NEW YORK - Pianist Herbie Hancock was honoured as musician of the year at the Jazz Awards, just months after he took home the best album Grammy for "River: The Joni Letters," but the big winner was Maria Schneider, who won four trophies.
Schneider's big band CD "Sky Blue," which includes the Grammy-winning instrumental composition "Cerulean Skies," was chosen album of the year, besting other CDs like Hancock's Joni Mitchell tribute in voting among the more than 400 members of the Jazz Journalists Association.
"I just feel like Miss Piggy," Schneider joked to the audience as she thanked her orchestra at Wednesday's awards luncheon at the Jazz Standard club. She also won the awards for composer, arranger and large ensemble of the year.
Drummer Roy Haynes had a double win. His boxed set "A Life In Time: The Roy Haynes Story," which traces his storied career spanning almost 60 years, was chosen reissue/historical boxed set of the year.
"Wow, I beat Duke, Miles, Quincy, and Lionel," Haynes said, acknowledging the other nominees in the reissue category. "It's kind of hip."
Moments later, he was back on stage to pick up the award for drummer of the year.
"They've got some great drummers out there now. ... I never thought I would be even living this long while playing at 83 and winning these serious awards, but I love smelling the roses," he quipped.
The only other double-winner was Ornette Coleman for alto saxophone and small ensemble.
Pianist Marian McPartland, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday and continues to host her "Piano Jazz" show on NPR, was recognized with the award for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz.
And Hank Jones, who turns 90 next month, accepted the award for Pianist of the Year, and then remained on stage to perform in a duo with tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano. Their abbreviated set included the standard "Alone Together" and Lovano's "I'm All For You," based on the classic "Body and Soul," from their recent Blue Note recordings as well as a mix of "How High the Moon" and "Ornithology" on which Jones threw in some humorous quotes from "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."
African-born guitarist Lionel Loueke, who is now touring with Hancock's band and recently released his major label debut "Karibu" on Blue Note, was chosen the Up & Coming Musician of the Year. Israeli Anat Cohen was a repeat winner in the clarinet category.
Percussionist Bobby Sanabria's "Big Band Urban Folktales" was honoured as Latin Jazz Album of the Year.
Other Jazz Awards winners included: Andy Bey (male singer), Abbey Lincoln (female singer), Terence Blanchard (trumpet), Wycliffe Gordon, (trombone), Sonny Rollins (tenor sax), Jane Ira Bloom (soprano sax), James Carter (baritone sax), Bill Frisell (guitar), Christian McBride (bass), Steve Swallow (electric bass), violinist Regina Carter (stringed instrument), Candido Camero (percussion), and author Doug Ramsey (Jazz Journalism Lifetime Achievement).
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