Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards

Last updated June 19, 2019

The Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards (Oasis Music Awards) is a United States based award presented annually to recognize achievement in the smooth-jazz music format as well as Jazz Fusion and other sectors of the contemporary jazz genre. The award categories are similar in nature to the Grammys, American Music Awards, Country Music Association Awards. Awards are given for Song of the Year, CD of the Year, Male and Female Artist of the Year. Also, an award is presented to the player of the year on saxophone, piano, drums, bass, or guitar.

Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, United States. It originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and developed from roots in blues and ragtime. Jazz is seen by many as "America's classical music". Since the 1920s Jazz Age, jazz has become recognized as a major form of musical expression. It then emerged in the form of independent traditional and popular musical styles, all linked by the common bonds of African-American and European-American musical parentage with a performance orientation. Jazz is characterized by swing and blue notes, call and response vocals, polyrhythms and improvisation. Jazz has roots in West African cultural and musical expression, and in African-American music traditions including blues and ragtime, as well as European military band music. Intellectuals around the world have hailed jazz as "one of America's original art forms".

The American Music Awards (AMAs) is an annual American music awards show, generally held in the Fall, created by Dick Clark in 1973 for ABC when the network's contract to air the Grammy Awards expired. It is the first of the Big Three music award shows held annually. Unlike the Grammys, which are awarded on the basis of votes by members of the Recording Academy, the AMAs are determined by a poll of the public and fans, who can vote through the AMAs website. The award statuette is manufactured by New York firm Society Awards.

The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards or CMAs, are presented to country music artists and broadcasters to recognize outstanding achievement in the country music industry. The televised annual presentation ceremony features performances and award presentations by popular country music artists, with occasional appearances from pop and rock artists.

The three previous Oasis Music Awards shows were virtual all-star concerts in 2000, 2001 and 2002 with The Rippingtons, Rick Braun, Jeff Lorber, Richard Elliot, Peter White, Boney James, Kirk Whalum, Herb Alpert, Dave Koz, Al Jarreau, Bob James, Keiko Matsui, Brenda Russell, David Benoit, Euge Groove, Brian Culbertson, Marc Antoine, Steve Cole, Joyce Cooling, the late Wayman Tisdale, and more, all performing.

The Rippingtons are an American contemporary jazz group mainly relating to the genres smooth jazz, jazz fusion, jazz pop, and crossover jazz. Formed in 1985 by guitarist and band leader Russ Freeman, their career has spanned three decades. With a revolving door of musicians, Freeman has been the only consistent member.

Rick Braun is a smooth jazz trumpeter, vocalist and record producer.

Jeff Lorber American keyboardist, composer, and record producer

Jeffrey H. Lorber is an American keyboardist, composer, and record producer. After six previous nominations, Lorber won his first Grammy Award on Jan. 28, 2018 for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Prototype by his band The Jeff Lorber Fusion.

The 2011 Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards Show was to be held in San Diego, California over the weekend of March 10–13, 2011. Larry Seacat and Bill Paddock were producing the show. The show was cancelled.

History

The Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards were conceived in 1999 by radio executive Rick Parrish, and created by Parrish, Bill Paddock, and concert promoter Jerry Thompson. They were first announced at the June 1999 Radio and Records Convention in Los Angeles. The name “Oasis Awards” was chosen because it is the single most common name associated with the format. The first show was held January 28, 2000, at Bass Hall in Ft Worth, Texas. Originally, the awards were called the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards.

2000 show

Saxophonist Dave Koz hosted the “First Annual” Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards Show. Jeff Lorber served as Music Director and put together the back-up band of mostly session players who would support all performances at the show. Performers and Presenters included: Dave Koz, David Benoit, Wayman Tisdale, Herb Alpert, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Jeff Lorber, and Grady Nichols, among others. TV personality Cameron Smith assisted Dave Koz in the hosting. The awards portion of the show was an alternating of performances and award presentations. Note: Grover Washington, Jr, was to be part of the show but he died of a heart attack at the CBS Studios in New York City on December 16, just six weeks before the show. Several performers played together in tribute. A panel of industry experts chose the seven nominees in each category. Voting on the nominees was then done online by the public. The various smooth jazz radio stations and artists promoted the voting process nationally.

CBS is an American English language commercial broadcast television and radio network that is a flagship property of CBS Corporation. The company is headquartered at the CBS Building in New York City with major production facilities and operations in New York City and Los Angeles.

The City of New York, usually called either New York City (NYC) or simply New York (NY), is the most populous city in the United States. With an estimated 2018 population of 8,398,748 distributed over a land area of about 302.6 square miles (784 km²), New York is also the most densely populated major city in the United States. Located at the southern tip of the state of New York, the city is the center of the New York metropolitan area, the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban landmass and one of the world's most populous megacities, with an estimated 19,979,477 people in its 2018 Metropolitan Statistical Area and 22,679,948 residents in its Combined Statistical Area. A global power city, New York City has been described as the cultural, financial, and media capital of the world, and exerts a significant impact upon commerce, entertainment, research, technology, education, politics, tourism, art, fashion, and sports. The city's fast pace has inspired the term New York minute. Home to the headquarters of the United Nations, New York is an important center for international diplomacy.

2001 show

The 2001 show was moved to The Chicago Theater in Chicago. The theater was sold out, 3,500 seats, three weeks in advance. The show was Saturday, March 3. Performers and presenters included Dave Koz, Keiko Matsui (who flew in from Tokyo), Bob James, Bona Fide, Jeff Golub, Brian Culbertson, Paul Taylor, Euge Groove, Marion Meadows, Chuck Loeb, Larry Carlton, Jeff Kashiwa, Joseph Quevedo, Steve Cole, Peter White, and Brenda Russell. Again, Dave Koz and Jeff Lorber served as Host and Musical Director, respectively. The show was videotaped for BET and BET On Jazz networks. Their national sponsor was Heineken. Michael Fagien, publisher of JAZZIZ magazine, was Chairman of the Advisory Committee.

Chicago, officially the City of Chicago, is the most populous city in Illinois, as well as the third most populous city in the United States. With an estimated population of 2,705,994 (2018), it is the most populous city in the Midwest. Chicago is the principal city of the Chicago metropolitan area, often referred to as Chicagoland, and the county seat of Cook County, the second most populous county in the United States. The metropolitan area, at nearly 10 million people, is the third-largest in the United States.

Heineken Lager Beer, or simply Heineken is a pale lager beer with 5% alcohol by volume produced by the Dutch brewing company Heineken International. Heineken is well known for its signature green bottle and red star.

2002 show

After the 2001 show, Paddock and Thompson sold their interests to Parrish and his brother. The Parrishes then moved the show to the Golden Hall Theater in San Diego. The date of the third show was March 2, 2002. A KIFM/San Diego radio personality, Lenny B, served as Executive Producer. Dave Koz and Brenda Russell co-hosted. Al Jarreau, Brian Culbertson, Rick Braun, Keiko Matsui, Peter White, Kirk Whalum, Boney James, Fattburger, Wayman Tisdale, Gabriela Anders, Boz Scaggs and Craig Chaquico were among the performers and presenters. The show was again taped for BET and BET On Jazz networks. This year for the first time ever, the show was broadcast nationally on all participating smooth jazz radio stations. About 3,400 attended the San Diego event.

2003 show

After the 2002 show, the Parrishes sold to ShoCorp, a division of SCI Event Group, in Los Angeles. ShoCorp announced that the 2003 show (4th Annual National Smooth Jazz Awards) would be presented June 18, 2003 at the Wiltern Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Scheduled to perform were Al Jarreau, Dave Koz, Gerald Albright, Euge Groove, Freddie Ravel, David Benoit, Jeff Lorber, Peter White, Richard Elliot, Jeff Golub, Rick Braun, Steve Cole and Norman Brown.

Another announcement came from ShopCorp on April 21, 2003 – The 4th annual National Smooth Jazz Awards ceremony scheduled for June 18 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles has been cancelled. The actual awards for this year will be given out but without the ceremony. Tim Goodwin President/Executive Producer of ShoCorp's who was to handle the event says, "Due to our current world climate, several of the valuable participants in this endeavor are apprehensive about rising to the commitment level that is required to make this event a success." Carol Archer of R&R magazine says nominations are currently being tabulated by the magazine and will be announced tomorrow with voting to commence immediately after. Voting will end one week prior to the June 18 awards announcement. Goodwin says he plans to put a ceremony together for next year's awards. Subsequently, winners were announced although there was no ceremony or show. This was the last public announcement from ShoCorp. Show tickets never went on sale.

2011 Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards

The 2011 Awards Weekend (March 10–13, 2011 in San Diego, CA) had scheduled shows at the Balboa Theater on Thursday, March 10 and the Awards Show at the San Diego Civic Theater on Saturday, March 12. Promoter Bill Paddock cancelled the show just days prior to the events citing lack of ticket sales due to both poor planning and lack of experience by his organization.

Compilation CDs

Two compilation cds, Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards Collection, Volumes 1 and 2 have been released by Native Language Records.

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References

External links

Smooth Jazz Network

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