) ♪ Working ♪ But I still ♪ Got so terribly far ♪ To go (nostalgic music continues) ♪ Hey, yeah, yeah (nostalgic music crescendos) (audience cheering and applauding) ♪ Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang ♪ ♪ Breaking rocks and serving my time ♪ ♪ Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang ♪ ♪ 'Cause I've been convicted of a crime ♪ ♪ Hold it steady right there while I hit it ♪ ♪ Well, I reckon that ought to get it ♪ ♪ I've been working, I've been working ♪ ♪ And I still got so far, far to go ♪ ♪ I committed a crime, Lord, I hadn't eaten ♪ ♪ Crime of being hungry and poor ♪ ♪ Left the grocery store, man bleeding ♪ ♪ When he caught me robbing his store ♪ ♪ Hold it steady right there while I hit it ♪ ♪ Well, I reckon that ought to get it ♪ ♪ I've been a-working, I've been working, ooh ♪ ♪ Still got so far to go ♪ Heard the judge say five years hard labor ♪ ♪ On a chain-gang you gotta go ♪ Heard the judge say five years hard labor ♪ ♪ Heard my daddy say, "Oh, Lordy, no" ♪ ♪ Hold it steady right there while I hit it ♪ ♪ Well, I reckon that ought to get it ♪ ♪ I've been a-working, I've been working, ooh ♪ ♪ Still got so far ♪ To go (upbeat jazz music) ♪ Hey, hey, hey Yeah!

(upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (audience applauding) (upbeat jazz music continues) Yes, sir.

(upbeat jazz music continues) ♪ Wanna see my sweet honey baby ♪ ♪ Wanna break off these chains and run ♪ ♪ Wanna lay down somewhere shady ♪ ♪ 'Cause it sure is hot in the sun ♪ ♪ Hold it steady right there while I hit it ♪ ♪ Well, I reckon that ought to get it ♪ ♪ I've been a-working, I've been working, ooh ♪ ♪ Still got so far to go ♪ I've been working, breaking rocks ♪ ♪ Out here on the chain gang ♪ Breaking rocks and serving my time ♪ ♪ Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang ♪ ♪ 'Cause I've been convicted of a crime ♪ ♪ Hold it steady right there while I hit it ♪ ♪ Well, I reckon that ought to get it ♪ ♪ I've been a-working, I've been working, ooh ♪ ♪ Still got so far to go ♪ I've been a-working, working ♪ Still got so far to go ♪ I've been a-working, working ♪ Ooh, oh-oh-oh ♪ Hey, hey, hey (upbeat jazz music continues) ♪ And I still got ♪ So terribly far ♪ To go (upbeat jazz music swells) ♪ Hey, hey, hey, yeah (upbeat jazz music crescendos) ♪ Ooh (upbeat jazz music fades) (audience cheering and applauding) (audience continues cheering and applauding) - That was extraordinary.

(audience continues cheering and applauding) Right now, (clears throat) please welcome a nominee, keyboardist, and producer, Ben Tankard, and Rivablue, the midday host of Jazz 91.9 WCLK.

(audience applauding) - Oh.

- Our next award is Best Duo, Group, or Big Band.

I love this category because collaboration is at the heart of what jazz is all about.

- So do I.

In fact, some say that jazz is a model of democracy, where each participant gets a say in creating something for the common good.

It's similar to how musicians improvise and allow space to exchange ideas.

The resulting art benefits everyone.

- I know some politicians who could benefit from learning jazz.

(audience laughing) - Oh, yeah.

- Let's present the Best Duo, Group, or Big Band award.

Because of a tie, there are five nominees in this category.

- [VOG] The nominees for Best Duo, Group, or Big Band, Christian McBride and Inside Straight, "Live at the Village Vanguard", Count Basie Orchestra, "Live At Birdland", under the direction of Scotty Barnhart, Jazzmeia Horn and Her Noble Force, "Dear Love", The Baylor Project, "Generations", Kevin Eubanks and Orrin Evans, "EEE, Eubanks-Evans Experience".

- And the winner is- - Well, Best Duo, Group, or Big Band, Christian McBride and Inside Straight, "Live at the Village Vanguard".

(audience applauding) (lively jazz music) - Best Duo, Group, or Big Band, and I won.

Bless your hearts.

(audience laughing) Just when I thought you knew what you were doing, but I thank you.

(audience laughing) (audience applauding) - [VOG] Keep your hands together for our next performer, saxophonist and vocalist Braxton Cook, performing his song, "No Doubt".

(lively avant-garde jazz music) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively jazz music continues) (audience applauding) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively jazz music continues) (audience applauding) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music continues) (lively avant-garde jazz music fades) (audience cheering and applauding) Please welcome two-time nominee and performer Orrin Evans, along with Debb Moore, host of Jazz 91.9 WCLK's "Jazz At Sundown" and "The Jazz Suite".

- It's time to present the Best Contemporary Album Award.

- Some define contemporary jazz as instrumental music with R&B and pop influences and improvisation.

- Labels aren't for artists, they're for everyone else.

Most artists know, (chuckles) you know, we don't like being labeled anyway.

- Okay, okay.

Okay, well, I know one label.

Everyone likes Award Winner.

- That is very true.

(audience laughing) The Award for Best Contemporary Album goes to a full-length recording by an instrumentalist or group whose work best demonstrates their skills in a popular, contemporary context.

- [VOG] The nominees for Best Contemporary Album, Bob Baldwin, "The Stay at Home Series, Volume 1", Brian Culbertson, "The Trilogy Red", Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, "Tongue & Groove", Sonny Emory, "Soul Ascension".

(audience applauding and cheering) - Wow!

(both chuckling) Wow!

Best Contemporary Album, (audience laughing) Bob Baldwin, (audience cheering) "The Stay at Home Series"!

(audience applauding) (soothing jazz music) (soothing jazz music continues) (audience cheering) - Thank you.

(audience applauding) How's everybody feeling?

Before I make my speech, I want to say this has been an incredible event.

I'm honored to be a part of it.

The musicians and the singers have been turning it out, right?

- [Audience] Yeah.

- This project was created out of a live streaming experience.

We wanted to bring music to the people because the people couldn't get out, and so we wanted to reduce the anxiety and stress during COVID 'cause we lost so many millions of people, right?

- Yeah, yeah.

- So, that's the only reason why we put this project together, and I want to thank David Linton and Wendy Williams and the organizers of the Jazz Music Awards, as well as my mother, who's still alive at 92.

(audience applauding) And also to my father, who passed away a few years back.

He turned me on to jazz with Oscar Peterson at age five.

I thought he was crazy, (audience laughing) and then I went singing jazz in kindergarten.

They thought I had ADHD, scatting.

(scatting) (audience laughing and applauding) They said, "Get that kid outta here, he's crazy."

No, it's jazz, man, it's jazz.

So, thank you very much, guys, God bless you.

(audience applauding and cheering) - [VOG] Here to present our next award are flutist, radio host, and winner tonight, Ragan Whiteside, and Program Director of Jazz 91.9 WCLK, Atlanta's Jazz Station, David Linton.

- It is our pleasure to present the award for Best Mainstream Album.

- First of all, I'd like to congratulate you on your win tonight.

- Thank you.

Thank you so much.

(audience applauding) - You know, I think the term "mainstream" has been defined as a style that embodies the sound of its era.

So, it incorporates classic jazz and the energy and innovation of today.

- Yeah, it sounds right to me.

The award for Best Mainstream Album goes to a full-length recording by a jazz artist whose music represents swing, straight ahead, big band, post-bop, or creative music.

Let's hear the nominees.

- [VOG] Nominees for Best Mainstream Album, Brandee Younger, "Somewhere Different", (audience applauding) Kenny Garrett, "Sounds From The Ancestors", (audience applauding) The Baylor Project, "Generations", (audience applauding) Orrin Evans, "The Magic of Now".

(audience applauding) - And the award for Best Mainstream Album is actually a tie, and the award goes to both Orrin Evans and Kenny Garrett.

(audience applauding) (applause continues) (applause continues) - Thank you.

I said I was gonna say thank you.

I told my wife this this morning, if I win, I was gonna say thank you to the three most important people in my life, and then I was gonna say, "Salt, pepper, ketchup."

(audience laughing) She didn't think that was funny, but honestly, (audience laughing) I wouldn't be standing here and even doing this without my wife and my two sons, Miles and Matthew.

I thank you, Dawn, Miles, and Matthew for helping me get to this point and supporting me this whole way.

Thank you very much.

(audience applauding and cheering) - Wow, wow, wow!

I'd like to first thank the Creator for the gift of life.

(audience applauding) I'd like to thank my beautiful wife, Sayydah, and my beautiful daughter, Halima, my mother, (applause continues) my sisters, Gail, Debra, Nina, my brother Dino, and my manager, Vernon Hammond.

There's a whole bunch of people to thank, but I'd like to thank the Jazz Music Awards for this prestigious award.

(audience applauding) Until we do it again, thank you.

(audience applauding and cheering) - We actually just met for the first time this afternoon.

I mean- - Yeah.

- But what we discovered was a simpatico, you know, a connection that is not always a given because this industry can be very harsh, and so meeting somebody for the first time and having such a simpatico is very special, and I appreciate it.

- It is.

- Yeah.

- I do too, Delroy.

- Thank you, that's very incredible.

- Thank you.

- And one of the reasons that I'd like to say that is because it's important, as we all know, it's important to give, exchange, to give flowers to each other while we are here.

- Yes.

(audience applauding) - And in that scene, the jazz world has lost a number of luminaries in the past few years.

The Jazz Music Awards presents now a musical medley in tribute to four recently departed jazz luminaries, trumpeter, Jaimie Branch, flute and saxophone colossus, Pharoah Sanders, B-3 Hammond organist, Joey DeFrancesco, and Grammy-winning pianist and broadcaster, the great, the great Ramsey Lewis.

(audience applauding) - So, we'd like for you to please welcome back our Musical Director, Terri Lyne Carrington, and her All-Star Band, featuring Milena Casado on trumpet, Marcus Strickland on saxophone, Mark Whitfield on guitar, and Ray Angry on that Hammond B-3 organ, lordy, lordy, and featuring vocalists Lindsey Webster and Jean Baylor.

(audience applauding) (drumsticks tapping) (rhythmic jazz music) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (music stops abruptly) (audience applauding) (melodious harp playing) (soothing jazz music) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music fades) (moves to lively jazz music) (audience applauding) (lively jazz music continues) (lively jazz music continues) (lively jazz music continues) (lively jazz music continues) (lively jazz music continues) (lively jazz music continues) (lively jazz music continues) (lively jazz music continues) (lively jazz music continues) (audience applauding) (lively jazz music continues) (audience applauding) (lively jazz music continues) (lively jazz music continues) (lively jazz music continues) (lively jazz music fades) (audience applauding) (rhythmic jazz music) (rhythmic jazz music continues) (rhythmic jazz music continues) ♪ Way-oh ♪ Way-oh ♪ Bop way-oh ♪ Way-oh ♪ Bap-bah-bap, bah-bah-bah, way-oh ♪ ♪ Bop-bop, way-oh ♪ Way-oh ♪ Aah, aah-aah (rhythmic jazz continues) ♪ Way-oh ♪ Way-oh ♪ Bop way-oh ♪ Way-oh-oh ♪ Bap-bah-bap, bah-bah-bah, way-oh ♪ ♪ Bop-bop, way-oh ♪ Way-oh ♪ Aah (rhythmic jazz continues) (rhythmic jazz continues) (rhythmic jazz continues) (rhythmic jazz continues) (rhythmic jazz continues) (rhythmic jazz continues) ♪ Way-oh (audience applauding) ♪ Way-oh ♪ Bop way-oh ♪ Way-oh-oh ♪ Bap-bah-bap, bah-bah-bah, way-oh ♪ ♪ Bop-bop, way-oh ♪ Way-oh ♪ Aah ♪ Aah-aah (rhythmic jazz continues) (rhythmic jazz continues) (rhythmic jazz continues) (rhythmic jazz continues) (rhythmic jazz continues) (rhythmic jazz continues) (rhythmic jazz continues) (singers scatting) (rhythmic jazz crescendos) (audience cheering and applauding) - [VOG] Please welcome saxophonist, composer, and band leader Tia Fuller, along with keyboardist, producer, and Jazz Music Award winner tonight, Bob Baldwin.

(audience applauding) - And now we have the final award, Song of the Year.

- It seems like a tough category, with so many great songs out there.

- Agreed.

The nominees include both veteran hitmakers and an artist who is still in his teens.

- (chuckles) This is a Fan Favorite award that goes to the songwriter.

Here are the nominees.

- [VOG] The nominees for Song of the Year, Brian Culbertson, "Feel The Love", (audience applauding) James 'PJ' Spraggins, "Up From Here", (audience applauding) Justin Lee Schultz, "Gruv Kid", (audience applauding) Norman Brown, "Back At Ya".

(audience applauding) - And the award for the Song of the Year goes to, can I get a drum roll?

Nah, sorry.

- Oh.

(laughs) - She's gone anyway.

(dramatic drum roll) Oh, hello, hello, hello.

(dramatic drum roll swells) (dramatic drum roll ends) Norman Brown, y'all, "Back At Ya".

(audience applauding) - On behalf of Norman Brown, who is currently on tour, I am happy to accept this award for him.

Thank you so much.

(audience applauding) (soft jazz music) - The Jazz Legend Award goes to a gifted and influential pianist and composer, the amazing late McCoy Tyner.

(audience applauding) Accepting the Jazz Legend Award for McCoy Tyner is his son, Mr. Nurudeen Tyner.

(audience cheering loudly and applauding) (applause continues) (lively jazz music) (applause continues) (lively jazz music continues) - Brought the whole family with me today.

(chuckles) This is my son, Amir, this is my niece, Rena, and unfortunately, my other nephew, Joshua, he's not here today, unfortunately, but these are the grandchildren that are gonna carry on the legacy.

(audience applauding and cheering) You know, it's interesting to hear everybody's applause.

You know, I grew up in this household, I grew up, you know, with this man, and, you know, watching him write what he was writing, you know, before it came out on record or touring with him, I never realized the impact, surprisingly to say, I never realized the impact he would have on people until, you know, God took him.

And people would come up to me and say, "You know, your father's music changed my life," and I'm like, "Really?"

And then I finally started to realize, after he, you know, God took him, that his music played such a force in this world of jazz and with people.

I don't even think my father would believe that this was happening because he always felt as though jazz was a little underappreciated.

So, I think that he would be totally, just thrilled to see what happened.

Secondly, I'd like to also dedicate this award to my two brothers, Ibrahim and Ishmail.

My brothers, unfortunately, are with God right now.

They're not here, but they're with my dad, and I hope all of them are looking down on me now and hopefully smiling 'cause I love all of you.

Thank you so much.

(audience cheering and applauding) And lastly, we're gonna keep this legacy of jazz alive, we're gonna keep McCoy Tyner's legacy alive, and we're gonna continue what we're doing right now.

Thank you again, thank you so much.

(audience cheering and applauding) - [VOG] Here, now, with a tribute to McCoy Tyner, are Jazz Music Awards' two-time award winners, Kenny Garrett and Orrin Evans, with James Genus and Terri Lyne Carrington.

(audience applauding) (lively piano intro) (moves to upbeat instrumental jazz music) (upbeat instrumental jazz music continues) (upbeat instrumental jazz music continues) (upbeat instrumental jazz music continues) (upbeat instrumental jazz music continues) (upbeat instrumental jazz music continues) (upbeat instrumental jazz music continues) (upbeat instrumental jazz music continues) (upbeat instrumental jazz music continues) (upbeat instrumental jazz music continues) (upbeat instrumental jazz music continues) (upbeat instrumental jazz music continues) (audience applauding) (uplifting jazz continues) (uplifting instrumental jazz music continues) (uplifting instrumental jazz music continues) (uplifting instrumental jazz music continues) (uplifting instrumental jazz music continues) (uplifting instrumental jazz music continues) (uplifting instrumental jazz music continues) (uplifting instrumental jazz music fades) (audience cheering and applauding) (choppy piano intro) (moves to upbeat jazz music) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music crescendos) (upbeat jazz stops abruptly) (audience cheering loudly) (audience applauding) (cheering continues) (applause and cheering continues) - That performance was amazing.

It was amazing.

Wow!

Well, we want to say congratulations to all of our honorees and award winners.

(audience applauding) Celebrating the Spirit of Jazz, we also celebrate the spirit of creativity, musicality, and quest for freedom that lives within each and every one of us.

(audience applauding) Good night, everybody.

- Good night, everybody.

- Blessings!

(audience applauding) (soothing jazz music) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music continues) (soothing jazz music fades)