Michael Bublé, Sophie Milman, Jesse Cook, Four80East, Darren Rahn and Alexander Zonjic are among nominees for the sixth annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards just announced. Both Canadian and international artists who have contributed to the success of the smooth jazz format in Canada are recognized each year. The 2010 awards show, honoring music and musicians in 2009, takes place April 23 in Mississauga, Ontario.

Nominated in the international instrumental category are saxophonists Euge Groove, Jessy J and Boney James, trumpeter Rick Braun and guitarists George Benson and Peter White. Benson, Spencer Day, Will Downing, Melody Gardot, Norah Jones and Vanessa Williams are nominated fo international vocalist. And international group/duo of the year nominees are Marc Antoine and Paul Brown, Greg Adams’ East Bay Soul, Pieces of a Dream, the Rippingstons and the Sax Pack (Jeff Kashiwa, Kim Waters, Steve Cole).

Among nominees who were born, raised or live in Canada are Buble for male vocalist and Millman for female vocalist. Among other nominees are Jesse Cook for guitarist, Darren Rahn and Alexander Zonic for wind instrumentalist, Four80East’s Rob DeBoer for keyboardist and Four80East’s Tony Grace for drummer/percussionist,

Album of the year nominees are Jesse Cook for Rumba Foundation, Four80East for Roll On, Darren Rahn for Talk of the Town, Alexander Zonjic for Doin’ the D, and the Groove Kings for Blood Red. Four80East, nominated for group/duo, was also nominated for best original composition for “Roll On.”

Among those performing at the event in April will be Adams, Antoine, Brown, Rahn, Zonjic, Jessy J and Four80East.

For a complete list of nominees and to take part in the voting process, you can visit the CSJA website at canadiansmoothjazzawards.com.