Jazz breaking news: Countdown To The MOBOs

Traditionally one of the Cinderella categories, the jazz act MOBO – think quality in depth and longevity rather than novelty – this year has Empirical, Robert Glasper, Brad Mehldau, Phronesis, and John McLaughlin up for the high profile award.

The MOBOs – which recognise music of black origin – were established in 1995 by Kanya King MBE and Andy Ruffell. Previous winners of best jazz act have included Courtney Pine in 1996 and 1997, Denys Baptiste in 1999, and Soweto Kinch in 2007. Sharp dressing Empirical are on their way to Liverpool according to their Twitter feed and have already been to the tailors to further enhance their sharp sartorial image. Their latest album Out ’n’ In features a vibes-flavoured homage to Eric Dolphy and his masterpiece Out To Lunch. US pianist Robert Glasper, originally from Houston, impressed last year with Double Booked the jazz and hip hop album that goes some way to reflect Glasper’s prevailing influences, Herbie Hancock and daisy age hip hop, delivered with remarkable flair and improvisational intuition also featuring the influential singer Bilal. He has also toured extensively with neo-soul singer Maxwell following the release of the acclaimed Blacksummers Night last year and rapper Mos Def. Glasper will also be working with the newly formed East London Creative Jazz Orchestra at the Barbican during next month’s London Jazz Festival.

Empirical and Glasper are joined on the list by American pianist Brad Mehldau again due in the UK for the LJF. Since first coming to wider attention with Joshua Redman in the 1990s, Mehldau has come to be generally regarded as one of the most influential jazz pianists of his generation, one who defies genre and who is shortly to tour again with Joshua Redman and the Britten Sinfonia. His live double album recorded at the Village Vanguard which came out last year included a devastating improvisation on Noel Gallagher’s ‘Wonderwall.’

Also up for the jazz MOBO is Phronesis the breakthrough band that stretches the boundaries of where we have come to expect the jazz trio to be with their latest album Alive with Mark Giuliana sitting in for regular drummer Anton Eger alongside the charismatic bassist Jasper Høiby and pianist Ivo Neame recorded at the Forge in Camden earlier this year.

The final name on the MOBO jazz act nominations list is the great guitarist John McLaughlin who famously appeared on Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew, recently reissued on its 40th anniversary. McLaughlin’s latest album To The One with the Fourth Dimension marked a remarkable return to form on release earlier this year. Check jazzwisemagazine.com for more once the winner is announced.

– Stephen Graham