Emilia Mårtensson, Evan Parker and Alexander Hawkins win at Parliamentary Jazz Awards
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
The winners of this year’s Parliamentary Jazz Awards were announced at a packed Terrace Pavilion at the House Of Commons on Tuesday 10 May, for what was the 12th edition of the award event.
Hosted and compered by Jazzwise editor in chief Jon Newey, with live music from the Ronnie Scott’s All-Stars led by pianist James Pearson, guest presenters included John Smith of PPL, Camila George, Jacqui Dankworth, Claire Martin, Arun Ghosh, Kevin Le Gendre, Simon Cooke, Baroness Coussins, Jason McCartney MP and Lord Colwyn.
The awards, voted for by the public online with a shortlist of nominations subsequently chosen by a panel of jazz industry figures, with the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG) selecting the winners, honoured a wide range emerging and established artists. Key awards went to Julian Argüelles in the Jazz Album of the Year category for his South African inspired Let It Be Told, Vocalist of the Year was won by UK-based Swedish singer Emilia Mårtensson, impressive improv pianist Alexander Hawkins picked up Instrumentalist of the Year, while Mary Greig, the editor of the long running listings freesheet Jazz in London, was honoured with the Services to Jazz Award.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Vocalist of the Year: Emilia Mårtensson.
Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year: Alexander Hawkins.
Jazz Album of the Year: Julian Argüelles for Let It Be Told.
Jazz Ensemble of the Year: Empirical.
Jazz Newcomer of the Year: Binker and Moses.
Jazz Venue of the Year: Seven Jazz, Leeds.
Jazz Media Award: Jez Nelson/BBC Jazz on 3.
Jazz Education Award: Dr Tommy Smith
Services to Jazz Award: Mary Greig,
There were two Special APPJAG Awards for this year that were presented to Evan Parker and Michael Connarty.