May 23, 2008

By By Gail Mitchell, L.A.

Tied at three nominations each, Herbie Hancock and Michael Bubl? top the list of nominees for the first annual International Jazz Awards.

The ceremony is set for Sunday, June 29, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Comedian D.L. Hughley has been tapped as host. In addition to the awards, the ceremony will include musical tributes to Lena Horne, Count Basie, Clint Eastwood, George and Ira Gershwin and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Nicknamed ?The Louie? (in honor of the 16th note turned upside down), the award statuette will be presented to honorees in 24 categories encompassing contemporary/smooth jazz, traditional, swing, Latin, Brazilian/Afro-Cuban, fusion and Dixieland.

The nominees were selected by a 200-person committee comprised of jazz critics and writers, nightclub owners, record retailers, concert promoters and radio programmers and personalities.

The International Jazz Awards is executive-produced by its creator, Tamar Entertainment?s Kitty Sears, and Tony Eaton of Tall Pony Productions. Louis Horvitz will direct. The show is also being taped for television broadcast, details of which will be announced in the near future.

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