BB KING - SONNY ROLLINS TAKES TOP JAZZ AWARD

Saxophonist SONNY ROLLINS picked up the top awards at the 10th annual Jazz Awards on Monday (19JUN06). The 75-year-old took the Musician Of The Year and Tenor Saxophonist Of The Year after releasing his first live recording in 20 years, the Grammy Award winning WITHOUT A SONG: THE 9/11 CONCERT. Other winners at the ceremony at BB KING's Blues Club and Grill in New York include: Album Of The Year - THELONIOUS MONK QUARTET WITH JOHN COLTRANE AT CARNEGIE HALL Lifetime Achievement In Jazz - ROY HAYNES Drummer Of The year - PAUL MOTIAN Percussionist Of The Year - RAY BARRETTO (posthumous) Latin Jazz Album Of The Year - BEBO VALDES, BEBO DE CUBA Top Large Ensemble - GERALD WILSON Top Small Ensemble - WAYNE SHORTER Composer Of The Year - ANDREW HILL Arranger Of The Year - MARIA SCHNEIDER Male Singer Of The Year - KURT ELLING Female Singer Of The Year - DIANNE REEVES Trumpeter Of The Year - DAVE DOUGLAS Alto Saxophonist Of The Year - PHIL WOODS Soprano Saxophonist - JANE IRA BLOOM Clarinettist Of The Year - PAQUITO D'RIVERA Pianist Of The Year - BILL CHARLAP Guitarist Of The Year - JIM HALL Acoustic Bassist Of The Year - RON CARTER Electric Bassist Of The Year - CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE Strings Player Of The Year - REGINA CARTER.