::: PRESS RELEASE :::
Popular jazz history web site announces competition for high school writers
2005-10-10 – Portland, OR – Jerry Jazz Musician, a Portland,
Oregon-based web company whose on-line magazine is among the most widely
read publications devoted to jazz and the counter-culture of mid-twentieth
century America, announces a competition that presents aspiring young writers
with the opportunity to become their next "Accent on Youth" columnist. The
competition will be judged by Mr. Gary Giddins, the country's most eminent
jazz critic whose collection of jazz writings, Visions of Jazz: The First
Century was the winner of the 1998 National Book Critics Circle Award,
and Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist, actress, and recording artist Ms.
Dee Dee Bridgewater.
The "Accent on Youth" column began in 2003, when a Dallas, Texas-area student,
"Bunny M," wrote about her passion for jazz and the challenges she faces
as a youthful fan of it. "Accent on Youth" became an Internet address where
readers could witness the emergence of a bright young talent dedicated to
communicating her perspectives on and appreciation for an essential American
art form.
"Getting to know Bunny and working with her has been a great source of joy
and pride," Jerry Jazz Musician publisher Joe Maita writes. "While
the publication of her work has been gratifying and helped attract new readers
to Jerry Jazz Musician, the most rewarding aspect has been in witnessing
Bunny's persona emerge and her writing mature. I am fascinated by the sincerity
of her interests, and grateful for her devotion to the column."
For Bunny M., the column offered her invaluable creative and growth
opportunities. "Being able to write my own column for Jerry Jazz
Musician, and getting to know so many wonderful, interesting people as
I have the past two years has been an experience of great joy and learning.
My knowledge and love of music has grown exponentially as a result of all
the research, listening, collaboration, and cultural observation that has
gone into this creative process… Mr. Maita’s direction and unflagging
support and encouragement have been a valuable aid in my growth as a writer
in particular, and a person in general, and I am honored to have worked and
exchanged ideas with him."
The competition to replace Bunny M. as "Accent on Youth" columnist is open
to 14 – 17 year olds from all over the world. Entrants will write an
approximately five hundred word essay addressing this premise: "Your best
friend ‘Jerry’ knows nothing about jazz music, and has just sent
an email asking that you write him back and tell him what you like about
it. He also asks that you tell him who your favorite historic or contemporary
jazz artist is, why you like that particular artist (or group) so much, and
which recordings you would recommend." Entries are sent via email to
jm@jerryjazz.com. Deadline date is February 15, 2006.
With written parental permission, all essays entered will appear on the
Jerry Jazz Musician web site. Every essay will be read by the staff
of Jerry Jazz Musician. Mr. Giddins and Ms. Bridgewater will join
Mr. Maita in choosing the winning entry from among the five finalists, to
be announced by April 1, 2006. All entrants will receive an email announcement
at this time.
"It is our goal to provide a space for an endeavoring, impassioned writer
to share his or her interests in jazz music with Jerry Jazz Musician's
growing audience, which averages over 70,000 unique visitors every month
– twice what it was this time last year. It is a great opportunity for
young and aspiring writers, musicians, fans of jazz and American history.
Participants will involve themselves in a potentially significant literary
event that can offer the winner a worthwhile life experience. Additionally, with the publication of the winner's sixth column, Jerry Jazz Musician will donate $250 to the band or arts program of the educational institution the writer attends," Maita said.
Among many distinctions, Jerry Jazz Musician has twice been named
"Associate of the Month" by Amazon.com, chosen from among hundreds of thousands
of associate sites, as well as "Web Site of the Month" by the National Public
Radio jazz web site. In publication since 1998, its guests have included
numerous award winning journalists, biographers and historians; among them
Gary Giddins, Terry Teachout, Dan Morgenstern, Douglas Brinkley, Kevin Boyle,
John Leland, Whitney Balliett, Nat Hentoff, Stanley Crouch, Gerald Early,
Martha Bayles, David Maraniss, Diane McWhorter, Albert Murray, Ben Ratliff,
Ishmael Reed, Scott Simon, and Geoffrey Ward.
For more information, visit
www.jerryjazz.com, or contact
Mr. Joe Maita at 503 287 5570, or via email at jm@jerryjazz.com. The "Accent
on Youth" column can be found on the web at
http://www.jerryjazzmusician.com/mainHTML.cfm?page=bunny.html.
|
