Along with Spencer and Mechem, the other JJA 2011 "Jazz Heroes" are:

Omaro Brown--managing parter of Bohemian Caverns, who has helped stimulate new jazz activities in Washington, D.C.

Peggy Cafritz--supporting founder of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C.

John Gilbreath--executive director of Earshot Jazz, Seattle, WA

Dr. Maiterya Padukone--dentist affiliated with the Jazz Foundation of America, treating musicians in New York City.

Don Z. Miller--jazz impresario of Arizona.

Ed Reed--82 year old singer and substance abuse counselor, Richmond, CA.

Mike Reed--drummer, bandleader, music series and festival presenter, Chicago, IL

Roger Spencer and Lori Mechem--directors of the Nashville Jazz Workshop, Nashville, TN

Elynor Walcott and her sons--proprietors of Wally's Jazz Cafe', a longtime venue for youthful and emerging jazz in Boston, MA.

Most of these new "Jazz Heroes" received their awards at local "satellite parties" held simultaneously with the JJA Jazz Awards gala at City Winery in New York City. The awards were also  shown online via a live videostream. Artists scheduled to perform at the awards included NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston, Wallace Roney, Gregory Porter, Jane Bunnett and Hilario Duran Duet, and Hammer Klavier Trio.

The Jazz Awards gala raises funds for JJA educational efforts and activities aimed at developing new audiences for jazz.  These include the eyeJAZZ video training program, audience enrichment programs at jazz festivals and educational institutions, initiatives using social media to activate under-addressed segments of the potential jazz audience, establishment of online platforms for jazz journalists and planning/production of a profession-wide conference on jazz journalism scheduled for January 2012.

For more information about the Awards program visit: www.jjajazzawards.org