The Canadian National Jazz Awards 2008 ... go West by Marc Chénard
/ May 11, 2008
On April 8, the Canadian National
Jazz Awards were once again staged in the heart of Hogtown. The brainchild
of musician/jazz promoter Bill King, this event has been somewhat derided
since its inception, as a get-together for Toronto to congratulate itself.
This year, however, marks a breakthrough… of sorts. Out of 31 categories
(more than ever before), 11 awards went west to B.C. (3 alone for bassist
Jodi Proznick), while Toronto earned all but two of the remaining 20
(the exceptions being broadcaster Katie Malloch, Montreal’s single
winner, and Wynton Marsalis as its International Musician pick). Cuban
native pianist Hilario Duran pocketed another three, with a pair each
going to saxophonist Phil Dwyer (back on the West Coast after years
in Toronto) and the Toronto Star scribe Geoff Chapman. While the Awards
has bridged the great Canadian geographic divide by going West, it has
yet to extend to French Canada, though the inclusion of a French page
on its Website is an improvement. n
For a complete list of winners:
www.nationaljazzawards.com
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