Honoring the memory of John Stites and his passion for jazz music

Congratulations To The 2023 Cycle 2 JSJA Winners!

Posted January 18, 2024

The Board of the John Stites Jazz Artist Organization is pleased to announce the 2023 Cycle 2 John Stites Jazz Award winners. The JSJAO hopes prospective applicants will be inspired by these projects to apply for a 2024 award. We have made significant changes to the 2024 award process, which will allow us to focus on advancing the careers of innovative established and emerging jazz musicians. Please see the Awards page for more details.

Ralph Hepola/Take In a Jazz Festival – Ralph Hepola and the HepTones are using the award to expand jazz audiences and enhance appreciation of jazz music through a Spring 2024 tour to six communities in Illinois and Michigan, which have limited exposure to live jazz and no jazz festivals. They plan to act as “jazz ambassadors” through their superlative music, emceeing and publicity; encouraging everyone to subsequently attend one of ten large jazz festivals in five target states during the summer of 2024. As a musician who plays the language of contemporary jazz on the tuba, Ralph is “totally focused on a new and innovative approach”
Judy Carmichael/Jazz Inspired, Inc – Pianist/vocalist Judy Carmichael’s specialty is stride/swing piano, a joyous entry point into jazz, even for those who are intimidated by it or think they “don’t get it”. Guitarist Larry Koonse, clarinetist/saxophonist Dan Block and Judy will perform songs from the Great American Songbook, including humorous, less well-known ones, and discuss the history of jazz, its importance as an American art form, how jazz draws on multiple musical influences and improvisation, and how playing or listening to jazz improves listening skills. The presentations will be fun, inclusive, and emphasize how enjoyment. of jazz grows with each exposure to it.
Kayle Gorenflo/CityMusic Cleveland – CityMusic Cleveland will produce a 45-minute documentary entitled New Heroes, featuring high school students from Cleveland. The film will focus on three young students who share their world and explore their identity through the history of the music they love. The film uncovers what excites students about their favorite popular songs, investigating musical roots and musicians from jazz’s past and present and working with preeminent jazz musicians to create their own music. It will be presented at local school districts to help students understand the importance of jazz in the lineage of American music and empower students to tap into their creativity.

The applications were scored by an independent Review Committee composed of professional jazz musicians with national and international experience. JSJA has awarded over $280,000 in the last 4 years. The 2024 Award cycle begins on February 15. JSJA plans to award an additional $50,000 to another group of outstanding applicants in September 2024. Information on the 2024 award timeline is available on our website. If you have questions, please submit them by using the Contact form.

The Board of the JSJAO thanks all the applicants for their participation. We encourage anyone with an idea that supports professional exceptionalism in jazz music to apply.

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John was kind and patient with great attention to details. He loved good music of all sorts...

Joel Mabus

The John Stites Jazz Awards (JSJA) are funded by the John Stites Jazz Artist Organization.

The organization funds advanced studies for emerging and established professional jazz musicians, as well as personal development projects which enhance their career opportunities.