Nomination in USA jazz awards

Photos taken by John at the New York awards ceremony:

Top left, Hank Jones; top right, the Spirits of Havana entertain the crowd. Above, Daryl Sherman and Carol Sudhalter (All photos copyright John Watson 2009)

Legendary musicians and rising stars honoured

John Watson of jazzcamera.co.uk was nominated in the 2009 JJA Jazz Awards in the United States.

One of John's shots - a portrait of American saxophonist and flautist Carol Sudhalter - was nominated as Jazz Photo of the Year by leading U.S. jazz author W. Royal Stokes, a former editor of Jazz Times and a contributor to Down Beat.

The JJA Jazz Awards are organised by the Jazz Journalists Association in the States, and the winners were announced at a ceremony at one of New York's leading jazz clubs, The Jazz Standard, on East 27th Street, on June 16. In a final six, the winning photo, of legendary pianist Hank Jones, was by Kris King.  However, John comments: "To be nominated was enough of an honour in itself for me, and Kris King's excellent shot of Hank was a well-deserved winner."

Singer-pianist Daryl Sherman and Carol Sudhalter  jointly received a posthumous award on behalf of Carol's brother Richard Sudhalter, the much-respected cornetist and author, who died last year.  Hank Jones, now aged 91 but looking at least 20 years younger, was named Pianist of the Year.

John Watson adds: "The news of my nomination came completely out of the blue, and I am tremendously honoured.  W. Royal Stokes is one of the world's most respected jazz journalists, as well as being the author of many critically acclaimed books on jazz.

"I took the shot of Carol during one of her appearances at the Birmingham International Jazz Festival.  She is a very fine artist, and I am thrilled that this nomination will also bring her more recognition as a great, swinging musician."

To read more about Carol Sudhalter, visit www.sudhalter.com