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W. Kim Heron: 2017 Detroit Jazz Hero

A quiet force for good.  A gifted and intuitive communicator.  A treasured member of Detroit’s creative community.  A jazz lover, enthusiast, scholar, and promoter.  All of these phrases describe W. Kim Heron, recipient of the 2017 Detroit Jazz Hero Award presented tonight at Cliff Bell’s Jazz Club by the Jazz Journalist’s Association (JJA).

The Jazz Heroes are advocates, altruists, activists, aiders, and abettors of jazz who have had significant impact in their local communities.  The Jazz Hero awards are made annually based on nominations from community members.  The Jazz Hero awards are presented by local fans and friends in conjunction with the JJA's annual national Jazz Awards honoring significant achievements in jazz music and journalism.  The award presentations also coincide with Jazz Appreciation Month every April.   For his commitment to improvised music in Detroit and perpetuating the Detroit jazz legacy, W. Kim Heron richly deserves the recognition.

Fellow Detroit jazz writerLarry Gabrielwrote a warm and appreciative synopsis of W. Kim Heron’s jazz career and dedication to music in the city:

 


W. Kim Heron spoke with Linda Yohn, presenter of tonight’s award at Cliff Bell’s Jazz Club.  The event is free and open to all jazz lovers.  The evening will begin at 8 PM with a performance by the Marcus Elliott quartet followed by the presentation.  Cliff Bell’s Jazz Club is located at 2030 Park Avenue in Detroit.  

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— Linda Yohn is the WEMU Music Director, and host of 89.1 Jazz. On twitter @LindaYohnor email her at studio@wemu.org

 

Linda Yohn simply cannot remember a day in her life that was not filled with music. Her early life was full of changes as the daughter of a well-respected cancer research scientist who moved his family about, but one thing was constant: the love of music instilled by her mother. So, when it seemed life was too hard to bear, young Linda would listen to her radio, play her guitar, dance her heart out and sing at the top of her lungs. So, it isn’t so strange that “older” Linda still does all those things!