Moses Boyd and Dave Green win 2014 Worshipful Company of Musicians’ Jazz Awards

Green became the first bassist to win the company's Medal for Lifetime Achievement, while Boyd scooped the coveted 2014 Young Jazz Musician Award. The drummer performed two sets of music alongside five other finalists; alto saxophonist Phil Meadows, trombonist Tom Green, tenor player Nadim Teimoori (who also made it to the finals in 2013), pianist Sam James and bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado, and was awarded the prize following a vote by the journalists, educators and paying members of the public who made up the audience.

The repertoire comprised classic standards, selected before the concert by the performers, along with arrangements and original compositions. The shortlist for this year’s final was drawn up by a panel of 12 judges, including musicians Tina May, Mark Armstrong and Tim Garland (winners of the Young Jazz Musician Award in 1992, 1996 and 1997 respectively), broadcaster Julian Joseph, educators Martin Hathaway, Nick Smart, Scott Stroman and Simon Purcell, and former Jazzwise columnist the late Jack Massarik. Boyd joins an exclusive list of former winners, among them pianist John Escreet, vibes player Jim Hart, bassist Mike Janisch and trumpeter Laura Jurd; while Dave Green follows in the footsteps of greats such as Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Sir John Dankworth, Stan Tracey and last year’s winner Digby Fairweather.

One of the livery companies of the City of London, the Worshipful Company of Musicians supports and encourages professional musical performance by working with musical trades and funding the education and promotion of young players.

– Thomas Rees

For more information on the WCOM and its annual jazz awards www.wcom.org.uk