The Rutgers University Libraries congratulate Tad Hershorn, archivist at the Institute of Jazz Studies (IJS), whose recent book "Norman Granz: The Man Who Used Jazz for Justice" won the Best Book of the Year award from the Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) in June.

Hershorn's book outlines how Granz was a legendary figure in the jazz world who founded the Jazz at the Philharmonic concert series and the Verve record label; helped introduce live recordings and worldwide jazz concert tours; and served as manager and recording producer for top-flight stars such Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson. Granz was also a passionate advocate for racial equality, who insisted that the African-American jazz artists he represented be accorded full respect and equal treatment wherever they performed.

JJA President Howard Mandel commended Hershorn on receiving the Best Book of the Year Award. "Tad has written an important book, about an important person," said Mandel. "The music Norman Granz recorded continues to be a major influence on jazz and American culture, and he was a tireless advocate for social justice. Those are accomplishments and attributes jazz journalists admire. Norman has now gotten the attention he deserves -- Tad's book is expertly written, a vivid account of an important figure in jazz and a fascinating historical period."

JJA promotes the interests of writers, photographers, broadcasters and new media professionals covering jazz. The JJA supports the creation and dissemination of accurate, balanced, ethical and informative journalism on all of jazz’s genres; the growth, development and education of the jazz audience and the dissemination of information pertaining to jazz to the general public, by providing forums for the discussion of jazz-related issues and events, fostering the development of journalistic and presentation skills among new journalists and the continuing development of such skills in journalists already engaged in the field.

The JJA presents all its awards as an assertion that informed, professional, independent coverage of jazz across genre is vital to the preservation and promotion of contemporary music, for new and established audiences alike.

For more information on the JJA Jazz Awards, please see: http://www.jjajazzawards.org