New York: SESAC honored its affiliated composers in the jazz genre with the Sixth Annual Jazz Awards Luncheon. The event, held at New York’s popular Red Eye Grill, honored the Top 10 jazz albums of 2009.

SESAC executives Trevor Gale and Linda Lorence Critelli hosted the luncheon which drew an audience of some of the genre’s top artists, songwriters and publishers for the festive event.

"We look forward to this event each year as our way of thanking and acknowledging the incredible talent of our Jazz affiliates,” said Critelli. "The music these musicians create is masterful and an essential part of the American fabric. SESAC is honored to be associated with such gifted artists.”

Established in 1930, SESAC is a service organization created to serve both the creators of music and music users through responsive and innovative music licensing and timely, efficient royalty collection and distribution. The second oldest and fastest growing performing rights organization in the U.S., SESAC is known for its diversified repertory that includes genres including Jazz, Pop, Adult Contemporary, Urban, Rock, Americana, Contemporary Christian, Latin, Country, Gospel, Dance, Classical and New Age. SESAC is also rapidly becoming the contemporary rights organization of choice among many of Hollywood’s most sought-after film and television composers. Headquartered in Nashville, the company also has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami and London.

2009 Jazz Award Recipients
Songwriter: Gene Ess
Album: Modes Of Limited Transcendence
Publisher: SIMP Music

Songwriter: Walter Beasley
Album: Free Your Mind
Publisher: Affable Publishing

Songwriter: Tom Harrell
Album: Prana Dance
Publisher: Tom Harrell Music

Songwriter: Cecil Brooks III
For the musical contribution to the album
Blues Citizens
Recorded by Radam Schwartz
Publisher: B3 Music

Songwriter: Radam Schwartz
Album: Blues Citizens
Publisher: B3 Music

Songwriter: Derrick Gardner
Album: Echoes of Ethnicity
Recorded by Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets
Publisher: Impact Jazz

Songwriter: Robert Glasper
Album: Double Booked
Publisher: I Am A Jazzy Guy Music

Songwriter: Vijay Iyer
Album: Historicity
Publisher: Multiplicity Music

Songwriter: Ben Allison
Album: Think Free
Publisher: Sonic Camera

Songwriter: Lynne Arriale
Album: Nuance: The Bennett Studio Sessions
Publisher: Arriale Publishing

Songwriter: Stefon Harris
Album: Urbanus
Recorded by Stefon Harris & Blackout
Publisher: Stefonaphone Music

Songwriter: Daniel Sadownick
Album: There Will Be A Day
Publisher: NasDan Music

Songwriter: Lauren Sevian
Album: Blueprint
Publisher: Lasevia Music