The Jazz Journalists Association has announced the nominees in its 2010 awards 
competition. Darcy James Argue (pictured) did not come from out of nowhere, but the young band leader, composer and arranger has moved up fast and made a big impression. Argue is nominated for the first time, in five categories. For a complete list of the nominees, go here.
Rifftides is flattered to be in the running for blog of the year. We are in fast company. Here are the nominees:
The Gig, Nate Chinen
A Blog Supreme, Patrick Jarenwattananon
Do The Math blog and webzine, Ethan Iverson
JazzWax, Marc Myers
Rifftides, Doug Ramsey
The awards will be presented June 14 in New York.
JJA Awards Nominees Named
April 15, 2010 by
The nonagenarian pianist presented de Barros with every biographer’s hope, unrestricted access to his subject’s personal papers and nearly unrestricted access to her private thoughts. He made the most of it, turning exhaustive research and hundreds of hours of interviews into a true story with the sweep of a novel. From the early discovery of McPartland’s musical gift through her wartime service, her ecstatic and stormy marriage to Jimmy McPartland, her growth as a pianist, her deep affair with Joe Morello, and the radio show that made her a national figure, she has had a fascinating life. It makes a splendid read.
Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band had three fewer musicians than most big jazz outfits. Its size permitted precision, flexibility and subtlety, yet the band had the power of sprung steel. In this concert from a half century ago, the CJB is as fresh as yesterday. Arrangements by Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn and Johnny Mandel set standards to which big band writers still aspire. Bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis inspired Mulligan, Brookmeyer, Conte Candoli, Gene Quill and Zoot Sims to some of the best soloing of their careers. This beautifully produced issue of the complete concert is a basic repertoire item.
Rifftides is my favorite of the contenders. Good luck Doug.
Jeez, Dougie, you coulda been a contender if you just hadn’ta gone off and journalisted all those years and… Oh wait, you ARE a contender, and journalism may even have helped secure the gig. Hmmm, so much for cliches. Congrats, irregardless. (But will you at least boycott the awards dinner, from Tahiti maybe, or Yakima even?)