An array of international stars from around the world came together for last night’s Jazz FM Awards with OANDA, which took place via livestream from Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho. Presented by Marcus Brigstocke, the ceremony celebrated the breadth and diversity of the thriving global scene and saw awards presented to an array of artists from across the genre’s rich cultural landscape.
The evening’s two high profile Special Awards went to 14-time Grammy-winning jazz superstar Herbie Hancock – who celebrated turning 80 this year by picking up The PPL Lifetime Achievement Award – and multi-platinum-selling US singer Norah Jones, who was presented with The Impact Award.
Herbie Hancock:
“The UK has supported and kept jazz alive for so many years. Not just for its citizens, but globally. And people in distant lands, many fans from Asia, Africa and around the world have been able to enjoy great jazz in places like Ronnie Scott’s and other venues for many, many years.
It has all been a wonderful ride and continues with the younger generation of jazz musicians collaborating with me and I’m inspired by that. They think I’m inspiring them; they don’t realise they are inspiring me! But jazz is in a very healthy state. The pandemic is not going to stop that. It’s continuing beyond that. So I want to thank the Jazz FM Awards and Oanda for this wonderful honour. Thank you all so very, very much.”
A host of stars turned out to present awards – including the likes of Jamie Cullum, Hugh Laurie, Yolanda Brown, Robert Glasper, Clarke Peters, Alexander O’Neal and Tom Misch – and the ceremony once again shone a light on the thriving UK jazz scene with live performances from three of its most promising artists; Judi Jackson, Xhosa Cole and Yazz Ahmed. All three performers took home awards with Judi Jackson being crowned Vocalist Of The Year, Xhosa Cole Breakthrough Act Of The Year, and Yazz Ahmed was presented with both the coveted Album Of The Year and UK Jazz Act Of The Year.
Elsewhere, Earth Wind and Fire’s Philip Bailey was presented with Soul Act Of The Year, legendary US saxophonist Charles Lloyd picked up International Act Of The Year, Binker Golding was Instrumentalist Of The Year, The Innovation Award went to Jazz re:freshed and Venue Of The Year was won by The Vortex.
Nick Pitts, Content Director Jazz FM:
“That we were able to put an event like this together in such tumultuous times is a reflection of the excellent work of our team at Bauer but it also displays the strength and resilience of the jazz community as a whole and hopefully provides a much-needed boost to everyone who works within it. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here and congratulations to all of the worthy winners.”
Herbie Hancock amongst stars to be honoured at Jazz FM Awards 2020 with OANDAThe Jazz FM Awards 2020 with OANDA have announced today that legendary, 14-time Grammy-winning pianist Herbie Hancock is to be the recipient of this year’s PPL Lifetime Achievement Award. The news follows the recent announcement that Norah Jones will be presented with this year’s Impact Award.
Live streamed at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho on Tuesday October 27th, the awards will be hosted by UK comedian, actor and regular Jazz FM presenter Marcus Brigstocke.
Marcus Brigstocke:
“‘Music is life itself’ – Louis Armstrong. For me it’s been the route through these last few difficult months. So, the opportunity to celebrate the musicians who thrill and entertain us all is as good as it gets. I can’t wait to host The Jazz FM Awards with OANDA. Live from Ronnie’s too! This will be fun.”
Sarah Mitchell, Director of Membership and Communications at PPL:
“The Jazz FM Awards with OANDA hold an important place in the musical calendar, celebrating a genre rich with UK talent. This is especially true now as a new generation of jazz artists and musicians receive critical acclaim for their work. As well as recognising new talent, it also presents the opportunity to celebrate the contributions of those who have made jazz what it is today. Herbie Hancock is a deserved winner of this year’s PPL Lifetime Achievement Award after decades of innovation in the genre, and we are looking forward to presenting him with his award at this year’s ceremony.”
Having been postponed earlier this year due to coronavirus restrictions, The Jazz FM Awards 2020 with OANDA will now take place as a closed event at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho on October 27th and will be livestreamed on both the Jazz FM and Ronnie Scott’s Facebook pages alongside special dedicated programming on Jazz FM.
The Jazz FM Awards with OANDA is made possible with support from PRS for Music, PPL, Mishcon de Reya, Cambridge Audio, Arqiva, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Blue Orchid Hotels, Denbies and Saville Row Gin.
The Jazz FM Awards 2020 with OANDA – Tuesday 27th OctThe Jazz FM Awards 2020, which were postponed earlier this year due to coronavirus restrictions, will now take place at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho on October 27th. Also announced today is the recipient of this year’s Impact Award, one of the evening’s special awards, which will be presented to multi-million-selling singer and pianist Norah Jones, and the first ever Jazz FM Awards headline sponsor in the form of foreign exchange company OANDA.
The ceremony will adhere to all government guidelines and will be a closed event that will be livestreamed on both the Jazz FM and Ronnie Scott’s Facebook pages alongside special dedicated programming on Jazz FM.
Jazz FM’s Content Director Nick Pitts:
“There’s so much to say! Firstly, I’m so pleased that we are now in a position to move forward with a celebration of the ‘Jazz FM Awards 2020 with OANDA’. I’d also like to thank OANDA for showing their continued support and faith in our annual celebration and upgrading their support to headline sponsor.
Elsewhere, it’s been a tough few months for everyone in our community so a real moment to allow the brilliance to shine through is most welcome. Venues have of course also suffered terribly so to be able to partner with the world-famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club as our “base” for this year reminds people that live music is still there and vitally important. I thank Fred Nash and his team for loving the idea as much as us.
And finally… congrats to Norah Jones and her Impact Award. Norah has done so much to bring jazz music to the greater public and her 50 million record sales and 9 GRAMMYs® prove it. This year’s Jazz FM Awards with OANDA is shaping up to be not only rather unique, but also something incredibly special.”
Ronnie Scott’s General Manager Fred Nash:
“We felt that Ronnie’s was the perfect place to host the awards. The connection between Jazz FM and Ronnie’s is longstanding, and we hope this continues for many years.”
Since launching in 2013, The Jazz FM Awards with OANDA has become one of the most highly anticipated events in the music industry calendar, providing an opportunity to celebrate both emerging artists and established stars from across the genre’s increasingly vibrant and diverse community. Previous recipients include the likes of Quincy Jones, George Benson, Dame Cleo Laine, The Rolling Stones, Gregory Porter, Don Was, Hugh Masekela, Shabaka Hutchings, Nubya Garcia, Esperanza Spalding, Laura Mvula and Georgie Fame.
Amongst the nominees this year are legendary US saxophonist Charles Lloyd, iconic soul singer and Earth Wind & Fire founding member Philip Bailey, Brit Award Rising Star winner Celeste, four-time Grammy-winning Jacob Collier, genre-bending Anderson .Paak and the Mercury-nominated drummer Moses Boyd. The PPL Lifetime Achievement Award and Gold Award recipients will be announced in due course.
The Jazz FM Awards with OANDA is made possible with support from PRS for Music, PPL, Mishcon de Reya, Cambridge Audio, Arqiva, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Blue Orchid Hotels, Denbies and Saville Row Gin.
Jazz FM Awards Postponed To Autumn 2020The Jazz FM Awards ceremony, originally scheduled to take place at Shoreditch Town Hall next month, has been postponed until the autumn. The event is one of the most prestigious in the UK jazz calendar and celebrates the very best of the global jazz, soul and blues scenes. This year’s nominees include Charles Lloyd, Branford Marsalis, Jacob Collier, Celeste, Philip Bailey, Moses Boyd, Joe Armon-Jones, Keb’ Mo’ and Jazzmeia Horn amongst many others.
Jazz FM Content Director Nick Pitts:
“Having consulted with the wider Jazz FM Awards team and our sponsors, we have made this tough but correct decision to postpone the ceremony slated for 27th May at the Shoreditch Town Hall. We wish this were not the case but it would be irresponsible to not put the safety of all our guests, performers, staff, sponsors and partners above all else. We’ll be moving the event to later in the year, when we and the jazz community are able to safely gather in one space to hand out the Awards and celebrate in the usual style.
I would like to take this moment to thank our key partners and sponsors – Serious, PPL, PRS for Music, Mishcon de Reya, Arqiva, Cambridge Audio, British Airways, Oanda and Shoreditch Town Hall – for agreeing to continue to support the Jazz FM Awards over this longer period of time, and the Awards team and I are looking forward to creating a new event later in the year to celebrate all that is good about jazz, soul and blues when it is safe to do so.”
The Jazz FM Awards is made possible with support from PRS for Music, PPL, Mishcon de Reya, Cambridge Audio, Arqiva, Oanda, British Airways, Shoreditch Town Hall, Yamaha UK, Blue Orchid Hotels and Saville Row Gin.
Nominations Announced for Jazz FM Awards 2020The nominations for the Jazz FM Awards 2020, produced by Serious, have been announced today, recognising the best emerging new artists, contemporary icons and established stars from across the worlds of jazz, soul and blues. More than ever, this year’s shortlist reflects the genre’s rude health and the melting pot of sounds and influences which make up its rich multicultural history.
Represented this year are the likes of legendary US saxophonist Charles Lloyd, iconic soul singer and Earth Wind & Fire founding member Philip Bailey, saxophonist and bandleader Branford Marsalis, powerhouse jazz vocalist Jazzmeia Horn, and blues singer-songwriter Keb’ Mo’.
Four-time Grammy-winning Jacob Collier, Mercury-nominated SEED Ensemble, Brit Award Rising Star winner Celeste, and Moses Boyd, Joe Armon-Jones, Yazz Ahmed, Binker Golding, Xhosa Cole and Ashley Henry are amongst the British artists nominated, showcasing the exceptional musical diversity and talent bursting from the UK scene right now.
The night will feature an array of world-class performances and a host of special guests.
Once again, the PPL Lifetime Achievement Award, Gold Award and Impact Award recipients will be announced ahead of the ceremony. Music greats such as George Benson, Dame Cleo Laine, Quincy Jones, Gregory Porter, Don Was & Blue Note Records and the late Hugh Masekela have received these special awards in previous years.
A new category Venue of The Year launches this year with Church of Sound, Love Supreme Festival and Manchester’s Band On The Wall amongst those in contention, which in addition to Album Of The Year and the PRS For Music UK Jazz Act Of The Year will be decided by public vote.
Andrea C. Martin, CEO, PRS for Music, said: “I am delighted that we are once again supporting the Jazz FM Awards, celebrating the brightest stars in the jazz, soul and blues community. The UK Jazz Act of the Year award is always hotly contested and we’re looking forward to seeing who the public vote as the winner. Congratulations to everyone nominated across all the awards, your creativity, innovation and vision continues to inspire us.”
The Jazz FM Awards is made possible with support from PRS for Music, PPL, Mishcon de Reya, Cambridge Audio, Arqiva, Oanda, British Airways, Shoreditch Town Hall, Yamaha UK, Blue Orchid Hotels and Saville Row Gin.
Jazz FM Awards 2020 AnnouncedThe Jazz FM Awards will return in 2020 for its 7th edition, at Shoreditch Town Hall in London on Wednesday 27th May.
Established in 2013, the Jazz FM Awards produced by Serious, has built a global reputation as one of the most prestigious nights in the international jazz calendar, celebrating the diverse range of talent on offer across the worlds of jazz, soul and blues from the best emerging new artists, classic jazz icons and established stars.
Throughout its history, the event has recognised an array of legendary music figures including Quincy Jones, The Rolling Stones, George Benson, Dame Cleo Laine, Don Was & Blue Note Records, Ahmad Jamal, Ramsey Lewis and Hugh Masekela, as well as shining a light on up-and-coming stars and the younger generation, with the likes of Jacob Collier, Shabaka Hutchings, Nubya Garcia, Steam Down, Cassie Kinoshi, Zara McFarlane, Moses Boyd and Binker Golding all receiving awards in recent years.
Nominations for the event and recipients of the Special Award categories will be announced very soon.
Highlights from the Jazz FM Awards 2019 can be found here:
https://www.jazzfmawards.com/ceremonies/2019/
Nick Pitts, Content Director of Jazz FM said:
“It’s fantastic that the Jazz FM Awards is back in our 30th anniversary year to celebrate the world’s greatest musicians, artists and venues from the past 12 months. We’re delighted to once again be working with our friends at Serious to create this monumental event. We aim to build on previous years’ successes and really shine a light on this creative and innovative world with an evening of live music and pin-drop moments.”
The Jazz FM Awards is made possible with support from PRS for Music, PPL, Shoreditch Town Hall, Mishcon de Reya, Lateralize, Cambridge Audio, Arqiva and Oanda.
Don Was, Blue Note Records, Ringo Starr, Beverley Knight, Jacob Collier, Quincy Jones, Sons of Kemet, Simon Mayo, Makaya McCraven, BBC’s Dead Ringers, Steve Levine, Swing Out Sister, and Nubya Garcia were among the music and entertainment industry figures who featured in this evening’s Jazz FM Awards 2019 – the most prestigious event in the UK jazz calendar.
Hosted by Chris Philips and Jez Nelson, and coinciding with UNESCO’S International Jazz Day, the ceremony took place at Shoreditch Town Hall in East London, honouring a diverse list of artists ranging from elder jazz statesmen through to the next generation vanguards. Don Was and Blue Note Records collected the prestigious PPL Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising the label’s supreme contribution to jazz history for the past eight decades. Ringo Starr was on hand to congratulate his good friend and collaborator: “Good evening everybody, just wanted to say a few words on behalf of Don Was for the Jazz FM Awards… Congratulations, I’m sure you’ve all having a great night. Peace and love – you deserve it, love you Don!”
24-year-old prodigious multi-instrumentalist and 2-time Grammy-winner Jacob Collier received the PRS For Music Gold Award. Presented with the honour by radio personality Simon Mayo, Collier’s manager Quincy Jones also sent in a special message saying: “My dear brother Jacob Collier, it is such an honour to have you as a member of our QJP [Quincy Jones Productions] family, and I couldn’t be prouder of all that you’ve accomplished at your age brother. I have socks older than you! It has been an absolutely beautiful journey to witness your growth over the past few years, and the only direction you can go from here is up… Sending my big love and props for being awarded with the Jazz FM Gold Award… Keep on kicking on brother, YOLO!”
The night was filled with memorable moments, including an emotional tribute to the late Aretha Franklin from Beverley Knight, who brought the house down with her powerful version of “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman”. The public voted Nubya Garcia as the UK Jazz Act of the Year nodding to her meteoric rise over the past 12 months, and Sons of Kemet won Album of the Year for the critically-acclaimed ‘Your Queen Is A Reptile’; a welcomed feat after being snubbed at the Mercury Prize Awards last year. The BBC’s celebrated political sketch show Dead Ringers made a comical appearance with Lewis MacLeod and Duncan Wisbey presenting Sons of Kemet their award as Donald Trump and Jools Holland.
The vibrancy of the UK’s thriving young jazz scene was once again a key theme throughout the night, with 23-year-old Poppy Ajudha reigning supreme over Leon Bridges and Jose James as Soul Artist of the Year, Cassie Kinoshi, who leads the immensely popular SEED Ensemble bagging Breakthrough Act of the Year, and rising jazz singer Cherise Adams-Burnett receiving the Vocalist of the Year Award after opening the ceremony with a captivating stripped-back performance in duet with Blues Artist of the Year winner Eric Bibb.
The evening closed with an incendiary performance from South London collective Steam Down, who were dual winners in the categories of The Innovation Award and Live Experience of the Year Award for their residency show featuring US jazz giant Kamasi Washington. In an unexpected twist the band were joined on-stage by International Jazz Act of the Year winner Makaya McCraven, the prolific Chicago-based drummer who has been pivotal in connecting thriving underground scenes from around the globe.
Head to the Winners page to see the Jazz FM Awards 2019 Winners in full.
The Jazz FM Awards 2019 is a partnership between Jazz FM and Serious and is sponsored by PRS for Music, PPL, Shoreditch Town Hall, Mishcon de Reya, Lateralize, Cambridge Audio, British Airways, Arqiva, Oanda, RCS, Warsteiner, Savile Row Gin, Denbies, GHS Global Hospitality, and Yamaha UK.
Jacob Collier to receive PRS For Music Gold AwardIt was announced this morning that Jacob Collier will be honoured with the PRS for Music Gold Award at this year’s Jazz FM Awards; the prodigious genre-blurring singer and multi-instrumentalist and 2-time Grammy-winner has assembled an incredibly impressive CV in a staggeringly short amount of time, already collaborating with a rollcall of music icons including Herbie Hancock, Hans Zimmer and his mentor Quincy Jones. The award recognises his ongoing contribution to jazz composition and performance, which includes a year long project in 2019 to explore his musical influences across 4 albums.
Andy Harrower, Director of Licensing, PRS for Music, said: “From his earliest performances as an emerging young talent, to his sterling appearances at BBC Proms, Jacob Collier’s rise to become one of the biggest names in British jazz has been meteoric – not to mention the fact that Quincy Jones is such a fan he took him under his wing! It is a genuine delight to be presenting Jacob with the PRS for Music Gold Award at the Jazz FM Awards this year. All of us at PRS for Music would like to extend our warmest congratulations.”
Helen Mayhew – Jazz FM Presenter and Awards Judge said: “Jacob’s talents are extraordinary, he possesses a unique ear for harmony as heard not only in his multi layered YouTube songs, but also in his IharmU Internet project. He’s a virtuosic multi-instrumentalist with an eclectic range of influences, who approaches each musical creation with a jazz sensibility. He’s a very worthy recipient of this prestigious award!.”
The ceremony is taking place on April 30th with confirmed performances now from Jacob Collier, Eric Bibb, Cherise Adams-Burnett, Beverley Knight and London’s Steam Down Orchestra.
Blue Note Records and Don Was to be honoured at the Jazz FM AwardsIt’s been confirmed that iconic US jazz label Blue Note Records and the label’s President – multi-Grammy-winning US musician, record producer and record executive Don Was will be presented with the PPL Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Jazz FM Awards, held at London’s Shoreditch Town Hall on International Jazz Day – April 30th and once again produced by Serious.
Celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2019, Blue Note has been synonymous with legendary jazz artists and landmark recordings since its inception, producing works which now represent the pillars of jazz history from the likes of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Cannonball Adderley and Art Blakey, and now with contemporary stars like Gregory Porter, Kandace Springs and Robert Glasper, Blue Note remains widely regarded today as the world’s most important jazz label, with Was at the helm.
It’s also been announced that the Jazz FM Awards will feature a one-off tribute performance by UK soul-singer Beverley Knight celebrating her hero – the undisputed ‘Queen Of Soul’ Aretha Franklin. Aretha passed away in August and is seen as one of the most influential soul vocalists of her generation.
Jazz FM Awards 2019 Nominees AnnouncedThe nominations for the Jazz FM Awards 2019 have been unveiled. Taking place at Shoreditch Town Hall on International Jazz Day (April 30th), the Awards recognise the best emerging new artists, contemporary icons and established stars from across the worlds of jazz, soul and blues. This year’s list features the likes of titan saxophonist Wayne Shorter, Mercury Prize-shortlisted Sons of Kemet, trailblazing Chicago jazz drummer Makaya McCraven, and blues star Eric Bibb.
Once again, the UK’s celebrated emerging jazz scene features in full force with Nubya Garcia, Emma Jean-Thackray, Joe Armon-Jones, Moses Boyd, and hotly-tipped neo-soulstress Poppy Ajudha nominated alongside South London collective Steam Down, whose weekly residency in Deptford and spell-binding live shows have become hugely influential in redefining the parameters of jazz for new audiences.
John Coltrane’s posthumous Both Directions At Once: The Lost Album, which charted in the top 20 last year, is up for ‘Album of the Year’ with stiff competition from the likes of Sons of Kemet’s Mercury-shortlisted Your Queen Is A Reptile, Brownswood’s We Out Here compilation, and US saxophonist Charles Lloyd & The Marvels and Lucinda Williams for Vanished Gardens. The category, in addition to UK Jazz Act of the Year and Live Experience of the Year, will be decided by public vote. Public voting is open now at www.jazzfmawards.com and will close on Monday 12th March 2019.
The night will also feature special performances from a host of celebrated artists, to be revealed in due course. The PPL Lifetime Achievement Award, PRS For Music Gold Award and Impact Award recipients will be announced ahead of the ceremony. Previous winners of these special awards have included the likes of George Benson, Dame Cleo Laine, Quincy Jones, Gregory Porter, Oscar-winning film director Damien Chazelle and the late Hugh Masekela.
The Jazz FM Awards 2019 is a partnership between Jazz FM and Serious and is made possible with the support of PRS for Music, PPL, Shoreditch Town Hall, Mishcon de Reya, Lateralize, Cambridge Audio, British Airways, Arqiva, Oanda, Warsteiner, Savile Row Gin, Denbies and Yamaha UK.
Here’s the full list of 2019 Nominees:
Breakthrough Act
Cassie Kinoshi
Emma-Jean Thackray
Sarah Tandy
The Digital Award with Oanda
Blue Lab Beats
Louis Cole
Moses Boyd – 1Xtra Residency
The Innovation Award with Mishcon de Reya
Orphy Robinson – Freedom Sessions at Vortex
Steam Down
Tomorrow’s Warriors
Instrumentalist of the Year
Camilla George
Jean Toussaint
Rob Luft
International Jazz Act of the Year with Lateralize
Jamie Branch
Makaya McCraven
Wayne Shorter
Soul Act of the Year
José James
Leon Bridges
Poppy Ajudha
Blues Act of the Year
Eric Bibb
Errol Linton
Roosevelt Collier
Vocalist of the Year
Cherise Adams-Burnett
Ian Shaw
Judi Jackson
UK Jazz Act of the Year (Public Vote) with Cambridge Audio
Jason Yarde
Joe Armon-Jones
Nubya Garcia
Album of the Year (Public Vote) with Arqiva
Charles Lloyd & The Marvels + Lucinda Williams – Vanished Gardens
Jean Toussaint Allstar 6Tet – Brother Raymond
John Coltrane – Both Directions At Once: The Lost Album
Sons of Kemet – Your Queen Is A Reptile
Various Artists – We Out Here
Wayne Shorter – Emanon
Live Experience of the Year (Public Vote)
Jason Moran: The Harlem Hellfighters – Tour
Jazz Re:Fest 2018: Brighton Edition
Makaya McCraven and Nubya Garcia – EFG London Jazz Festival
Orphy Robinson presents Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks – Tour
Steam Down featuring Kamasi Washington
The Cookers – Church of Sound
Impact Award, PRS Gold Award and PPL Lifetime Achievement Award
Jazz FM Awards to return in 2019The Jazz FM Awards will return in 2019 for its 6th instalment, once again taking place at Shoreditch Town Hall and coinciding with UNESCO’s annual International Jazz Day celebrations on Tuesday 30th April.
The Jazz FM Awards showcase the diverse range of talent on offer across the worlds of jazz, soul and blues by celebrating the best emerging new artists alongside classic jazz icons and established stars. Since its inception, the event has recognised an array of illustrious figures from across the music world including Quincy Jones, The Rolling Stones, George Benson, Dame Cleo Laine, Gregory Porter, Ahmad Jamal, Ramsey Lewis and Hugh Masekela, and has become widely regarded as one of the biggest nights in the UK jazz calendar.
The 2019 nominations for categories which include UK Jazz Act of the Year, The Innovation Award and Album of the Year will be announced in the New Year, along with recipients of the Special Award categories.
Nick Pitts, Content Director of Jazz FM:
“We’re thrilled to announce the return of the Jazz FM Awards in 2019. Jazz, soul and blues has continued to thrive over the last 12 months and has been bolstered further still by exceptional live performances and ground-breaking recordings. We’re excited to be returning to Shoreditch Town Hall for another celebration of the genre’s vibrancy and diversity along with many of our sponsors who make the awards possible and our new radio family at Bauer Media.”
The Jazz FM Awards is made possible with support from PRS for Music, PPL, Shoreditch Town Hall, Mishcon De Reya, Lateralize, Cambridge Audio, Arqiva and Oanda.
Pat Metheny to receive Jazz FM’s Gold AwardLegendary US jazz guitarist Pat Metheny will receive this year’s PRS for Music’s Gold Award at the 2018 Jazz FM Awards.
The prize recognises his life-long contribution to jazz composition, performance and education. Previous recipients include pianist Ramsey Lewis and Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts.
Metheny is revered by critics and fans alike for his versatility and improvisational insight, which has seen him reinvent the traditional sound of jazz guitar. His work ranges from modern jazz, rock and classical across solo and large orchestral settings, and he has received a staggering 20 Grammy Awards. He remains the only person to win Grammys in 12 different categories.
The guitarist said, “it is an incredible honour to be recognised by Jazz FM as the recipient of this year’s Gold Award”. Metheny will fly into the UK to attend the star studded Jazz FM Awards, which this year take place on 30 April at Shoreditch Town Hall.
Performing on the night are jazz singer Cecile McLorin Salvant, Grammy-winning bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding, who famously beat Justin Bieber and Drake to win ‘Best New Artist’ at the 2011 Grammys, and one of the UK’s hottest emerging jazz artists, saxophonist Nubya Garcia for what will be a powerhouse all-female line-up. Spalding and Garcia have been nominated for the Digital Initiative of the Year and Breakthrough Act of the Year respectively.
Paul Clements, Executive Director of Membership, International & Licensing at PRS for Music, said, “It is a genuine delight to be presenting Pat Metheny with the PRS for Music Gold Award at the Jazz FM Awards this year. He has worked with everyone from the iconic David Bowie to Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock and Anna Maria Jopek, on top of his prolific output with the Pat Metheny Group and more experimental solo works like Orchestrion. Needless to say, his influence on progressive and contemporary jazz cannot be understated, and all of us at PRS for Music would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Pat on receiving this prestigious award.”
Dame Cleo Laine and George Benson To Be Honoured at 2018 Jazz FM AwardsThe first two recipients of this year’s special Jazz FM Awards have been announced – George Benson will receive the ‘Impact’ Award, recognising the substantial contribution he has made to jazz, soul, funk and disco, and how he has brought the music to millions of people. One of the most successful jazz artists of modern times, Benson kicked off his influential career, which now spans over five decades, by working with heavyweight players such as Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard before going on to become a chart-topping, million-selling international superstar.
Meanwhile, the PPL Lifetime Achievement Award will be handed to Dame Cleo Laine. Now in her 90th year, the British singer and actress has spent decades at the forefront of the British jazz scene alongside her late husband saxophonist John Dankworth. Together they made countless TV and radio appearances, played thousands of shows, and nurtured new talent and young players including those who continue to perform at their highly successful ‘Stables’ venue in Buckinghamshire. She has released over 100 albums including notable recordings with Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk and Ray Charles alongside her own landmark projects, and left an indelible mark on the jazz world thanks to her remarkable vocal range and scat singing prowess. Dame Cleo is a Grammy-award winner, and the only female artist to have been nominated for a Grammy in the jazz, classical and pop categories.
Both she and George Benson will be honoured at the Jazz FM Awards ceremony held at Shoreditch Town Hall in London on Monday April 30 – International Jazz Day. The presenters for the event will be Chris Philips and Jez Nelson, and pianist Ashley Henry will be the Musical Director for the event.
See the full list of nominees here.
The Jazz FM Awards 2018 is a partnership between Jazz FM and Serious and is made possible with the support of PPL, PRS For Music, Mishcon de Reya, Rathbones, Oris Watches, Grange Hotels, Lateralize, Arqiva, Yamaha, RCS, Shoreditch Town Hall, Cambridge Audio, Denbies Wine Estate, Warsteiner, SharpStream, EC1 Studios, Oanda and British Airways.
Jazz FM Awards 2018 – Nominees AnnouncedThe nominations for the 2018 Jazz FM Awards have been announced.
Bassist extraordinaire Thundercat, formidable vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, genre-bending bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding, and pioneering trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah are all up for awards alongside the cream of the thriving UK scene including Shabaka Hutchings, Nubya Garcia, Jacob Collier and Yazz Ahmed, as announced at yesterday’s nominations event held in London at ‘Melomania at Cambridge Audio’.
Recognizing the best emerging new artists, contemporary jazz icons and established stars from across the worlds of jazz, soul and blues, the Jazz FM Awards are now in their fifth outing and will celebrate what has been a remarkable year for jazz which has seen the genre continue to enjoy widespread critical acclaim and a huge resurgence in popularity. The ceremony will take place at Shoreditch Town Hall on International Jazz Day on 30 th April.
As well as the awards presentation, which will be hosted by Jazz FM presenters Chris Philips and Jez Nelson, the night will feature several performances from a range of acclaimed artists led by rising star pianist and MD of this year’s Jazz FM Awards House Band, Ashley Henry. Cecile McLorin Salvant, who was recently honoured at the Grammys, is the first artist confirmed to perform at the event and will showcase material from her 2017 release Dreams and Daggers. The US powerhouse vocalist has been nominated for two awards this year under the categories of International Jazz Act of the Year and Album of the Year, with the latter decided by public vote.
The recipients of the special award categories – PPL Lifetime Achievement Award, PRS For Music Gold Award and Impact Award – will be announced ahead of the ceremony. In previous years, these special award-winners have included Oscar-winning film director Damien Chazelle, Georgie Fame, Quincy Jones, Gregory Porter and the late Hugh Masekela.
Public voting is now open.
The Jazz FM Awards 2018 is a partnership between Jazz FM and Serious and is made possible with the support of Mishcon de Reya, PPL, PRS For Music, Rathbones, Oris Watches, Grange Hotels, Lateralize, Arqiva, Yamaha, RCS, Shoreditch Town Hall, Cambridge Audio, Denbies Wine Estate, Warsteiner, Sharpstream and British Airways.
Full list of 2018 Nominees:
Breakthrough Act of the Year
Ezra Collective
Nubya Garcia
Rob Luft
Soul Artist of the Year
Sponsored by RCS
Jordan Rakei
Leroy Hutson
Moonchild
UK Jazz Act of the Year (Public Vote)
Sponsored by Cambridge Audio
Dinosaur
Ezra Collective
Kansas Smitty’s House Band
Digital Initiative of the Year
Esperanza Spalding: Exposure
Jacob Collier: I Harm U
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club: Live Streaming
Instrumentalist of the Year
Sponsored by Grange Hotels
Evan Parker
Theon Cross
Yazz Ahmed
Blues Artist of the Year
Lucky Peterson
Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’
Robert Cray
Jazz Innovation of the Year
Sponsored by Mishcon de Reya
Carleen Anderson: Cage Street Memorial
Joe Armon-Jones and Maxwell Owin: Idiom
Shabaka Hutchings
Vocalist of the Year
Sponsored by Lateralise
Alice Zawadzki
Liane Carroll
Zara McFarlane
International Jazz Artist of the Year
Sponsored by Oris Watches
Cécile McLorin Salvant
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
Thundercat
Album of the Year (Public Vote)
Sponsored by Arqiva
Blue Note All-Stars – Our Point of View
Cécile McLorin Salvant – Dreams and Daggers
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah – Diaspora
Denys Baptiste – The Late Trane
Phronesis – The Behemoth
Thundercat – Drunk
Live Experience of the Year (Public Vote)
Sponsored by Rathbones
A Concert for Alice and John – Pharoah Sanders Quartet, Denys Baptiste and Alina Bzhezhinska – EFG London Jazz
Festival at The Barbican
An evening with Dave Holland – Ambleside Days Festival at Zephirellis Cinema
Jazz Re:Fest at Southbank Centre
Makaya McCraven featuring Theon Cross Trio and Jaimie Branch Fly or Die Ensemble – CHICAGOXLONDON Day 1 at
Total Refreshment Centre
Randolph Matthews – Jazz in the Round at Love Supreme Festival
Ronnie Scott’s presents Ezra Collective – EFG London Jazz Festival at Islington Assembly Hall
Jazz FM Awards returning for 2018
Following the success of the 2017 Jazz FM Awards and its rollcall of international stars which included the likes of Georgie Fame, Sir Van Morrison, Charlie Watts, Sir Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, Laura Mvula, Donny McCaslin, Soweto Kinch, Gilles Peterson and Courtney Pine, the organisers have announced today that the event will return in 2018, for a fifth time.
The ceremony, now widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events on the jazz calendar, will take place at Shoreditch Town Hall on Monday 30th April 2018, coinciding with UNESCO’s annual International Jazz Day celebrations.
Showcasing the diverse range of talent that the worlds of jazz, blues and soul have to offer, the annual Jazz FM Awards, produced by Serious, honours the very best up-and-coming new artists alongside contemporary jazz icons and established stars.
This will be the second year the ceremony is held at Shoreditch Town Hall – an independent arts, events and community space housed in one of the grandest former civic buildings in the capital. Shoreditch Town Hall will be the official Venue Partner of the event, which promises to be another evening glittered with star appearances and stand-out performances, in a room befitting one of the leading international jazz awards ceremonies.
Nominations are set to be announced in the New Year, along with recipients of special award categories.