Golden Ear Awards Presentation

Award recipients Chris Icasiano, Dave Peck, Paul Toliver, Reggie Goings, Greta Matassa, Jovino Santos Neto, Andy Coe, Johnny Conga, after the award ceremony. Photo by Daniel Sheehan.

The 2012 Golden Ear Awards, celebrating the contributions and achievements in Seattle jazz, were presented at Tula’s on March 20. Thomas Marriott’s Flexicon – Rick Mandyck on piano, Paul Gabrielson on bass, John Bishop on drums – opened the evening, and jazz radio broadcaster Jim Wilke emceed the award ceremony at set break. Marriott invited award nominees and recipients to sit-in for the second set.

Hall of Fame inductee pianist Dave Peck led Flexicon into that second set with “Green Dolphin Street.” Vocalist Reggie Goings led “Round Midnight.” Later: bassist Clipper Anderson, vocalist Greta Matassa and drummer Chris Icasiano, then trumpeter Steve O’Brien, sat in. 

During the awards ceremony: Washington Middle School Director of Bands Kelly Barr Clingan accepted a Hall of Fame award for trombonist and Roosevelt HS Director of Bands Scott Brown, with an anecdotal speech about his mentorship to her and many students. Chris Icasiano accepted the award for Concert of the Year, on behalf of the Cafe Racer community, recalling for the crowd the tragedy there last year, the fundraising efforts for families of the victims fatally shot, and the recovery of the cafe. Hall of Famer Dave Peck accepted his award with his own coming-of-age tale on the bandstand with Floyd Standifer, and others, and by a heartfelt thanks to his wife Jane Peck. 

Each year, the Golden Ear awards give jazz fans an opportunity to vote for the outstanding musicians, community members and events of the previous year. A call for nominations goes out in January, with a public ballot then distributed by the Earshot Jazz website and publication. Voting this year ranged from 650 to 950 votes per category.