2009 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards

Warren Hill and Thirsty Howell Lead Nominations for the 2009 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards

Nominations for the 5th Annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards were released today. Warren Hill and Thirsty Howell led nominations with three each. Toronto-born Hill received nods for 'Wind Instrumentalist,' 'Album of the Year' and 'Best Original Composition' for "La Dolce Vita." Howell's nominations include 'Male Vocalist,' 'Album of the Year' for Music from a Warm Place and 'Best Original Composition' for "Lorelei."

Five artists received 2 nominations: Gabriel Hasselbach, Phil Poppa, Darren Rahn, Nathan East and Robin Thicke.

Both Hasselbach and Poppa were named in the Wind Instrumentalist and Album of the Year categories.

Darren Rahn received 2 nominations, one for 'Wind Instrumentalist' and one for ‘International Group of the Year’ as a member of DeNate with Deborah Connors and Nate Harasim. Group of the Year is a newly created International category that includes the nominees, Fourplay, Sax Pack, LA Chillharmonic and The Terry Disley Experience. Fourplay member Nathan East was also nominated as a co-writer with Warren Hill in the Best Original Composition category.

Renowned vocalist, Robin Thicke, was named in the categories of 'Male Vocalist of the Year' and "Album of the Year" for his new album, Something Else.

Earl Klugh will be the next recipient of the George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award. Bob James, Spyro Gyra, Lee Ritenour and George Benson were previous winners.

Both Canadian and International artists who have contributed to the success of the Smooth Jazz format in Canada are recognized each year. International nominees include Tim Bowman, Nick Colionne, Brian Culbertson Kenny G, Michael Lington and Jeff Lorber in Instrumentalist of the Year category and Mick Hucknall, Kenny Lattimore, John Legend, Maysa, Seal and Victoria White in Vocalist of the Year category.

The CSJA was started by co-chairs, Mary Kirk of Wave 94.7FM Hamilton/Toronto, Ont. and John Beaudin, owner of SmoothJazzNow.com.

On-line voting begins January 12, 2009. Anyone anywhere with an email address is eligible to vote once between Jan. 12 and Sunday February
22nd. Winners will be determined primarily by the results of the voting with some industry input.

The ceremony will take place at the Living Arts Centre, Mississauga, Friday April 24th at 8pm. Warren Hill, Earl Klugh, Nick Colionne, Brian Culbertson, Phil Poppa, Julie Crochetiere, Chris Smith, Kellylee Evans, Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, DeNate and host Alexander Zonjic are all set to perform.

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