Motema’s Own KJ Denhert, Oran Etkin, Geri Allen, and Tomoko Sugawara have received nominations for The 10th Independent Music Awards (The IMAs), the influential awards program for independent bands and fans. KJ Denhert is up for two awards: Best Adult Contemporary Album and Best Sing Out For Social Action Song for Album No. 9, and the track Choose Your Weapon respectively. Etkin’s Wake Up, Clarinet! is nominated for Best Children’s Music Album, Allen’s Geri Allen and Timeline Live for Live Performance Album, and Tomoko Sugawara’s Along The Silk Road for Best World Traditional Album. 

The nominations recognize Motema Music’s diverse roster of artists in the realm of jazz, world, classical and children’s music. KJ Denhert, the self described “urban folk and jazz artist,” has now received a total of six IMA nominations, winning Best Live Performance Album in 2006 for her fifth recording “Another Year Gone By.”  Denhert’s latest release Album No. 9 is a collection of jazz, pop and rock covers and original songs that paint a bold portrait of KJ as an artist fully realized. Album No. 9 embodies all of the inspiring qualities of the number nine, emphasizing creativity, compassion and perseverance despite life’s obstacles.

This year also marks clarinetist Oran Etkin’s second IMA nomination, previously taking home the award for Best World Beat Album for his 2009 Motema debut, Kelenia.  To date, Etkin has received a number of accolades for his popular children’s album Wake Up, Clarinet! including a NAPPA, Parent’s Choice, and an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal award. Wake Up Clarinet! is the first family release for Etkin, who was a featured performer on Putumayo Kids' award-winning compilation album Jazz Playground earlier this year. With Wake Up, Clarinet! Etkin turns the spotlight on his innovative Timbalooloo method for enriching the innate musicality of young children.  Etkin's method effortlessly conveys sophisticated concepts in a fun musical language that kids of all ages can understand.

Geri Allen & Timeline - Live, is the first "live" recording of Allen's twenty-year career, and celebrates dance and music together as one. Allen embraces the rhythmic grounding and, in fact, the very origins of syncopation through jazz in motion, with an extraordinary ensemble featuring tap percussionist Maurice Chestnut, bassist Kenny Davis, and drummer Kassa Overall. Geri Allen and Timeline Live has been heralded by critics and was recently nominated for Outstanding Jazz Album for the 42nd NAACP Image Awards.

Harpist Tomoko Sugawara plays a reconstruction of the ancient angular harp, or Kugo, dating back to 1900 BCE, on her Motema debut recording Along The Silk Road. This unique recording brings the enchanting music of this historically revered instrument to life once again for the world to hear. Playing songs both historic and contemporary, Sugawara gives new life to a once revered instrument.

Winners will be determined by a panel of 62 influential artist and industry judges including Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, Suzanne Vega, Aimee Mann, Pete Wentz, Bettye LaVette, Seal, Adam Duritz, Ozzy Osbourne, Arturo Sandoval, Martin Atkins, Andrew W. K., Shelby Lynne, Kevin Lyman (Warped Tour), Bill Bragin (Lincoln Center), Anthony DeCurtis (Rolling Stone), Pat McGuire (Filter Magazine) and Evan Schlansky (American Songwriter) and will be announced in mid-March 2011. Music fans have until July 11 to cast their votes at The IMA Vox Pop Jukebox to determine the fan-selected IMA Winners.

Roberta Donnay and her Prohibition Mob Band swing mightily on this exquisite collection