THE CANADIAN SMOOTH JAZZ AWARDS

The top Canadian and international jazz artists were honored recently as the fifth annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards played to a packed house with saxophonist Warren Hill, whose album La Dolce Vita (the sweet life) swept the 2009 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. Aside from winning album of the year, Hill took home composition honors for the album's title tune, as well as the wind instrumentalist trophy (an award he previously won in 2006 and 2007). Jesse Cook, who was 2008's guitarist of the year, won for the guitarist/bass guitarist category, with Fred Engler for top keyboardist, and Steve Heathcote for best drummer.

Alexander Zonjic, a jazz and classical flutist and radio host, emceed the awards show. Other awards went to Brian Culbertson (International Instrumentalist of the Year), Seal (International Vocalist), Robin Thicke (Male Vocalist), Fourplay (International Group), Daniela Nardi (Female Vocalist), Jesse Cook (Guitarist/Bass Guitarist), Fred Engler (Keyboardist/Pianist), Steve Heathcote (Drummer/Percussionist) and Stu Berketo of Wave 94.7FM Toronto/Hamilton.

Performers included Nick Colionne, Brian Culbertson, DeNate with Darren Rahn, Kellylee Evans, Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, Warren Hill, Michael Lington, Ray Parker Jr., Chris Smith with Phil Poppa, and Alexander Zonjic.

Here is the full list of the 2009 Canadian Smooth Jazz Award winners:

- Male Vocalist of the Year - Robin Thicke
- Best Original Composition "La Dolce Vita" - Warren Hill, Nathan East, Sam Purkin
- Keyboardist/Pianist of the Year - Fred Engler
- Wind Instrumentalist of the Year - Warren Hill
- Female Vocalist of the Year - Daniela Nardi
- Guitarist/Bass Guitarist of the Year - Jesse Cook
- International Group of the Year - Fourplay
- Broadcaster of the Year Stu Berketo - Wave 94.7 - Toronto/Hamilton
- International Instrumentalist of the Year - Brian Culbertson
- International Vocalist of the Year - Seal
- Album of the Year La Dolce Vita - Warren Hill (E1Music Koch)
- Drummer/Percussionist of the Year - Steve Heathcote
- George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award - Earl Klugh