Saxophonist Lovano hits trifecta at Jazz Awards

June 17, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Joe Lovano hit the trifecta at the Jazz Awards, with wins for tenor saxophonist, small ensemble and record of the year, but pianist-composer Vijay Iyer walked off with musician-of-the-year honors.

The Jazz Journalists Association chose Lovano’s CD “Folk Art,” the saxophonist’s first album of all original compositions, as the year’s top jazz record. The CD features Lovano’s new band, Us Five, with two rising jazz stars, bassist Esperanza Spalding and drummer Francisco Mela. The group was voted the best small ensemble.

“All I can say is it is incredible to be a part of such an amazing community of characters, to live in this library of sounds and spirits as we do from the beginning of recorded jazz,” said Lovano, accepting his awards at Monday’s ceremony at the City Winery club.

Lovano gave a special acknowledgment to the inspiration he received from saxophonist James Moody, who earlier was honored with the award for lifetime achievement in jazz. Moody’s bassist, Todd Coolman, said the 85-year-old saxophonist, who is recuperating from recent gall bladder surgery, was following the streamed broadcast of the awards ceremony from his California home.

Iyer was voted musician of the year among a field of nominees that included saxophonists Lovano and Sonny Rollins. Iyer’s frequent bandmate and fellow Indian-American, Rudresh Mahanthappa, was chosen alto saxophonist of the year.

“This is an award I actually did not expect to get whatsoever,” said Iyer, whose piano trio CD “Historicity” was among the record-of-the-year nominees. “Earlier I posted on Twitter, ‘I’m getting ready to lose big.’ So I’m very honored, humbled and surprised.”

Two big-band leaders were among the multiple winners. The veteran Maria Schneider repeated her wins last year in the composer and arranger categories. Relative newcomer Darcy James Argue was named up-and-coming artist of the year, and his “steampunk” Secret Society, which combines modern jazz, rock and classical music, won for large ensemble.

Other award recipients added an international flavor to the affair, including Israel’s Anat Cohen (clarinet), Italy’s Roberta Gambarini (female singer), Colombian harpist Edmar Castaneda (instrument rare in jazz), Brazil’s Cyro Baptista (percussion) and Britain’s Evan Parker (soprano saxophone) and Dave Holland (bass).

The winners, chosen by balloting among the nearly 400 members of the Jazz Journalists Association, also included George Wein (events producer), Kurt Elling (male singer), Terence Blanchard (trumpeter), Roswell Rudd (trombone), Jim Hall (guitar), Kenny Barron (piano), Paul Motian (drums), Stefon Harris (mallet instrument) and Regina Carter (violin).