IWJ Awards

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN IN JAZZ
WOMEN IN JAZZ FESTIVALS

International Women in Jazz Awards

Jazz Masters Award
Trailblazers Award
Youth-in-Action Award
Impact Award
Man of the Year Award
Legacy Award
Honoring the Lives and Work of Harlem’s Great Dancing Ladies
Mother of Magnificence Award

Performers and Awardees

2023

Headliner: Cynthia Scott
Keisha St. Joan * Mimi Block
Youth in Action: Eva De La Rosa-Nemer

2020

Festival cancelled due to Covid pandemic

2018

Headliner: Charenee Wade
Debbie Goodridge * Hyuna Park
Honoree: Dotti Anita Taylor
Youth in Action: Kameelah Harper

2017

Headliner: Becky Kilgore and Niki Parrott
Ghanniyya Green * SIJ Trio
Honoree: Dorthaan Kirk
Youth in Action: Leonieke Scheuble

2016

Headliner: Grace Kelly
Monica Meaux Hope * Lessie Vonner
Honoree: Mercedes Ellington
Youth in Action: Wè McDonald

2015

Headliner: DIVA Jazz Orchestra
Tina Fabrique * Greta Marie Herron 
Honoree: Gwen Kelley
Youth in Action: Gabrielle Garo

2014

Pre-Mother’s Day Concert
Headliner: Kit McClure Band
Alexis Cole * Charisa Rouse * Yael Acher aka “Kat Modiano
Honoree:
Youth in Action: Natasha Scheuble

2013

Headliner: Melba Joyce
Patsy Grant * LeAngela Bell * Brandee Younger
Honorees
Sheila Anderson * Lil Phillips
Youth in Action: Leonieke Scheuble

2012

Headliner: Bobby Humphrey
Honorees
Bertha Hope * Sheila Jordan
Youth in Action: Brittany Lynn Edwards * Zoe Obadia

2011

Headliner: Antoinette Montague
Andre Wolper Trio * Taeko * Lil Philips
Honorees
Paul Ash * Rhonda Hamilton * Remembering Trudy Pitts
Youth-In-Action: Annmarie Errico * Rachel Rodgers

2010

Headliners: Karrin Allyson * Toshiko Akiyoshi
Karen Rodriguez * Jan Leder
Honorees
Robin Bell-Stevens * Emme Kemp * Mary Lou Williams
Youth In Action: The DeBerry Quintet * Tyler Holloway

2010

Barnes & Noble Lincoln Triangle Event
Kate Cosco * Cynthia Holiday * Pauline Jean * Mimi Jones

2009

Headliner: Annie Ross
Remembering Etta Jones
Youth in Jazz Award: Camille Thurman

2008

Headliner: Sarah McLawler * Marion McPartland * Carline Ray

2006

10/6/06
Tribute to Cobi Narita, founder and President of IWJ

2001

3/25/01
Lifetime Achievement Award (“A Living Legend”)
Nancy Wilson and Vi Redd
IWJ Jazz Masters Award
Jane Ira Bloom
IWJ Trailblazer Award
Nnenna Freelon
IWJ Youth-in-Jazz Award
Katty Rodriguez, Meryl Zimmerman and Vanessa Azzarelli
IWJ Impact Award
Nick Mathis
IWJ Man of the Year Award
Dr. Billy Taylor
IWJ Legacy Award
Lil Hardin

1999

12/19/99
IWJ Lifetime Achievement Award (“A Living Legend”)
Ruth Brown
IWJ Jazz Masters Award
Maria Schneider
IWJ Trailblazer Award
Mickey Davidson
IWJ Youth-in-Jazz Awards
Lily Dremeaux and Allison Mondesir
IWJ Impact Award – Supporting Arts & Professionals
Cobi Narita
IWJ Impact Award – Posthumous
Marie St. Louis
IWJ Man of the Year Award
Barry Harris
IWJ Legacy Award
Mary Lou Williams

1998

6/28/98 – 1st IWJ Jazz Masters Award
Dee Dee Bridgewater
6/28/98 – 1st IWJ Trailblazers Award
Geri Allen, Cindy Blackman, Regina Carter, Fostina Dixon and Cecilia Smith
6/28/98 – 1st IWJ Youth-in-Jazz Award
Charenee Paulette Wade

1997

4/20/97 – Honoring the Lives and Works of Harlem’s Great Dancing Ladies
Norma Miller, Harriet “Quicksand” Browne and Marion Coles
12/14/97 – IWJ Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Award (“A Living Legend”)
Joya Sherrill, Annie Ross and Laurel Wilson

1996

3/31/96 – 1ST IWJ Lifetime Achievement Award (“A Living Legend”)
Betty Carter, Chris Connor, Dorothy Donegan, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Shirley Horn, 

Jane Jarvis, Etta Jones, Peggy Lee,
Abbey Lincoln, Melba Liston, Sarah McLawler, Marion McPartland, Anita O’Day, Carline Ray and Dakota Staton
4/28/96 – 1st Mother of Magnificence Award
Elvira “Baby Sanchez” Davis, Cissy Houston and Yvette Glover
9/29/96 – 1st Man of the Year Award
Frank Owens
12/8/96 – IWJ Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Award (“A Living Legend”)
Toshiko Akiyoshi, Patti Bown, Joanne Brackeen, Valerie Capers, Della Griffin, Bertha Hope, Emme Kemp, Gloria Lynne,
Helen Merrill, Trudy Pitts, Irene Reid and Teri Thornton